Rethinking Resource Allocation in Science

US funding agencies alone distribute a yearly total of roughly $65B dollars largely through the process of proposal peer review: scientists compete for project funding by submitting grant proposals which are evaluated by selected panels of peer reviewers. Similar funding systems are in place in most advanced democracies. However, in spite of its venerable history, proposal peer review is increasingly struggling to deal with the increasing mismatch between demand and supply of research funding.Comment: This working paper formed the basis of J. Bollen, Who would you share your funding with. Nature 560, 143 (2018

Locus of Control & Motivation Strategies for Learning Questionnaire: Predictors of Student Success on the ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam & NCLEX-RN Examination

ABSTRACT The two purposes of this study were to determine whether locus of control (LOC) was predictive of how a student would perform on the ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam and the NCLEX-RN, and if the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) provided information that would help determine predictors of success on these two exams. The study examined additional variables prominent in the literature including but not limited to, the number of Cs a person earned while in nursing school, and grades in courses such as pharmacology, pathophysiology, and medical/surgical nursing. The influence of a job was also investigated. It was believed that an individual with an internal locus of control (LOC) would be more likely to be successful on the ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam and the NCLEX-RN. Internal LOC was found to be statistically significant related to the NCLEX-RN. Using logistic regression a student with an internal LOC when entered into the model with the ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam was 6.7 times more likely to pass the NCLEX-RN. Using regression analysis this was not found to be true in relationship to the ATI Comprehensive Predictor. The model that was the best predictor of a student's success on the ATI exam included the MSLQ subscales of Test Anxiety, Organization, Self-Regulation, Pharmacology course, the first Medical/Surgical class, Job not healthcare related, and the ATI Medical/Surgical Content Mastery Exam. These seven variables were the best at predicting success. A sub-hypothesis related to student performance on the ATI Medical/Surgical Content Mastery Exam believed that a student with an internal LOC would be more successful, this did not prove to be true. The students with an external LOC had pass rate of 50% on the exam at a Level two proficiency compared to 45.28% passing with an internal LOC. The number of students in the sample that were determined to have an external LOC was very small (n=12) while the results in this study were not statistically significant it is possible that a sample with a larger sample of students with an external LOC may produce different results. An additional finding was a student working in a healthcare related job or not working scored 2.278 points higher on the ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam than those working in a non-healthcare related job. The second hypothesis examined the MSLQ subscales that were predictive of success on the two exams. In terms of the ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam the subscales that entered into the model were test anxiety, organization, and self-regulation. When determining the MSLQ subscales that were important related to success on the NLCEX, control of learning beliefs and organization were the only two subscales in the model. Those subscales statistically significant in terms of a student achieving Level 2 proficiency on the ATI Medical/Surgical Content Mastery Exam were test anxiety, rehearsal, organization, and peer learning. When evaluating test anxiety it was determined that as the MSLQ test anxiety score increased for the individual, the odds of passing decreased. Of the individuals with a test anxiety subscale score of 2.9 (scale of 1-7) or less all were successful on the NCLEX-RN. Results indicated that of those students with a test anxiety subscale score of 5.0 or higher, ten students failed the ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam and four students failed the NCLEX-RN. An additional hypothesis stated that a student's results on the ATI Medical/Surgical Content Mastery Exam would be predictive of his or her performance on the ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam. This hypothesis was found to be true. A student scoring at Level II proficiency (mastery of content per ATI Faculty Resource Guide, 2007) was likely to score 4.391 points higher than a student at Level 1 proficiency. As the level of proficiency increased so did the percentage of passing the NCLEX-RN. A student who scored below level one had a 58.33% pass rate on NCLEX-RN compared to a level two proficiency pass rate of 92.68%. When looking at student grades in the first medical/surgical course only 70.59% of the students obtaining the letter grade of C passed the NCLEX-RN. The percentage improved with the second medical/surgical course, 80.77% of students with a C passed. Of those students earning a C in pharmacology only 75% of the students passed the NCLEX-RN

Pharmacological modulation of processes contributing to spinal hyperexcitability: Electrophysiological studies in the rat.

Two of the most effective analgesic strategies in man are (i) blockade of the NMDA receptor for glutamate, which plays a major role in nociceptive transmission and (ii) augmentation of inhibitory systems, exemplified by the use of ketamine and the opioids respectively. Both are, however, are associated with side effects. Potential novel analgesic targets are investigated here using in vivo electrophysiology in the anaesthetised rat with pharmacological manipulation of spinal neuronal transmission. Three different approaches were used to target NMDA receptors: (i) glycine site antagonists (Mrz 2/571 and Mrz 2/579), (ii) antagonists selective for receptors containing the NR2B subunit (ifenprodil and ACEA-1244), (iii) elevating the levels of N-acetyl-aspartyl- glutamate (NAAG), an endogenous peptide, by inhibition of its degradative enzyme. All agents produced selective inhibitions of noxious-evoked activity of dorsal horn neurones, with differing profiles. Effects of NAAG elevation were enhanced after inflammation and neuropathy, probably a result of agonist activity at the mGlu3 metabotropic glutamate receptor rather than reported NMDA receptor partial agonist properties. The mu opioid receptor agonist methadone has affinity for the NMDA receptor. Spinal application of racemic methadone and the weak opioid optical isomer d-methadone, revealed that the inhibitory effects were predominantly opioid receptor mediated. Functional NMDA receptor blockade was not apparent. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NC/OFQ) differs from the classical opioids and can, like NMDA receptor antagonists, attenuate spinal hyperexcitability. Pre-synaptic effects were enhanced after peripheral inflammation. Peripheral administration caused excitations of primary afferent fibres. Three putative antagonists were studied. [Phe1 ? (C H2- NH)Gly2]nociceptin-(1-13)-NH2 was as potent as nociceptin in inhibition of neuronal responses and is now recognised as a partial agonist. [N-Phe1]nociceptin(1-13)NH2 was similarly unreliable, but J-113397, proved more fruitful. Protons are implicated in inflammatory pain and peripheral hyperalgesia. I demonstrated activation of primary afferent fibres by peripheral administration of low pH solutions, the first electrophysiological study to do so in vivo. The overall results provide a number of pharmacological strategies that may lead to a better control of pain. The thesis also sheds some light on a fundamental question in neurobiology, in describing both peripheral and central mechanisms that underlie normal transmission and aspects of plasticity in pain pathways

THE URE AS A VEHICLE FOR EMPLOYABILITY DEVELOPMENT – THE SUPERVISORS SPEAK

BACKGROUND Employers report STEM graduates lack appropriate employability skills and work experience (Deloitte Access Economics, 2014). In a previous study (Carpenter, Nguyen, Davis & Rowland, 2021), we explored Undergraduate Research Experience (URE) students’ understanding of employability and how they believe the URE impacted their employability development. Findings showed students had a varied and underdeveloped employability understanding. AIMS In this study, we considered URE supervisors, aiming to determine the current landscape of employability understanding of supervisors who facilitate UREs. DESIGN AND METHODS Eighteen supervisors across six UQ Faculty of Science Schools were interviewed. A deductive, inductive hybrid approach was implemented, using the validated framework previously developed in the student study. RESULTS Supervisors commonly defined employability as ‘the ability to be employed’. Most supervisors commented employability learnings were tacitly gained as a side-effect of URE engagement when asked how they facilitated employability development in UREs. Supervisors’ examples predominantly focused on research pathways and felt strongly they should not be responsible for their students’ employability development. CONCLUSIONS This supports a need for explicit employability curricula, to improve student employability understanding. In this presentation, we will discuss the role of supervisors in student employability development, and some ways to move forward that leverages the URE without placing additional teaching strain on supervisors. REFERENCES Deloitte Access Economics (2014) Australia’s STEM workforce: a survey of employers: https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/au/Documents/Economics/deloitte-au-economics-australia-stem-workforce-report-010515.pdf Carpenter, L., Nguyen, B., Davis, L. and S. L. Rowland. (2021) The URE as a vehicle for employability development – the student participants’ speak. [In review]

Factors Associated With Normal Physiologic Birth for Women Who Labor In Water: A Secondary Analysis of A Prospective Observational Study

Introduction: Research to understand factors associated with normal physiologic birth (unassisted vaginal birth, spontaneous labor onset without epidural analgesia, spinal, or general anesthetic, without episiotomy) is required. Laboring and/or giving birth in water has been shown to be associated with a high proportion of physiologic birth but with little understanding of factors that may influence this outcome. This study explored factors associated with normal physiologic birth for women who labored in water. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a UK-based prospective observational study of 8064 women at low risk of childbirth complications who labored in water. Consecutive women were recruited from birth settings in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Planned place of birth, maternal characteristics, intrapartum events, and maternal and neonatal outcomes were measured. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression modelling explored factors associated with normal physiologic birth. Results: In total, 5758 (71.4%) of women who labored in water had a normal physiologic birth. Planned birth in the community (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.58; 95% CI, 2.22-2.99) or at an alongside midwifery unit (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.41) was positively associated with normal physiologic birth compared with planned birth in an obstetric unit. Duration of second stage (aOR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.62-0.70), duration in the pool [aOR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90-0.96), and birth weight of the neonate (aOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65-0.85) were negatively associated with normal physiologic birth. Parity was not associated with normal physiologic birth in multivariate analyses. Discussion: Our findings largely reflected wider research, both in and out of water. We found midwifery-led birth settings may increase the likelihood of normal physiologic birth among healthy women who labor in water, irrespective of parity. This association supports growing evidence demonstrating the importance of planned place of birth on reducing intervention rates and adds to research on labor and birth in water

Predictors of obstetric anal sphincter injury during waterbirth: A secondary analysis of a prospective observational study

Introduction and Hypothesis: Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASI) during childbirth is associated with urino-genital pain and dysfunction. Waterbirth is a popular birth choice for women, but controversy remains around the risk of OASI during waterbirth. This study reports on the incidence of OASI, and factors associated with OASI, for a cohort of women who gave birth in water. Methods: This secondary analysis used prospectively collected data from 2,908 women who gave birth in water in the hospital setting. Incidence of OASI was calculated. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis evaluated factors associated with OASI. Results: The incidence of OASI was 1.9% (95% CI 1.4, 2.4) for all women. In nulliparae it was higher (3.2%, 95% CI 2.3, 4.3), than for multiparae (0.9%, 95% CI 0.5, 1.4). In the multivariable analysis two variables were associated with OASI; multiparity was negatively associated with OASI (aOR 0.24, 95% CI 0.12, 0.50, p < 0.001), and birth weight was positively associated with OASI (aOR 1.001, 95% CI 1.000, 1.002, p = 0.02). A ‘hands-on’ technique was used during only 13% of births. Birth position supporting a flexible sacrum did not influence OASI risk. Conclusions: A low incidence of OASI was found for this cohort of women. The low proportion of midwives using a hands-on technique suggests that it may not be required in waterbirth.