Mapping provision of enterprise education and support for entrepreneurship in England's higher education institutions

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of support for enterprise and entrepreneurship education within England's Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The paper is based upon the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) Mapping Study of this activity. Research commissioned by NCGE (NCGE 2004; Hannon, 2005) has shown that there is a growing knowledge base about enterprise education but less so concerning the provision for student enterprise and graduate entrepreneurship. There has been no recent study that has comprehensively mapped enterprise education activity in all higher education institutions across England. Institutional contacts in 94% of all the HEIs for this study entered data into an online institutional mapping template containing questions on modules/courses, non-accredited support and other institutional characteristics. The researchers maintained regular telephone contact and made personal visits to maximise data entry and to provide support where needed. This approach has led to the collection of a unique and robust data set that has been thoroughly and empirically analysed using SPSS. The paper presents a national overview and highlights selected regional variations in enterprise education and non–accredited entrepreneurship support. This includes: current and planned course provision over time; student profiles and targets; primary learning outcomes; non-accredited provision and student engagement; primary funding sources; and the development of a range of institutional characteristics conducive to supporting student enterprise and graduate entrepreneurship. The findings from the mapping study illuminate the current HE landscape of support for enterprise and entrepreneurship thereby providing HEIs and educators with a valuable national resource as well as informing other key stakeholders – RDAs and central government – of the scope and scale of the contribution that HEIs offer to regional economic and social agendas. From such a unique evidence base more informed decisions can be taken in considering effective mechanisms for the future growth and development of HEI contributions. This paper offers the findings from a current comprehensive dataset on the HE provision of enterprise and entrepreneurship education in England. With 94% of the HEIs in the study providing data online the study has also created a nationaldatabase that can be a platform for sharing knowledge and experience across the community. Furthermore conducting a repeat online study on an annual basis will provide valuable time series data. The study findings will help shape the future environment for student enterprise and graduate entrepreneurship across England

The state of education provision for enterprise and entrepreneurship: A mapping study of England’s HEIs

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of provision for enterprise and entrepreneurship education within England’s Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The paper is based on the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) Mapping Study of enterprise education in England. Research commissioned by NCGE (ISBA 2004) has shown that there is a growing knowledge base about the nature of enterprise education but less so evidence concerning the provision for enhancing student enterprise and graduate entrepreneurship. Although studies have taken place in the US and Levie undertook a study of the UK published in 1999, there has been no recent study that has comprehensively mapped enterprise education activity in all higher education institutions across England. Institutional contacts in 94% of all the HEIs for this study entered data into an online institutional mapping template containing questions on modules/courses, non-accredited support and other institutional characteristics. The researchers maintained regular telephone contact and made personal visits to maximise data entry and to provide support where needed. This approach has led to the collection of a unique and robust data set that has been analysed using SPSS. The paper presents a national overview and highlights selected regional variations in enterprise education and non–accredited entrepreneurship support. This includes: current and planned course provision over time; student profiles and targets; primary learning outcomes; non-accredited provision and student engagement; primary funding sources; and the development of a range of institutional characteristics conducive to supporting student enterprise and graduate entrepreneurship. The findings from the mapping study illuminate the current HE landscape of support for enterprise and entrepreneurship thereby providing HEIs and educators with a valuable national resource. Additionally, this informs other key stakeholders – RDAs and central government – of the scope and scale of the contribution that HEIs offer to regional economic and social agendas. From such a unique evidence base more informed decisions can be taken when considering effective mechanisms for the future growth and development of HEI contributions. This paper offers the findings from a unique and current comprehensive dataset on the HE provision of enterprise and entrepreneurship education in England. With 94% of the HEIs in the study providing data online the study has created a national database that can be a platform for sharing knowledge and experience across the community. Furthermore conducting a repeat online study on an annual basis will provide valuable time series data. The study findings will help shape the future environment for student enterprise and graduate entrepreneurship across England

An investigation into the role of emotion in leadership development for entrepreneurs

PurposeThe Holy Grail of leadership learning is to stimulate behavioural changes that continue beyond the learning environment into the workplace, ultimately leading to improved productivity and value. This study explores the interface between emotion and leadership learning and provides evidence from research undertaken in Wales (UK) to support further research on the use of emotion in this endeavour. Approach Unique access to a successful programme of guided leadership development for owner-managers of SMEs in Wales, UK, provided an opportunity to observe emotion being used and experienced by both learners and trainers. Literature reviews were used to inform initial inferences made during participant observations of a sample of the learners (N=91). Focus groups were undertaken with a sample (N= 27) of participants in order to determine the emotional impact and perceived effectiveness of the method by the learners. FindingsThe data corroborated the authors’ observations that emotion plays a role in the leadership practice of the learners and in the learning process. No appropriate conceptual model exists that describes this learning method or its mode of impact upon learning. A gap exists in the academic understanding of this observed social reality and multi-disciplinary research is required in order to further characterise and understand it. Practical implications Improvements in leadership have been consistently linked to improvements in firm performance. Bringing new insights that lead to effective learning and constructive behaviour changes in the leaders of SMEs and their employees could have profound positive impacts on entrepreneurial economies. Originality/valueThis novel perspective on leadership development within the life world of the entrepreneur moves away from the established literature which has traditionally focussed on cognitive or conative constructs, often focussed on the corporate or large organisation leader, and calls for further research into the synthesis of leadership, entrepreneurship and emotion.

A rapid and sensitive assay for quantification of siRNA efficiency and specificity

RNA Interference has rapidly emerged as an efficient procedure for knocking down gene expression in model systems. However, cross-reactivity, whereby multiple genes may be simultaneously targeted by a single short interfering RNA (siRNA), can potentially jeopardize correct interpretation of gene function. As such, it is essential to test the specificity of a siRNA prior to a full phenotypic analysis. To this end, we have adapted a reporter-based assay harnessing the sensitivity of luciferase activity to provide a quantitative readout of relative RNAi efficacy and specificity. We have tested different siRNAs directed against Thymosin β4 (Tβ4); determined their effectiveness at silencing Tβ4 and have both excluded off-target silencing of the Tβ4 homologue Thymosin β10 (Tβ10) and demonstrated partial knockdown of Tβ10 despite significant (12/23; 52%) sequence mismatch. This assay system is applicable to any RNAi study where there is a risk of targeting homologous genes and to the monitoring of off-target effects at the genome level following microarray expression profiling

Capacity building for evidence-based decision making in local health departments: Scaling up an effective training approach

Abstract Background There are few studies describing how to scale up effective capacity-building approaches for public health practitioners. This study tested local-level evidence-based decision making (EBDM) capacity-building efforts in four U.S. states (Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington) with a quasi-experimental design. Methods Partners within the four states delivered a previously established Evidence-Based Public Health (EBPH) training curriculum to local health department (LHD) staff. They worked with the research team to modify the curriculum with local data and examples while remaining attentive to course fidelity. Pre- and post-assessments of course participants (n = 82) and an external control group (n = 214) measured importance, availability (i.e., how available a skill is when needed, either within the skillset of the respondent or among others in the agency), and gaps in ten EBDM competencies. Simple and multiple linear regression models assessed the differences between pre- and post-assessment scores. Course participants also assessed the impact of the course on their work. Results Course participants reported greater increases in the availability, and decreases in the gaps, in EBDM competencies at post-test, relative to the control group. In adjusted models, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in ‘action planning,’ ‘evaluation design,’ ‘communicating research to policymakers,’ ‘quantifying issues (using descriptive epidemiology),’ and ‘economic evaluation.’ Nearly 45% of participants indicated that EBDM increased within their agency since the training. Course benefits included becoming better leaders and making scientifically informed decisions. Conclusions This study demonstrates the potential for improving EBDM capacity among LHD practitioners using a train-the-trainer approach involving diverse partners. This approach allowed for local tailoring of strategies and extended the reach of the EBPH course.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109528/1/13012_2014_Article_124.pd

Epigenome-wide association study of human frontal cortex identifies differential methylation in Lewy body pathology

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are closely related progressive disorders with no available disease-modifying therapy, neuropathologically characterized by intraneuronal aggregates of misfolded α-synuclein. To explore the role of DNA methylation changes in PD and DLB pathogenesis, we performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of 322 postmortem frontal cortex samples and replicated results in an independent set of 200 donors. We report novel differentially methylated replicating loci associated with Braak Lewy body stage near TMCC2 , SFMBT2 , AKAP6 and PHYHIP . Differentially methylated probes were independent of known PD genetic risk alleles. Meta-analysis provided suggestive evidence for a differentially methylated locus within the chromosomal region affected by the PD-associated 22q11.2 deletion. Our findings elucidate novel disease pathways in PD and DLB and generate hypotheses for future molecular studies of Lewy body pathology

Toward optimal implementation of cancer prevention and control programs in public health: A study protocol on mis-implementation

Abstract Background Much of the cancer burden in the USA is preventable, through application of existing knowledge. State-level funders and public health practitioners are in ideal positions to affect programs and policies related to cancer control. Mis-implementation refers to ending effective programs and policies prematurely or continuing ineffective ones. Greater attention to mis-implementation should lead to use of effective interventions and more efficient expenditure of resources, which in the long term, will lead to more positive cancer outcomes. Methods This is a three-phase study that takes a comprehensive approach, leading to the elucidation of tactics for addressing mis-implementation. Phase 1: We assess the extent to which mis-implementation is occurring among state cancer control programs in public health. This initial phase will involve a survey of 800 practitioners representing all states. The programs represented will span the full continuum of cancer control, from primary prevention to survivorship. Phase 2: Using data from phase 1 to identify organizations in which mis-implementation is particularly high or low, the team will conduct eight comparative case studies to get a richer understanding of mis-implementation and to understand contextual differences. These case studies will highlight lessons learned about mis-implementation and identify hypothesized drivers. Phase 3: Agent-based modeling will be used to identify dynamic interactions between individual capacity, organizational capacity, use of evidence, funding, and external factors driving mis-implementation. The team will then translate and disseminate findings from phases 1 to 3 to practitioners and practice-related stakeholders to support the reduction of mis-implementation. Discussion This study is innovative and significant because it will (1) be the first to refine and further develop reliable and valid measures of mis-implementation of public health programs; (2) bring together a strong, transdisciplinary team with significant expertise in practice-based research; (3) use agent-based modeling to address cancer control implementation; and (4) use a participatory, evidence-based, stakeholder-driven approach that will identify key leverage points for addressing mis-implementation among state public health programs. This research is expected to provide replicable computational simulation models that can identify leverage points and public health system dynamics to reduce mis-implementation in cancer control and may be of interest to other health areas

Selective Breeding for a Behavioral Trait Changes Digit Ratio

The ratio of the length of the second digit (index finger) divided by the fourth digit (ring finger) tends to be lower in men than in women. This 2D∶4D digit ratio is often used as a proxy for prenatal androgen exposure in studies of human health and behavior. For example, 2D∶4D ratio is lower (i.e. more “masculinized”) in both men and women of greater physical fitness and/or sporting ability. Lab mice have also shown variation in 2D∶4D as a function of uterine environment, and mouse digit ratios seem also to correlate with behavioral traits, including daily activity levels. Selective breeding for increased rates of voluntary exercise (wheel running) in four lines of mice has caused correlated increases in aerobic exercise capacity, circulating corticosterone level, and predatory aggression. Here, we show that this selection regime has also increased 2D∶4D. This apparent “feminization” in mice is opposite to the relationship seen between 2D∶4D and physical fitness in human beings. The present results are difficult to reconcile with the notion that 2D∶4D is an effective proxy for prenatal androgen exposure; instead, it may more accurately reflect effects of glucocorticoids, or other factors that regulate any of many genes

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy