A global call for action to include gender in research impact assessment

Global investment in biomedical research has grown significantly over the last decades, reaching approximately a quarter of a trillion US dollars in 2010. However, not all of this investment is distributed evenly by gender. It follows, arguably, that scarce research resources may not be optimally invested (by either not supporting the best science or by failing to investigate topics that benefit women and men equitably). Women across the world tend to be significantly underrepresented in research both as researchers and research participants, receive less research funding, and appear less frequently than men as authors on research publications. There is also some evidence that women are relatively disadvantaged as the beneficiaries of research, in terms of its health, societal, and economic impacts. Historical gender biases may have created a path dependency that means that the research system and the impacts of research are biased towards male researchers and male beneficiaries, making it inherently difficult (though not impossible) to eliminate gender bias. In this commentary, we – a group of scholars and practitioners from Africa, America, Asia, and Europe– argue that gender-sensitive research impact assessment could become a force for good in moving science policy and practice towards gender equity. Research impact assessment is the multidisciplinary field of scientific inquiry that examines the research process to maximise scientific, societal, and economic returns on investment in research. It encompasses many theoretical and methodological approaches that can be used to investigate gender bias and recommend actions for change to maximise research impact. We offer a set of recommendations to research funders, research institutions, and research evaluators who conduct impact assessment on how to include and strengthen analysis of gender equity in research impact assessment and issue a global call for action

Think positive? Examining the impact of optimism on academic achievement in early adolescents

Objective: Although optimism\u27s beneficial role for various life areas is well documented, previous findings regarding its significance for students\u27 achievement at school are inconclusive. This study examined the relation between optimism and academic achievement in early adolescents. It investigated the functional form of this relation, addressed whether the initial achievement level moderates this association, and compared this with effects on self-esteem. Method: We used a large German sample (N56,010; 53.2% females; baseline Mage514.1) with two measurement points over a period of 5 months (middle and end of 7th grade). Estimating LOESS curves and latent change-regression models revealed three main findings. Results: (a) Optimism showed a nonlinear association with subsequent changes in academic achievement: Optimism promoted academic achievement, but this positive association reached a plateau in above-average optimism ranges and a minimum value in below-average ranges of optimism. (b) The achievement level at t1 moderated this relation so that high optimism exerted a more positive effect for high-achieving adolescents. (c) By contrast, optimism had an overall positive effect on self-esteem. Conclusions: The results therefore broaden the evidence on benefits of optimism by linking optimism to academic success in early adolescents but indicate only small and nonlinear associations. (DIPF/Orig.

Untersuchungen des Verhaltens von Radioiod unter Stoerfallbedingungen in LWR in kleintechnischen Versuchsanlagen Abschlussbericht

Starting from safety considerations for WWER-type reactors main aspects of iodine chemistry are represented. By means of the use of application-oriented measuring techniques, existing equipment systems and their adaption to the requirements, investigations of the retention capacity of wet condensation systems for radioiodine were carried out. After analytical pre-tests (AAS, gaschromatography, laserspectrometry) - experiments were realized relating to both iodine absorption and iodine revolatilization. The absorption levels determined are between 92,5 and 99,9%, the iodine entrainment with revolatilization from the wet-condensation model is in the range between 0,003 and 0,0004%. (orig./HP)Ausgehend von Sicherheitsbetrachtungen fuer WWER-Reaktoren werden die Hauptaspekte der Iodchemie dargelegt. Durch Nutzung anwendungsorientierter Messtechniken, vorhandener Geraetesysteme und deren Anpassung an die Erfordernisse wurden Untersuchungen zum Rueckhaltevermoegne von Nasskondensationssystemen fuer Radioiod angestellt. Nach analytischen Vorversuchen (AAS, Gaschromatographie, Laserspektrometrie) wurden Experimente zur Iodabsorption zur Iodwiederfreisetzung durchgefuehrt. Die ermittelten Absorptionsgrade lagen zwischen 92,5 und 99,9%, der Iodaustrag bei der Wiederfreisetzung aus dem Nasskondensationsmodell bewegt sich im Bereich von 0,003 und 0,0004%. (orig./HP)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F95B2102+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Why are you so optimistic? Effects of sociodemographic factors, individual experiences, and peer characteristics on optimism in early adolescents

Objective: Although a growing body of research has confirmed the manifold advantages of being an optimist, only a limited body of previous research has addressed the antecedents of optimism in real-life situations. This study examined whether parental socioeconomic status (SES), age-salient experiences (i.e., doing well in school and perceiving acceptance from peers), and aspects of the student composition at school contribute to changes in the optimism of early adolescents. Method: We followed a large sample of German seventh graders (N = 7,272; 2.9% females; baseline Mage = 14.1) at two measurement points over a period of 5 months and estimated latent regression models. Results: First, optimism showed medium-sized rank-order stability between both measurement points. Second, parental SES predicted changes in optimism, but this effect was fully mediated by age-salient experiences. Third, positive age?salient experiences (i.e., academic achievement and perceived peer acceptance) predicted positive changes in early adolescents\u27 optimism. Fourth, our results suggested no effects of school peer composition. Conclusions: The findings broaden our current knowledge about antecedents of changes in optimism during early adolescence by highlighting the effects of positive age-salient experiences, namely, academic achievement and perceived acceptance from peers. (DIPF/Orig.