scholarly journals Gender and language use in scientific grant writing

FACETS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 442-458
Author(s):  
Mackenzie Urquhart-Cronish ◽  
Sarah P. Otto
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Rejection Rate ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Women In Science ◽  
Grant Writing ◽  
Career Stage ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Language Variables

Women in science, technology, engineering, and math are not equally represented across tenure-track career stages, and this extends to grant funding, where women applicants often have lower success rates compared with men. While gender bias in reviewers has been documented, it is currently unknown whether written language in grant applications varies predictably with gender to elicit bias against women. Here we analyse the text of ∼2000 public research summaries from the 2016 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) individual Discovery Grant (DG) program. We explore the relationship between language variables, inferred gender and career stage, and funding levels. We also analyse aggregated data from the 2012–2018 NSERC DG competitions to determine whether gender impacted the probability of receiving a grant for early-career researchers. We document a marginally significant gender difference in funding levels for successful grants, with women receiving $1756 less than men, and a large and significant difference in rejection rates among early-career applicants (women: 40.4% rejection; men: 33.0% rejection rate). Language variables had little ability to predict gender or funding level using predictive modelling. Our results indicate that NSERC funding levels and success rates differ between men and women, but we find no evidence that gendered language use affected funding outcomes.

scholarly journals Cross-Center Virtual Education Fellowship Program for Early-Career Researchers in Atrial Fibrillation

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinuola B. Ajayi ◽  
Christy D. Remein ◽  
Randall S. Stafford ◽  
Angela Fagerlin ◽  
Mina K. Chung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Grant Writing ◽  
Career Stage ◽  
Fellowship Program ◽  
Pedagogical Model ◽  
Grant Applications

Background: It is estimated that over 46 million individuals have atrial fibrillation (AF) worldwide, and the incidence and prevalence of AF are increasing globally. There is an urgent need to accelerate the academic development of scientists possessing the skills to conduct innovative, collaborative AF research. Methods: We designed and implemented a virtual AF Strategically Focused Research Network Cross-Center Fellowship program to enhance the competencies of early-stage AF basic, clinical, and population health researchers through experiential education and mentorship. The pedagogical model involves significant cross-center collaboration to produce a curriculum focused on enhancing AF scientific competencies, fostering career/professional development, and cultivating grant writing skills. Outcomes for success involve clear expectations for fellows to produce manuscripts, presentations, and—for those at the appropriate career stage–grant applications. We evaluated the effectiveness of the fellowship model via mixed methods formative and summative surveys. Results: In 2 years of the fellowship, fellows generally achieved the productivity metrics sought by our pedagogical model, with outcomes for the 12 fellows including 50 AF-related manuscripts, 7 publications, 28 presentations, and 3 grant awards applications. Participant evaluations reported that the fellowship effectively met its educational objectives. All fellows reported medium to high satisfaction with the overall fellowship, webinar content and facilitation, staff communication and support, and program organization. Conclusions: The fellowship model represents an innovative educational strategy by providing a virtual AF training and mentoring curriculum for early-career basic, clinical, and population health scientists working across multiple institutions, which is particularly valuable in the pandemic era.

scholarly journals Mentoring Experiences and Publication Productivity among Early Career Biomedical Investigators and Trainees

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-282
Author(s):  
Angela Gutierrez ◽  
Lourdes R. Guerrero ◽  
Heather E. McCreath ◽  
Steven P. Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Early Career ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Grant Writing ◽  
Career Stage ◽  
Publication Productivity ◽  
Underrepresented Minority ◽  
Diverse Workforce ◽  
Annual Survey ◽  
Research Mentoring

Objective: To identify which mentoring domains influence publication productivity among early career researchers and trainees and whether publication productivity differs between underrepresented minority (URM) and well-represented groups (WRGs). The mentoring aspects that promote publica­tion productivity remain unclear. Advancing health equity requires a diverse workforce, yet URM trainees are less likely to publish and URM investigators are less likely to ob­tain federal research grants, relative to WRG counterparts.Participants: Early career biomedical investigators and trainees from the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN), N=115.Methods: A mentoring-focused online follow-up survey was administered to respondents of the NRMN Annual Survey who self-identified as mentees. Publications were identified from a public database and validated with participant CV data. Bivariate and multivariate analyses tested the as­sociations of publication productivity with mentoring domains.Results: URM investigators and trainees had fewer publications (M = 7.3) than their WRG counterparts (M = 13.8). Controlling for career stage and social characteristics, those who worked on funded projects, and received grant-writing or research mentorship, had a higher probability of any publications. Controlling for URM status, gender, and career stage, mentorship on grant-writing and funding was positively as­sociated with publication count (IRR=1.72). Holding career stage, gender, and mentor­ing experiences constant, WRG investigators and trainees had more publications than their URM counterparts (IRR=1.66).Conclusions: Grant-writing mentorship is particularly important for publica­tion productivity. Future research should investigate whether grant-writing mentor­ship differentially impacts URM and WRG investigators and should investigate how and why grant-writing mentorship fosters increased publication productivity. Ethn Dis. 2021;31(2):273-282; doi:10.18865/ed.31.2.273

scholarly journals Grant application outcomes for biomedical researchers who participated in the National Research Mentoring Network’s Grant Writing Coaching Programs

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0241851
Author(s):  
Anne Marie Weber-Main ◽  
Richard McGee ◽  
Kristin Eide Boman ◽  
Japera Hemming ◽  
Meldra Hall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Grant Writing ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Grant Application ◽  
Research Mentoring ◽  
Research Workforce ◽  
Reported Data ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Background A diverse research workforce is essential for catalyzing biomedical advancements, but this workforce goal is hindered by persistent sex and racial/ethnic disparities among investigators receiving research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In response, the NIH-funded National Research Mentoring Network implemented a Grant Writing Coaching Program (GCP) to provide diverse cohorts of early-career investigators across the United States with intensive coaching throughout the proposal development process. We evaluated the GCP’s national reach and short-term impact on participants’ proposal submissions and funding outcomes. Methods The GCP was delivered as six similar but distinct models. All models began with an in-person group session, followed by a series of coaching sessions over 4 to 12 months. Participants were surveyed at 6-, 12- and 18-months after program completion to assess proposal outcomes (submissions, awards). Self-reported data were verified and supplemented by searches of public repositories of awarded grants when available. Submission and award rates were derived from counts of participants who submitted or were awarded at least one grant proposal in a category (NIH, other federal, non-federal). Results From June 2015 through March 2019, 545 investigators (67% female, 61% under-represented racial/ethnic minority, URM) from 187 different institutions participated in the GCP. Among them, 324 (59% of participants) submitted at least one grant application and 134 (41% of submitters) received funding. A total of 164 grants were awarded, the majority being from the NIH (93, 56%). Of the 74 R01 (or similar) NIH research proposals submitted by GCP participants, 16 have been funded thus far (56% to URM, 75% to women). This 22% award rate exceeded the 2016–2018 NIH success rates for new R01s. Conclusion Inter- and intra-institutional grant writing coaching groups are a feasible and effective approach to supporting the grant acquisition efforts of early-career biomedical investigators, including women and those from URM groups.

scholarly journals Analysing Touchscreen Gestures: A Study Based on Individuals with Down Syndrome Centred on Design for All

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1328
Author(s):  
Jorge Martin-Gutierrez ◽  
Marta Sylvia Del Rio Guerra
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Impairments ◽  
Pairwise Comparison ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Touch Gestures ◽  
Design For All ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Collateral Effect ◽  
Completion Times

There has been a conscious shift towards developing increasingly inclusive applications. However, despite this fact, most research has focused on supporting those with visual or hearing impairments and less attention has been paid to cognitive impairments. The purpose of this study is to analyse touch gestures used for touchscreens and identify which gestures are suitable for individuals living with Down syndrome (DS) or other forms of physical or cognitive impairments. With this information, app developers can satisfy Design for All (DfA) requirements by selecting adequate gestures from existing lists of gesture sets. Twenty touch gestures were defined for this study and a sample group containing eighteen individuals with Down syndrome was used. A tool was developed to measure the performance of touch gestures and participants were asked to perform simple tasks that involved the repeated use of these twenty gestures. Three variables are analysed to establish whether they influence the success rates or completion times of gestures, as they could have a collateral effect on the skill with which gestures are performed. These variables are Gender, Type of Down syndrome, and Socioeconomic Status. Analysis reveals that significant difference is present when a pairwise comparison is performed, meaning individuals with DS cannot perform all gestures with the same ease. The variables Gender and Socioeconomic Status do not influence success rates or completion times, but Type of DS does.

The effect of displacement of the esophagus by transoesophageal echocardiography probe in cryoablation of atiral fibrillation

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Sun ◽  
X.M Yin ◽  
L.J Gao ◽  
X.J Xiao ◽  
X.H Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Risk ◽  
Transoesophageal Echocardiography ◽  
The Other ◽  
Esophageal Injury ◽  
Funding Source ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Procedure Time ◽  
Mechanical Displacement ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background Esophageal injury caused by cryoballoon-based PVI is common. Cryoablation guided by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for occlusion of the pulmonary vein (PV) is safe and effective. Objective To investigate the protective effect of mechanical displacement of the esophagus by TEE probe in cryoablation of atiral fibrillation. Methods Fifty patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) were enrolled in the present study. 25 patients underwent cryoablation without TEE (non-TEE group) and the other 25 underwent with TEE (TEE group) for PV occlusion guidance and displacement of the esophagus. In the TEE group during the procedure, TEE was used to guide the movement of the balloon to achieve PV occlusion. And before freezing, the probe of the TEE was moved to displace the esophagus away from the PV being freezed in order to reduce the risk of cryoinjury. All patients underwent esophagogastroscopy within 2 days of the procedure. The patients were followed up in our center at regularly scheduled visits every 2 months. Results There was no significant difference between the TEE group and non-TEE group in regard to the procedure time. The fluoroscopy time in the TEE group was less compared to the non-TEE group (4.1±3.3 min vs. 16.6±6.9 min, P<0.05), and the amount of contrast agent in the TEE group was less than the non-TEE group (4.7±5.7ml vs. 17.9±3.4 ml, P<0.05). The incidence of esophageal injury was significantly lower in TEE group compared with non-TEE group (0 vs. 20%, P<0.05). At a mean of 14.0 months follow-up, success rates were similar between the TEE group and non-TEE group (80.0% vs. 84.0%, P=0.80). Conclusion Cryoablation of AF with TEE for protecting the esophagus from cryoinjury is safe and effective. Lower risk of esophageal injury can be achieved with the help of TEE probe movement for mechanical displacement of the esophagus during freezing. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

The Contact Diffusion of Linguistic Practices

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Bohnemeyer ◽  
Katharine T. Donelson ◽  
Randi E. Moore ◽  
Elena Benedicto ◽  
Alyson Eggleston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Contact ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Reference Frames ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Spatial Reference ◽  
Diffusion Analysis ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Spatial Reference Frame ◽  
Using Data

We examine the extent to which practices of language use may be diffused through language contact and areally shared, using data on spatial reference frame use by speakers of eight indigenous languages from in and around the Mesoamerican linguistic area and three varieties of Spanish. Regression models show that the frequency of L2-Spanish use by speakers of the indigenous languages predicts the use of relative reference frames in the L1 even when literacy and education levels are accounted for. A significant difference in frame use between the Mesoamerican and non-Mesoamerican indigenous languages further supports the contact diffusion analysis.

Impact of Physician Training Level on Neonatal Tracheal Intubation Success Rates and Adverse Events: A Report from National Emergency Airway Registry for Neonates (NEAR4NEOS)

Neonatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Lindsay Johnston ◽  
Taylor Sawyer ◽  
Anne Ades ◽  
Ahmed Moussa ◽  
Jeanne Zenge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tracheal Intubation ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Estimating Equation ◽  
Oxygen Desaturation ◽  
Physician Training ◽  
Training Level ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Emergency Airway ◽  
Significant Difference

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Neonatal tracheal intubation (TI) outcomes have been assessed by role, but training level may impact TI success and safety. Effect of physician training level (PTL) on the first-attempt success, adverse TI-associated events (TIAEs), and oxygen desaturation was assessed. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Prospective cohort study in 11 international NEAR4NEOS sites between October 2014 and December 2017. Primary TIs performed by pediatric/neonatal physicians were included. Univariable analysis evaluated association between PTL, patient/practice characteristics, and outcomes. Multivariable analysis with generalized estimating equation assessed for independent association between PTL and outcomes (first-attempt success, TIAEs, and oxygen desaturation ≥20%; attending as reference). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of 2,608 primary TIs, 1,298 were first attempted by pediatric/neonatal physicians. PTL was associated with patient age, weight, comorbidities, TI indication, difficult airway history, premedication, and device. First-attempt success rate differed across PTL (resident 23%, fellow 53%, and attending 60%; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in TIAEs (resident 22%, fellow 20%, and attending 25%; <i>p</i> = 0.34). Desaturation occurred more frequently with residents (60%), compared to fellows and attendings (46 and 53%; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). In multivariable analysis, adjusted odds ratio of the first-attempt success was 0.18 (95% CI: 0.11–0.30) for residents and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.51–1.24) for fellows. PTL was not independently associated with adjusted odds of TIAEs or severe oxygen desaturation. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Higher PTL was associated with increased first-attempt success but not TIAE/oxygen desaturation. Identifying strategies to decrease adverse events during neonatal TI remains critical.

P–431 Human oocytes in-vitro maturation efficacy from infancy to adulthood – is there an optimal age?

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Karavani ◽  
P Wasserzug-Pash ◽  
T Mordechai-Daniel ◽  
M Klutstein ◽  
T Imbar
Keyword(s):  
Fertility Preservation ◽  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Ovarian Tissue ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Human Oocytes ◽  
Tertiary Center ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Study question Does human oocytes in-vitro maturation (IVM) effectiveness change throughout childhood, adolescence and adulthood in girls and women undergoing fertility preservation via ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) prior to chemo-radiotherapy exposure? Summary answer The optimal age for IVM is from menarche to 25 years, while pre-menarche girls and women older than 30 years have extremely low maturation rates. What is known already In vitro maturation of oocytes from antral follicles seen during tissue harvesting is a fertility preservation technique with potential advantages over OTC, as mature frozen and later thawed oocyte used for fertilization poses decreased risk of malignant cells re-seeding, as compared to ovarian tissue implantation. We previously demonstrated that IVM performed following OTC in fertility preservation patients, even in pre-menarche girls, yields a fair amount of oocytes available for IVM and freezing for future use. Study design, size, duration A retrospective cohort study, evaluating IVM outcomes in chemotherapy naïve patients referred for fertility preservation by OTC that had oocyte collected from the medium with attempted IVM between 2003 and 2020 in a university affiliated tertiary center. Participants/materials, setting, methods A total of 133 chemotherapy naïve patients aged 1–35 years with attempted IVM were included in the study. The primary outcome was IVM rate in the different age groups – pre-menarche (1–5 years and ≥6 years), post-menarche (menarche–17 years), young adults (18–24 years) and adults (25–29 and 30–35 years). Comparison between paired groups for significant difference in the IVM rate parameter was done using the Tukey’s Studentized Range (HSD) Test. Main results and the role of chance A gradual increase in mean IVM rate was demonstrated in the age groups over 1 to 25 years (4.6% (1–5 years), 23.8% (6 years to menarche) and 28.4% (menarche to 17 years), with a peak of 38.3% in the 18–24 years group, followed by a decrease in the 25–29 years group (19.3%), down to a very low IVM rate (8.9%) in the 30–35 years group. A significant difference in IVM rates was noted between the age extremes – the very young (1–5 years) and the oldest (30–35 years) groups, as compared with the 18–24-year group (p &lt; 0.001). Number of oocytes matured, percent of patients with matured oocytes and overall maturation rate differed significantly (p &lt; 0.001). Limitations, reasons for caution Data regarding ovarian reserve evaluation was not available for most of the patients, due to our pre-op OTC procedures protocol. None of our patients have used their frozen in-vitro matured oocytes, as such further implications of age on in-vitro matured oocytes quality and implantation potential has yet to be evaluated. Wider implications of the findings: Our finding of extremely low success rates in those very young (under 6 years) and older (≥30 years) patients suggest that IVM of oocyte retrieved during OTC prior to chemotherapy should not be attempted in these age group. Trial registration number N/A

A novel intracranial exchange guidewire improves the navigation of various endovascular devices: An in vitro study of challenging situations

2021 ◽  
pp. 159101992110573
Author(s):  
Naoki Kaneko ◽  
Ariel Takayanagi ◽  
Hamidreza Saber ◽  
Lea Guo ◽  
Satoshi Tateshima
Keyword(s):  
Giant Aneurysm ◽  
In Vitro Study ◽  
Target Vessel ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Intracranial Stenting ◽  
Aneurysm Neck ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Aneurysm Model ◽  
Endovascular Devices

Objective Neuroendovascular procedures rely on successful navigation and stable access to the target vessel. The Stabilizer is a 300 cm long exchange wire with a 0.014 diameter and a soft, flexible stent at the distal end designed to assist with navigation and device delivery. This study aims to assess the efficacy of the Stabilizer for navigation in a variety of challenging environments. Methods The efficacy of the Stabilizer was evaluated using three challenging vascular models: a giant aneurysm model, a severe tortuosity model, and an M1 stenosis model. The Stabilizer was compared with a conventional wire during navigation in each model. Results In the giant aneurysm model, there was no significant difference of success during straightening of a looped wire and significantly higher success rates when advancing an intermediate catheter with the Stabilizer beyond the aneurysm neck compared to a conventional guidewire. The Stabilizer also significantly increased success rates when advancing an intermediate catheter through a model with severe tortuosity compared to a conventional guidewire, as well as exchange maneuver for intracranial stenting in a stenosis model compared to an exchange wire. Conclusions In our experimental model, the Stabilizer significantly improved navigation and device delivery in a variety of challenging settings compared to conventional wires.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document