How we name academic prizes matters

Most scientific prizes and medals are named after men, and most of these are also awarded to men. The very few awards named after women or not named after a person at all are more frequently awarded to women, although parity between the gender of recipients is still not achieved. We call on the scientific community to rethink the naming of academic awards, medals and prizes, their nomination and selection criteria, and to diversify awarding committees and procedures to ensure greater inclusivity

The Role(s) of Qualitative Content Analysis in Mixed Methods Research Designs

When discussing mixed methods research from a methodological point of view, it must be acknowledged that they have been developed from rather simple research designs to complex and multilayered frameworks in which qualitative content analysis (QCA) is seemingly a key method for analyzing non-numeric data. This can be attributed to the versatile procedures and functions for which QCA can be used.Against this background, we describe and analyze the roles of QCA within different advanced mixed methods designs. First, we outline the implementation of QCA within a typical methodological framework, which consists of three hierarchical layers. Second, mixed methods research designs and the role of QCA in several design types are characterized. Third, three design types stemming from studies from educational sciences and sports science are presented. With these three elements, we demonstrate that QCA can be used in different roles ranging from dominance to subordination, thus implementing different rationales. Finally, we formulate some conclusions and suggestions for further research.Betrachtet man Mixed-Methods-Designs (MMD) aus einer methodologischen Perspektive, zeigt sich eine Entwicklung, die von anfänglich eher einfachen Untersuchungsplänen hin zu komplexen und vielschichtigen Rahmenkonzepten reicht. Mit Blick auf die qualitativen Untersuchungsstränge von MMD scheint die qualitative Inhaltsanalyse (QIA) die zentrale Methode für die Untersuchung nicht-numerischer Daten zu sein, was ihren vielseitigen Funktionen zugeschrieben werden kann.Vor diesem Hintergrund beschreiben und analysieren wir in unserem Beitrag die Rollen der QIA in unterschiedlichen MMD. Hierfür skizzieren wir zuerst die Einordnung der QIA in ein spezifisches methodologisches Rahmenkonzept des MMR-Diskurses, das sich aus drei hierarchisch geordneten Ebenen zusammensetzt. Dem folgt eine Beschreibung ausgewählter MMDs und der jeweiligen Funktionen, die die QIA darin einnimmt. Im dritten Abschnitt präsentieren wir drei Studien aus der Erziehungs- und Sportwissenschaft, anhand derer die unterschiedlichen Rollen der QIA illustriert werden, die zwischen Dominanz und Unterordnung angesiedelt und folglich auch jeweils anders begründet werden können. Abschließend formulieren wir Schlussfolgerungen über die Rolle der QIA in der MMD-Debatte

Gender distribution of scientific prizes is associated with naming of awards after men, women or neutral

Woman scientists have for long been underrepresented as recipient of academic prizes. The reasons for this lack of recognition are manifold, including potential gender bias amongst award panels and nomination practices. This dataset of the gender distribution of 8,747 recipients of 345 scientific medals and prizes awarded by 11 General Scientific Societies as well as subject specific societies in the Earth and Environmental Sciences and in Cardiology between 1731-2021 explores the magnitude, temporal trends and potential drivers of observed gender imbalances. Our analysis revealed women were particularly underrepresented in awards named after men, with awards not named after a person or named after a woman being more frequently awarded to woman scientists. Time series analysis confirmed persisting trends that are only starting to change since the early 2000s, indicating that a lot remains to be done to achieve true equity. We encourage the scientific community to extend this data and analysis that represent important evidence of recognition of academic achievements towards other under-represented groups and including also nomination information

2-D optical quantification of particle reworking activities in marine surface sediments

Particle and solute transport by faunal activities may significantly influence rates and pathways of organic matter mineralization during early diagenesis in surface sediments. One of the most frequently utilized techniques to quantify benthic biological reworking activities involves the calculation of a biodiffusion coefficient (Db) estimated from model predictions of 1-D tracer distribution patterns. This technique is labor-intensive and time-demanding. Furthermore, it is normally used for measurements over several days and averages overall transport mechanisms from 3-D to 1-D on a cm scale. In the frame of this work, we developed a new technique based on the nondestructive screening of fluorescent particles (luminophores) using optical discrimination and CCD camera detection of fluorescence (2-D). At a site characterized by a dense population of the brittle star Amphiura filiformis and a high biodiffusion coefficient (obtained from 1-D distributions; Db=35.5±3.7 cm−2 year−1; n=3), the optical reworking coefficient (ORC), estimated from the 2-D luminophore distribution patterns, was calculated (ORC=27.4±9.1 View the MathML source cm−2 h−1; n=24). A nondestructive 2-D approach to quantify particle reworking may provide a powerful and complementary tool to further understand particle transport by the benthic fauna in surface sediments. The optical technique for 2-D detection of luminophores is relatively fast and easy to perform, with the ability to detect small scale (mm) particle movements on a time resolution of minutes or less

WeLL – Unique Linked Employer-Employee Data on Further Training in Germany

This paper explains the main features of an innovative linked employer-employee data set with a particular focus on continuous training in Germany, calledWeLL. The data set comprises establishment data that can be linked to longitudinal information on the associated employees. The employer survey and the first wave of the employee survey were conducted in 2007. Both surveys focus on the collection of training information together with a variety of employee and employer background characteristics. In addition, it is possible to link these data with other survey and administrative data for a large number of respondents.Employee training, establishment data, linked employer-employee data

How to Explain Individual Classification Decisions

After building a classifier with modern tools of machine learning we typically have a black box at hand that is able to predict well for unseen data. Thus, we get an answer to the question what is the most likely label of a given unseen data point. However, most methods will provide no answer why the model predicted the particular label for a single instance and what features were most influential for that particular instance. The only method that is currently able to provide such explanations are decision trees. This paper proposes a procedure which (based on a set of assumptions) allows to explain the decisions of any classification method.Comment: 31 pages, 14 figure

Mud2 functions in transcription by recruiting the Prp19 and TREX complexes to transcribed genes

The different steps of gene expression are intimately linked to coordinate and regulate this complex process. During transcription, numerous RNA-binding proteins are already loaded onto the nascent mRNA and package the mRNA into a messenger ribonucleoprotein particle (mRNP). These RNA-binding proteins are often also involved in other steps of gene expression than mRNA packaging. For example, TREX functions in transcription, mRNP packaging and nuclear mRNA export. Previously, we showed that the Prp19 splicing complex (Prp19C) is needed for efficient transcription as well as TREX occupancy at transcribed genes. Here, we show that the splicing factor Mud2 interacts with Prp19C and is needed for Prp19C occupancy at transcribed genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interestingly, Mud2 is not only recruited to intron-containing but also to intronless genes indicating a role in transcription. Indeed, we show for the first time that Mud2 functions in transcription. Furthermore, these functions of Mud2 are likely evolutionarily conserved as Mud2 is also recruited to an intronless gene and interacts with Prp19C in Drosophila melanogaster. Taken together, we classify Mud2 as a novel transcription factor that is necessary for the recruitment of mRNA-binding proteins to the transcription machinery. Thus, Mud2 is a multifunctional protein important for transcription, splicing and most likely also mRNP packaging

The Waste Collection Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows in a City Logistics Context

AbstractCollection of waste is an important logistic activity within any city. In this paper we study how to collect waste in an efficient way. We study the Waste Collection Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Window which is concerned with finding cost optimal routes for garbage trucks such that all garbage bins are emptied and the waste is driven to disposal sites while respecting customer time windows and ensuring that drivers are given the breaks that the law requires. We propose an adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm for solving the problem and illustrate the usefulness of the algorithm by showing that the algorithm can improve the objective of a set of instances from the literature as well as for instances provided by a Danish garbage collection company

How Speededness of a Reasoning Test and the Complexity of Mental Speed Tasks Influence the Relation between Mental Speed and Reasoning Ability.

Although previous research has consistently reported a positive association between mental speed and reasoning ability, it remains unclear whether the magnitude of this association depends on whether the reasoning test is administered with or without a time limit. In addition, it is unknown how mental speed task complexity affects the mental speed-reasoning association when the effects of time limitations in the reasoning test (labeled "speededness") are controlled for. The present study examined these questions in a sample of 200 participants who completed the time-limited Culture Fair Test (CFT) and a Hick task with three levels of complexity to measure mental speed. Results showed that the latent correlation between mental speed and reasoning was slightly lower when the effect of speededness in reasoning was statistically controlled for. However, for both controlled and uncontrolled reasoning, the correlation with mental speed was of medium size and statistically significant. When reasoning was controlled for the effects of speededness, only complexity-related mental speed aspects were correlated with reasoning, whereas basic mental speed aspects were correlated with the speededness factor and unrelated to reasoning. These findings demonstrate that time limitations in reasoning tests and complexity in mental speed tasks affect the magnitude of the mental speed-reasoning association