Brokering innovation to better leverage R&D investment

What is the contribution of innovation brokers in leveraging research and development (R&D) investment to enhance industry-wide capabilities? The case of the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation (CRC CI) is considered in the context of motivating supply chain firms to improve their organizational capabilities in order to acquire, assimilate, transfer and exploit R&D outcomes to their advantage, and to create broader industry and national benefits. A previous audit and analysis has shown an increase in business R&D investment since 2001. The role of the CRC CI in contributing to growth in the absorptive capacity of the Australian construction industry as a whole is illustrated through two programmes: digital modelling/building information modelling (BIM) and construction site safety. Numerous positive outcomes in productivity, quality, improved safety and competitiveness were achieved between 2001 and 2009

Reported prevalence of gestational diabetes in Scotland: the relationship with obesity, age, socioeconomic status, smoking and macrosomia, and how many are we missing?

Aims/Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as ‘carbohydrate intolerance of varying degrees of severity with onset or first recognition during pregnancy,’ and is associated with increased fetal and maternal risks. The aims of the present study were to investigate the prevalence of GDM in Scotland over 32 years (1981–2012), and using the data from 2012, to assess how GDM related to maternal body mass index, maternal age, parity, smoking, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, infant gender and macrosomia status. Materials and Methods: GDM prevalence along with anthropometric, obstetric and demographic data were collected on a total of 1,891,097 women with a delivery episode between 1 January 1981 and 31 December 2012 using data extracted from the Scottish Morbidity Record 02. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was undertaken to investigate their association with GDM. Results: A ninefold increase in GDM prevalence was observed from 1981 to 2012 (P < 0.001). GDM prevalence in 2012 was 1.9%. Maternal body mass index, age, parity status, Scottish index of multiple deprivation and fetal macrosomia were positively associated with GDM. Reported smoking status at booking was inversely associated with GDM. Multivariable analysis showed that fetal macrosomia was not associated with GDM status. Conclusions: The present study confirmed that the reporting of GDM is low in Scotland, and that GDM is associated with maternal body mass index, maternal age, multiparity and social deprivation. GDM was negatively associated with smoking and requires further investigation. The lack of association between GDM and macrosomia (following multivariate analysis) might reflect the screening processes undertaken in Scotland

Significance of epitope spreading in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus

Os pênfigos são dermatoses bolhosas auto-imunes, em que há a produção de auto-anticorpos direcionados contra moléculas de adesão dos epitélios, levando à perda da coesão celular. A produção de auto-anticorpos ocorre quando os pacientes desenvolvem um desequilíbrio da resposta imune (quebra da tolerância imunológica), passando a reconhecer antígenos próprios. A resposta é geralmente direcionada contra um único epítopo alvo; entretanto, como conseqüência da resposta inflamatória do processo primário e do extenso dano tecidual ocasionado, pode haver exposição de componentes protéicos ocultos, levando à produção de diferentes auto-anticorpos. Assim, é possível que surja uma nova doença cutânea auto-imune, em decorrência do fenômeno intra ou intermolecular de epitope spreading. São revistos os principais conceitos desse fenômeno e sua ocorrência nas dermatoses bolhosas auto-imunes, com ênfase nos pênfigos, grupo de dermatoses bolhosas autoimunes mais prevalente no Brasil.Pemphigus comprises autoimmune blistering skin diseases in which autoantibodies directed against antigens (epithelial adhesion molecules) are found, leading to loss of cell cohesion. The production of autoantibodies occurs due to an immune imbalance (break of immune tolerance) driving to recognition of self- antigens. The response is usually directed against an exclusive target epitope; however, due to the inflammatory response and to the extensive tissue damage, it is possible that the exposure of hidden protein components leads to distinct autoantibody production. Hence, a new autoimmune disease may occur in consequence of an intra- or intermolecular epitope spreading phenomenon. The authors review the main concepts of this phenomenon, and its occurrence in autoimmune blistering diseases, with emphasis on pemphigus, the most prevalent disease of this group in our country

Prevalence of Comorbidities and Their Influence on Blood Pressure Goal Attainment in Geriatric Patients

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72595/1/j.1076-7460.2007.05543.x.pd

Genetic modifiers of ambulation in the cooperative international Neuromuscular Research Group Duchenne natural history study

OBJECTIVE: We studied the effects of LTBP4 and SPP1 polymorphisms on age at loss of ambulation (LoA) in a multiethnic Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cohort. METHODS: We genotyped SPP1 rs28357094 and LTBP4 haplotype in 283 of 340 participants in the Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group Duchenne Natural History Study (CINRG-DNHS). Median ages at LoA were compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test. We controlled polymorphism analyses for concurrent effects of glucocorticoid corticosteroid (GC) treatment (time-varying Cox regression) and for population stratification (multidimensional scaling of genome-wide markers). RESULTS: Hispanic and South Asian participants (n=18, 41) lost ambulation 2.7 and 2 years earlier than Caucasian subjects (p=0.003, <0.001). The TG/GG genotype at SPP1 rs28357094 was associated to 1.2-year-earlier median LoA (p=0.048). This difference was greater (1.9 years, p=0.038) in GC-treated participants, whereas no difference was observed in untreated subjects. Cox regression confirmed a significant effect of SPP1 genotype in GC-treated participants (hazard ratio = 1.61, p=0.016). LTBP4 genotype showed a direction of association with age at LoA as previously reported, but it was not statistically significant. After controlling for population stratification, we confirmed a strong effect of LTBP4 genotype in Caucasians (2.4 years, p =0.024). Median age at LoA with the protective LTBP4 genotype in this cohort was 15.0 years, 16.0 for those who were treated with GC. INTERPRETATION: SPP1 rs28357094 acts as a pharmacodynamic biomarker of GC response, and LTBP4 haplotype modifies age at LoA in the CINRG-DNHS cohort. Adjustment for GC treatment and population stratification appears crucial in assessing genetic modifiers in DMDFil: Bello, Luca. Children's National Medical Center; Estados Unidos. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Kesari, Akanchha. Children's National Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Gordish Dressman, Heather. Children's National Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Cnaan, Avital. Children's National Medical Center; Estados Unidos. The George Washington University; Estados UnidosFil: Morgenroth, Lauren P.. Children's National Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Punetha, Jaya. Children's National Medical Center; Estados Unidos. The George Washington University; Estados UnidosFil: Duong, Tina. Children's National Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Henricson, Erik K.. University of California at Davis; Estados UnidosFil: Pegoraro, Elena. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: McDonald, Craig M.. University of California at Davis; Estados UnidosFil: Hoffman, Eric P.. Children's National Medical Center; Estados Unidos. The George Washington University; Estados UnidosFil: Dubrovsky, Alberto. Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group Investigators; ArgentinaFil: Andreone, Luz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires - Instituto Partner de la Sociedad Max Planck; Argentina. Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group Investigators; Argentina. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group Investigators. No especifica

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity

This is the sixth of a series of articles based on presentations at the America