Leading with political astuteness: A study of public managers in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom

Combining quantitative survey data from over 1000 middle and senior public managers, as well as qualitative data from 42 in-depth interviews, the study sheds light on how managers understand politics in their work; how they rate their own and their colleagues’ political skills; how they use their political skills; and how these skills were developed. The report also sets forth recommendations to improve the development of managers’ political astuteness at the level of the individual, the organisation, and the professional body/training provider

Glutathione as a Predictor of Neuropsychological Impairment in Patients with Relapsing Remitting, Secondary Progressive, and Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has long been characterized as an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS); however, recent research has suggested that neurodegenerative processes such as oxidative stress may be the primary force driving disease progression and associated neuropsychological impairment in this population. Recent work by our research group identified GSH, an important cerebral antioxidant, as a marker of oxidative stress-mediated neurodegeneration in patients with secondary progressive (SP) MS. However, the present study featured the first comparison of cerebral GSH concentrations among patients with RR, PP, and SP subtypes of MS and healthy controls. The primary aims of this study were to examine differences in GSH concentrations among subtypes of MS and to investigate whether reductions in GSH concentrations occurred in conjunction with neuropsychological impairments in processing speed, memory, and executive function. Results indicated that relative to RR patients, progressive (PP and SP) patients exhibited the largest reductions in GSH concentrations, with no significant differences between PP and SP patients. A similar pattern of outcomes was observed on the neuropsychological measures, with reductions in GSH being accompanied by a worsening of impairment in processing speed and a broadening of impairment to include deficits in learning and memory. These results support the hypothesis that even in the absence of inflammatory processes underlying acute clinical exacerbations, diffuse oxidative stress signals an ongoing neurodegenerative process that likely contributes to disease progression and cognitive decline over the course of the disease

Measuring Processing Speed Deficits in Multiple Sclerosis: A Comparison of Reaction Time and Rapid Serial Processing

Research has suggested that information processing speed is the primary cognitive deficit associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). The present study featured a comparison of three paper-based and computer-based neuropsychological tests designed to measure processing speed. We found that the Simple Reaction Time subtest of the Computerized Test of Information Processing, and the combined scores for the word reading and color naming subtests of the computerized Stroop, were the most effective measures for differentiating MS patients from healthy controls in terms of processing speed. These measures also demonstrated the least susceptibility to practice effects, and the least reliance on possibly confounding cognitive processes (e.g., memory). Findings from this research will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the cognitive processes affected by MS, and will justify the use of computerized versions of these tests in future research

Understanding the information needs of users of public information about higher education

Report to HEFCE by Oakleigh Consulting and Staffordshire University. "This study's aims were to carry out research into understanding the needs of intended users (primarily prospective students but with some focus on their advisors and employers) of public information on higher education (HE). The work focussed on England, but also took into account Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland where relevant." - Page 1