Early Contributions to the Evolution of the Canadian Scientific Integrity System: Institutional and Governmental Interaction in the Policy Diffusion Process

Academic institutions and research funders have in the last decade devoted considerable effort to developing policies to support academic integrity and prevent misconduct. In this study, we consider the extent to which various initiatives of Canadian federal and provincial (Québec) funders have affected the development of institutional research integrity/misconduct (RIM) policies. Examining the creation and modification dates of 32 institutional RIM policies, we find that federal but not provincial initiatives appear to have the greatest impact on the development of RIM policies. Idiosyncrasies in the creation dates, as well as lack of evidence of a systematic pattern in modification dates, suggest a complex system that is often insulated from certain government initiatives. These results lead us to conclude that there should be greater consistency in the development or updating of RIM policies to ensure the appropriate treatment of misconduct and to encourage behaviour that meets the highest standards of research integrity.  Au cours de la dernière décennie, les institutions académiques et les bailleurs de fonds de recherche ont consacré beaucoup d’efforts à l’élaboration de politiques pour soutenir l’intégrité scientifique et prévenir les inconduites en recherche. Dans la présente étude, nous analysons dans quelle mesure les diverses initiatives des bailleurs de fonds canadiens, tant fédéraux que provinciaux (Québec), ont affecté l’élaboration de politiques institutionnelles sur l’intégrité et les inconduites en recherche (IIR). En examinant les dates de création et de modification de 32 politiques institutionnelles sur l’IIR, nous constatons que ce sont les initiatives fédérales, et non provinciales, qui semblent avoir le plus grand effet sur l’élaboration de politiques. Des idiosyncrasies dans les dates de création, ainsi que l’absence de preuves d’un modèle systématique de dates de modification, suggèrent un système complexe, souvent isolé de certaines initiatives gouvernementales. Ces résultats nous amènent à conclure qu’il devrait y avoir une plus grande cohérence dans l’élaboration ou la mise à jour de politiques sur l’IIR pour assurer le traitement approprié des inconduites et encourager un comportement qui répond aux normes les plus élevées d’intégrité en recherche

Orbital Parameters and Spectroscopy of the Transient X-Ray Pulsar 4U 0115+63

We report on an outburst of the high mass X-ray binary 4U 0115+63 with a pulse period of 3.6s in spring 2008 as observed with INTEGRAL and RXTE. By analyzing the lightcurves we derive an updated orbital- and pulse period ephemeris of the neutron star. We also study the pulse profile variations as a function of time and energy as well as the variability of the spectral parameters. We find clear evidence for at least three cyclotron line features. In agreement with previous observations of 4U 0115+63, we detect an anti-correlation between the luminosity and the fundamental cyclotron line energy

Calmodulin Interaction with hEAG1 Visualized by FRET Microscopy

BACKGROUND: Ca(2+)-mediated regulation of ion channels provides a link between intracellular signaling pathways and membrane electrical activity. Intracellular Ca(2+) inhibits the voltage-gated potassium channel EAG1 through the direct binding of calmodulin (CaM). Three CaM binding sites (BD-C1: 674-683, BD-C2: 711-721, BD-N: 151-165) have been identified in a peptide screen and were proposed to mediate binding. The participation of the three sites in CaM binding to the native channel, however, remains unclear. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we studied the binding of Ca(2+)/CaM to the EAG channel by visualizing the interaction between YFP-labeled CaM and Cerulean-labeled hEAG1 in mammalian cells by FRET. The results of our cellular approach substantiate that two CaM binding sites are predominantly involved; the high-affinity 1-8-14 based CaM binding domain in the N-terminus and the second C-terminal binding domain BD-C2. Mutations at these sites completely abolished CaM binding to hEAG1. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We demonstrated that the BD-N and BD-C2 binding domains are sufficient for CaM binding to the native channel, and, therefore, that BD-C1 is unable to bind CaM independently

Testing a communication assessment tool for ethically sensitive scenarios: Protocol of a validation study

Background: Although well-designed instruments to assess communication during medical interviews and complex encounters exist, assessment tools that differentiate between communication, empathy, decision-making, and moral judgment are needed to assess different aspects of communication during situations defined by ethical conflict. To address this need, we developed an assessment tool that differentiates competencies associated with practice in ethically challenging situations. The competencies are grouped into three distinct categories

Recommendations for the Generation, Quantification, Storage, and Handling of Peptides Used for Mass Spectrometry-Based Assays

BACKGROUND: For many years, basic and clinical researchers have taken advantage of the analytical sensitivity and specificity afforded by mass spectrometry in the measurement of proteins. Clinical laboratories are now beginning to deploy these work flows as well. For assays that use proteolysis to generate peptides for protein quantification and characterization, synthetic stable isotope-labeled internal standard peptides are of central importance. No general recommendations are currently available surrounding the use of peptides in protein mass spectrometric assays. CONTENT: The Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium of the National Cancer Institute has collaborated with clinical laboratorians, peptide manufacturers, metrologists, representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, and other professionals to develop a consensus set of recommendations for peptide procurement, characterization, storage, and handling, as well as approaches to the interpretation of the data generated by mass spectrometric protein assays. Additionally, the importance of carefully characterized reference materials-in particular, peptide standards for the improved concordance of amino acid analysis methods across the industry-is highlighted. The alignment of practices around the use of peptides and the transparency of sample preparation protocols should allow for the harmonization of peptide and protein quantification in research and clinical care

Moral Economies and Codes of Conduct: the Social Organization of Canadian Experimental Psychology

Psychological science has flourished in North America since the late 19th century. As laboratories multiplied, professional organizations began to emerge to facilitate communications through journals and conferences. This article examines the development of the moral economy of professional and scientific psychology in Canada. While the general features of the social organization of psychological science in Canada and the United States have followed similar trajectories, important differences are also evident. In particular, these differences are apparent in the values and conventions outlined by the two largest professional organizations in Canada (CPA) and the United States (APA).La science psychologique est florissante en Amérique du Nord. Avec la multiplication de ces laboratoires, la communication entre les institutions de recherche est devenue essentielle, les organismes professionnels assurant la diffusion des connaissances par le biais de revues spécialisées et de congrès. Cet article examine la croissance de l’économie morale de la psychologie professionnelle et scientifique au Canada. Bien que les caractéristiques générales de l’organisation sociale de la science psychologique au Canada et aux États-Unis aient suivi des trajectoires semblables, d’importantes différences demeurent évidentes. Plus particulièrement, ces différences sont apparentes dans les valeurs et conventions énoncées par les deux plus importants regroupements professionnels au Canada (la Société canadienne de psychologie) et aux États-Unis (l’American Psychological Association)

Prestige technology in the evolution and social organization of early psychological science

Instruments have become a central feature of psychological science. Their introduction into a research paradigm is typically framed in terms of their practical utility in offering calibration and precision in the presentation, representation, and rec