Foundation Communications Today: Findings from the 2011 Survey of Foundation Communications Professionals

(The survey was designed and analyzed by Michael Remaley, founder, Hamill Remaley breakthrough communications.)"Foundation Communications Today" updates our 2008 "State of the Practice Survey." Once again, we asked professionals who hold communications jobs in foundations to tell us "how and what are you doing?"Through our online questionnaire, we probed to learn how foundation communicators perceive their roles and whether they feel they are central to the work of their organizations. We asked questions about how they spend their time, size of budgets, what is working and the challenges they face. We also wanted to know how quickly they are adopting social media and other forms of digital communications, how transparent they considered their organizations, what are their attitudes toward communicating about failure and more.Among the findings:Communications professionals at America's grantmaking foundations are responding to the digital age. Our survey of 155 foundation communicators shows U.S. foundations are making use of all forms digital communications, especially social media, a top priority. The survey results suggest the growth of social media and other emerging digital technologies is changing the way foundations communicate with target audiences. Almost half of foundation communicators surveyed (47%) said they work for organizations that have blogs and over three-quarters (76%) host videos on their websites. On average, respondents estimated that nearly a quarter (24%) of their communications dollars in 2011 would be spent on electronic communications, more than any other tactic, although printed annual reports and other print publications still consume a sizeable share of the communications budget. Increasing capacity for new media and related digital work was cited as a high internal priority by 60 percent of survey participants, more than any other response

Genetic variation in selected acorn and seedling characteristics of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.).

Three separate studies were conducted to evaluate genetic variation in selected acorn and seedling characteristics of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and white oak (Quercus alba L.). The objective of the studies were to: (1) evaluate sources of genetic variation and genotype-environmental interaction in seedling characteristics, (2) determine occurrence and frequency of polyembryony within and among half-sib families of northern red oak and relationships between acorn size and polyembryony, and (3) determine the maximum length of time northern red oak acorns can be left under simulated orchard conditions and collection procedures and remain viable. For the first objective, seedlings from 12 genetic families of both species were grown at locations in Tennessee and Georgia. White oak was found to be very sensitive to early growing season water stress that occurred at the Tennessee location, causing cessation of seedling growth following initial germination and growth. Following increased soil moisture levels, the seedlings generally failed and set a terminal bud to recommence growth and development. The northern red oak seedlings were subjected to the same water stress, but responded to the increase in soil moisture levels. However, the seedlings failed to reach the same size as the other location. Northern red oak families exhibited wide variation between family means. A distribution analysis on number of first-order lateral roots, indicated that most seedlings will fail to meet minimum standards for planting on highly competitive upland sites. Single tree and family heritability estimates for growth characteristics were relatively similar at both locations and generally lower than combined location estimates. Acorn germination and dissections were used to determine the occurrence of polyembryony in eight open-pollinated families of northern red oak. Relationships between acorn size and polyembryony was determined between collections of two mother trees. Only seed sources from Overton County, Tennessee, produced polyembryonic acorns. Acorn germination tests revealed more embryos per acorn than acorn dissections. As acorn size increased, the number of embryos increased in families predisposed to polyembryony. The occurrence of polyembryony in northern red oak open pollinated families indicated that seed sources should be screened for polyembryony occurrence. A two year study of the relationship between acorn moisture content, weather and the number of days following natural seed fall under simulated orchard conditions. Northern red oak acorns were collected from 10 trees and were subjected to five levels of shading for a thirty day period and at two day intervals, acorn moisture content was determined. It was found that acorn moisture content did not desiccate below 25 percent under all shading regimes, indicating that viability was not affected. Results of the experiment generally indicated that other factors such as predation should be of greater importance to overall viability of acorn crops than acorn desiccation

Interferences from blood collection tube components on clinical chemistry assays

Improper design or use of blood collection devices can adversely affect the accuracy of laboratory test results. Vascular access devices, such as catheters and needles, exert shear forces during blood flow, which creates a predisposition to cell lysis. Components from blood collection tubes, such as stoppers, lubricants, surfactants, and separator gels, can leach into specimens and/or adsorb analytes from a specimen; special tube additives may also alter analyte stability. Because of these interactions with blood specimens, blood collection devices are a potential source of pre-analytical error in laboratory testing. Accurate laboratory testing requires an understanding of the complex interactions between collection devices and blood specimens. Manufacturers, vendors, and clinical laboratorians must consider the pre-analytical challenges in laboratory testing. Although other authors have described the effects of endogenous substances on clinical assay results, the effects/impact of blood collection tube additives and components have not been well systematically described or explained. This review aims to identify and describe blood collection tube additives and their components and the strategies used to minimize their effects on clinical chemistry assays

Apolipoprotein Mimetic Peptides: A New Approach for the Treatment of Asthma

New treatments are needed for severe asthmatics to improve disease control and avoid severe toxicities associated with oral corticosteroids. We have used a murine model of house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthma to identify steroid-unresponsive genes that might represent targets for new therapeutic approaches for severe asthma. This strategy identified apolipoprotein E as a steroid-unresponsive gene with increased mRNA expression in the lungs of HDM-challenged mice. Furthermore, apolipoprotein E functioned as an endogenous negative regulator of airway hyperreactivity and goblet cell hyperplasia in experimental HDM-induced asthma. The ability of apolipoprotein E, which is expressed by lung macrophages, to attenuate AHR, and goblet cell hyperplasia is mediated by low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors expressed by airway epithelial cells. Consistent with this, administration of an apolipoprotein E mimetic peptide, corresponding to amino acids 130–149 of the LDL receptor-binding domain of the holo-apoE protein, significantly reduced AHR and goblet cell hyperplasia in HDM-challenged apoE−/− mice. These findings identified the apolipoprotein E – LDL receptor pathway as a new druggable target for asthma that can be activated by administration of apoE-mimetic peptides. Similarly, apolipoprotein A-I may have therapeutic potential in asthma based upon its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-fibrotic properties. Furthermore, administration of apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptides has attenuated airway inflammation, airway remodeling, and airway hyperreactivity in murine models of experimental asthma. Thus, site-directed delivery of inhaled apolipoprotein E or apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptides may represent novel treatment approaches that can be developed for asthma, including severe disease

High-density lipoprotein revisited: biological functions and clinical relevance

Previous interest in high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) focused on their possible protective role in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Evidence from genetic studies and randomized trials, however, questioned that the inverse association of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) is causal. This review aims to provide an update on the role of HDL in health and disease, also beyond ASCVD. Through evolution from invertebrates, HDLs are the principal lipoproteins, while apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins first developed in vertebrates. HDLs transport cholesterol and other lipids between different cells like a reusable ferry, but serve many other functions including communication with cells and the inactivation of biohazards like bacterial lipopolysaccharides. These functions are exerted by entire HDL particles or distinct proteins or lipids carried by HDL rather than by its cholesterol cargo measured as HDL-C. Neither does HDL-C measurement reflect the efficiency of reverse cholesterol transport. Recent studies indicate that functional measures of HDL, notably cholesterol efflux capacity, numbers of HDL particles, or distinct HDL proteins are better predictors of ASCVD events than HDL-C. Low HDL-C levels are related observationally, but also genetically, to increased risks of infectious diseases, death during sepsis, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. Additional, but only observational, data indicate associations of low HDL-C with various autoimmune diseases, and cancers, as well as all-cause mortality. Conversely, extremely high HDL-C levels are associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (also genetically), infectious disease, and all-cause mortality. HDL encompasses dynamic multimolecular and multifunctional lipoproteins that likely emerged during evolution to serve several physiological roles and prevent or heal pathologies beyond ASCVD. For any clinical exploitation of HDL, the indirect marker HDL-C must be replaced by direct biomarkers reflecting the causal role of HDL in the respective disease