The organizational innovation laboratory

Organizational ‘innovation laboratories’, dedicated facilities for encouraging creative behaviours and supporting innovative projects, have received scant academic attention despite their increasing popularity with a range of different practitioners. This paper develops an initial theoretical explanation of the phenomenon, based upon notions of organizational learning and dynamic capabilities. This framework is then used as the basis for analysing the structure, infrastructure, benefits and dis‐benefits of three UK‐based laboratory facilities (mass service, government department, academic institution). Preliminary conclusions suggest that the ‘innovation laboratory’ can offer real benefits for organizations: reinforcing corporate commitment to innovation and creativity by providing a physical manifestation of dynamic capability and double‐loop learning concepts. Although the physical design of the space is central to its functionality – emphasizing dislocation from day‐to‐day activity, eliminating hierarchy, encouraging participation – direct facilitation remains critical to successful operation. There are also dis‐benefits associated with what can be substantial financial investments and there is some evidence that such facilities can have a relatively short useful lifespan. Given the limited nature of the empirical base, the paper concludes with some specific suggestions for further work

Inhibin reduces spermatogonial numbers in testes of adult mice and chinese hamsters

Bovine follicular fluid (bFF) injected ip in mice during 2 days (65,000 U inhibin/day, 1 U inhibin the activity in 1 /μg bFF protein) caused a significant decrease in the numbers of A4, intermediate (In), and B spermatogonia to 91%,74%, and 67% of the control values, respectively. The numbers of undifferentiated spermatogonia remained unchanged. These injections suppressed peripheral FSH levels to 6% of the control values, suggesting that FSH might be the modulator of the effects on spermatogenesis. However, in the Chinese hamster, intratesticular injections of bFF during 4 days (6500 U inhibin/day into one testis) also caused a significant decrease in the numbers of A3, In, B1, and B2 spermatogonia to 86%, 61%, 55%, and 94% of the control values, respectively. Similarly, treatment with a partially purified inhibin preparation from rat Sertoli cell-conditioned medium (rSCCM) during 4 days (Mono Q fraction; 1512 U inhibin/day; 37.8 μg protein) caused a significant decrease in the numbers of A3, In, B1, and B2 spermatogonia to 90%, 87%, 66%, and 93% of the control values, respectively. Treatment with a highly purified inhibin preparation from rSCCM during 4 days (30K inhibin; 750 U inhibin/day; 100 ng protein) significantly decreased the numbers of In and B1 spermatogonia to, respectively, 87% and 91% of the control values. These effects were limited to the testis into which the material was injected; the contralateral testis or testes injected with control fluid always showed normal numbers of spermatogonia. This implies that the effects on the seminiferous epithelium are not FSH mediated. Intratesticular injections of bFF or pure inhibin did not affect the number of undifferentiated spermatogonia. However, the Mono Q fraction caused a significant increase in the numbers of undifferentiated spermatogonia in stages IV-VII of the cycle, suggesting the presence of a mitogenic factor for undifferentiated spermatogonia in rSCCM which is not present or is counteracted in bFF. The results suggest that inhibin may have a role in the regulation of spermatogonial development in the adult animal

Oncostatin-M inhibits luteinizing hormone stimulated Leydig cell progenitor formation in vitro

Background: The initial steps of stem Leydig cell differentiation into steroid producing progenitor cells are thought to take place independent of luteinizing hormone (LH), under the influence of locally produced factors such as leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), platelet derived growth factor A and stem cell factor. For the formation of a normal sized Leydig cell population in the adult testis, the presence of LH appears to be essential. Oncostatin M (OSM) is a multifunctional cytokine and member of the interleukin (IL)-6 family that also includes other cytokines such as LIF. In the rat OSM is highly expressed in the late fetal and neonatal testis, and may thus be a candidate factor involved in Leydig cell progenitor formation. Methods: Interstitial cells were isolated from 13-day-old rat testes and cultured for 1, 3 or 8 days in the presence of different doses of OSM ( range: 0.01 to 10 ng/ml) alone or in combination with LH ( 1 ng/ml). The effects of OSM and LH on cell proliferation were determined by incubating the cultures with [3H] thymidine or bromodeoxyuridine ( BrdU). Developing progenitor cells were identified histochemically by the presence of the marker enzyme 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD). Results: OSM, when added at a dose of 10 ng/ml, caused a nearly 2-fold increase in the percentage of Leydig cell progenitors after 8 days of culture. Immunohistochemical double labelling experiments with 3beta-HSD and BrdU antibodies showed that this increase was the result of differentiation of stem Leydig cells/precursor cells and not caused by proliferation of progenitor cells themselves. The addition of LH to the cultures consistently resulted in an increase in progenitor formation throughout the culture period. Surprisingly, when OSM and LH were added together, the LH induced rise in progenitor cells was significantly inhibited after 3 and 8 days of culture. Conclusion: Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that locally produced OSM may not only play a role in the regulation of Sertoli cell proliferation and the initiation of spermatogenesis but may also play a role in the regulation of Leydig cell progenitor formation by keeping the augmenting effects of LH on this process in abeyance

Rise and threat of infectious diseases

In 2019, 1 in 4 deaths was caused by infectious diseases. In addition to the big 3 - HIV, malaria and tuberculosis - these diseases are mainly respiratory infections, infectious diarrhoea and sepsis. The burden of disease caused by infections also remains high in the Netherlands. This could still get worse because of several factors: ageing, 'vaccination doubts', increased use of immunosuppressive drugs, increased mobility of people and globalisation of food chains. Global warming also affects the spread of pathogens and disease vectors. Pathogens have an impressive ability to adapt and, for example, to develop resistance to antimicrobial agents. In order to cope with these threats, we would do well to consider the emergence of new infectious diseases as well as the threat of old ones. What can we learn from decades past? Why do new infections keep emerging? What does the future look like?</p

Preoperative apolipoprotein CI levels correlate positively with the proinflammatory response in patients experiencing endotoxemia following elective cardiac surgery

Objective: Experimental models show that apolipoprotein CI (apoCI) binds and enhances the inflammatory response to endotoxin. We studied in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (CPB) and experiencing endotoxemia during reperfusion whether plasma apoCI levels correlate with the inflammatory response and perioperative cytokine release. Design: Prospective, observational, clinical cohort study. Setting: Operating room (OR) and intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. Patients: One hundred fifty-nine consecutive patients > 18 years of age (66% males (n = 105), median age 65 and 67 years for males and females, respectively) undergoing elective cardiothoracic surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Interventions: None. Measurements: Baseline apoCI, apoCIII, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and perioperative endotoxin and TNF-α levels were determined. Results: High preoperative plasma apoCI, but not apoCIII, levels were associated (p < 0.05) with increased perioperative levels of TNF-α in patients experiencing endotoxemia. This association was not observed in patients without endotoxemia. Conclusion: High plasma apoCI is positively related to proinflammatory response in patients experiencing endotoxemia and confirms the observations in animal models. © 2008 The Author(s)

A novel locus for mycelial aggregation forms a gateway to improved Streptomyces cell factories

Microbial Biotechnolog

Prognostic value of multiple repeated biomarkers in pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease

Contains fulltext : 202687.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Sleep-promoting neurons remodel their response properties to calibrate sleep drive with environmental demands

Falling asleep at the wrong time can place an individual at risk of immediate physical harm. However, not sleeping degrades cognition and adaptive behavior. To understand how animals match sleep need with environmental demands, we used live-brain imaging to examine the physiological response properties of the dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) following interventions that modify sleep (sleep deprivation, starvation, time-restricted feeding, memory consolidation) in Drosophila. We report that dFB neurons change their physiological response-properties to dopamine (DA) and allatostatin-A (AstA) in response to different types of waking. That is, dFB neurons are not simply passive components of a hard-wired circuit. Rather, the dFB neurons intrinsically regulate their response to the activity from upstream circuits. Finally, we show that the dFB appears to contain a memory trace of prior exposure to metabolic challenges induced by starvation or time-restricted feeding. Together, these data highlight that the sleep homeostat is plastic and suggests an underlying mechanism