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HR Information

Female work satisfaction and promotion differences revealed

A new study has found that efforts to improve gender diversity in the workforce may be being hampered by focusing on issues that make women feel more satisfied rather than helping them achieve promotion.

According to the study, which surveyed 3,000 female and male professionals, the features of working life that provide women with career satisfaction are vastly different from those that drive career progression, HR Magazine reports. 

Critical job assignments, politically-skilled networking and risk-embracing seeking of opportunities are the factors which lead to women's career progression, according to IBM company Kenexa.

In terms of what makes them satisfied with career progression, women gave different responses. The answers given include having fair and objective HR processes in place to support promotion decisions as well as having a supportive line manager who believes in their potential. 

A clear plan about how to advance their career and achieve their goals also made women feel satisfied with their progression.

According to Kenexa senior psychologist at the High Performance Institute and report author Ines Wichert, the findings of the report could account for the slower progress of women to top positions. She points out that feeling satisfied with progression opportunities offers no guarantee of securing promotion.

"This could explain why many organisations struggle to see change as a result of their gender diversity initiatives – perhaps they are focusing on initiatives that make women feel more satisfied, but not on initiatives that drive actual promotions and therefore career progression for women," she commented.

Ms Wichert added that employers need to take this information into account when planning their gender diversity initiatives.

Campaign group Opportunity Now director Kathryn Nawrockyi said her studies show that companies with more women in leadership roles are twice as likely to have gender-focused objectives forming part of their diversity strategy.

Further findings of the report show that the "golden age" of career progression is considered to be between 28 and 34; thereafter, promotions and job satisfaction are said to decrease.

Categories
Microbiology

Stem cell therapy used to treat lung disease

Research conducted at the Boston Children's Hospital has shown it may be possible to treat lung diseases by introducing proteins which instruct lung stem cells to produce the cell types needed to repair the injuries caused by such conditions.

A natural pathway exists in the lung which instructs stem cells to develop into specific types of cells. Researchers enhanced this natural pathway in a mouse model, successfully increasing production of alveolar epithelial cells, which line the small sacs (alveoli) where gas exchange takes place. Diseases such as emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis permanently damage these cells.
 
The researchers inhibited this pathway, causing increased production of airway epithelial cells, which are damaged by diseases that affect the lung's airways.

A 3D culture was developed to model the environment of the lung. It was found that a single lung stem cell could be made to produce alveolar and bronchiolar epithelial cells. When a protein known as thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was added to these cultures, they encouraged the stem cells to produce alveolar cells.

Experiments were conducted on a mouse model in which symptoms of fibrosis were induced. Endothelial cells, which line the lung's many small blood cells – and which naturally produce TSP-1 – were taken from the mice and liquid surrounding the cultured cells was injected into the mice. This process reversed the lung damage.

When the team used lung endothelial cells that lacked TSP-1 in the 3D cultures, it was discovered that the stem cells produced more airway cells. In live mice engineered to lack TSP-1, airway repair after injury was enhanced.

"When lung cells are injured, there seems to be a cross talk between the damaged cells, the lung endothelial cells and the stem cells," says Joo-Hyeon Lee, who is first author on the paper.

"We think that lung endothelial cells produce a lot of repair factors besides TSP-1," added the paper's senior author, Carla Kim. "We want to find all these molecules, which could provide additional therapeutic targets."

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Microbiology

Scientists make breakthrough in developing heart tissue

Researchers have successfully engineered cardiac tissue in the laboratory that could be used as an in vitro surrogate for human myocardium and for preclinical therapeutic screenings.

Tissue which bridges the gap between animals and human subjects has been developed in the laboratory for some organs but creating such models for the heart has proved elusive. The tissue developed in the new study was generated from human embryonic stem cells and the resulting muscle is significantly similar to human heart muscle.

The research, which was published in the February 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal, was conducted at the Cardiovascular Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, in New York, NY. 

Researchers cultured human engineered cardiac tissue (hECTS) for seven to ten days. They self-assembled into a long, thin heart muscle strip that pulled on the end-posts and caused them to bend with each heartbeat. The tissue was thus exercised throughout the culture process.

Spontaneous contractile activity was displayed by the hECTS, in a similar manner to the human heart, and they responded to electrical stimulation. 

Some of the functional responses known to occur naturally in the adult human heart were also induced through electrical and pharmacological interventions. Some paradoxical responses displayed by the hECTS mimicked the behavior of the immature or newborn human heart.

It was also discovered that the hECTS were able to incorporate new genetic information carried by adenovirus.

Kevin Costa, one of the researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine, commented: "This could help revolutionise cardiology research by improving the ability to efficiently discover, design, develop and deliver new therapies for the treatment of heart disease, and by providing more efficient screening tools to identify and prevent cardiac side effects, ultimately leading to safer and more effective treatments for patients suffering from heart disease."

Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of the FASEB Journal, said the new tissue model could be the best yet developed on which to test therapies and model deadly diseases.

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HR Information

BCC publishes skills manifesto

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has set out a skills and employment manifesto designed to help the country address the skills shortage that could undermine future prosperity. 

According to the BCC, the proposals could radically transform the way people are educated and the way our adult workforce is trained. It advocates greater cooperation between the BCC and universities and SMEs to ensure young people receive the appropriate training and acquire skills relevant to the modern jobs market.

Employers consistently report a mismatch between the qualities they are looking for in their staff and the skills, experience and attitude displayed by prospective job candidates. Having the most skilled workforce possible will enable the country to compete in the global race.

Employability skills need to be at the heart of how schools are assessed and rated, according to the BCC. There also needs to be investment in careers education for all young people, including regular contact with different employers.

There need to be literacy, numeracy, computing and foreign languages qualifications which are clear and universally understood. Employers should be able to conduct an accurate appraisal of a candidate based on these qualifications.

Export skills and foreign languages should be encouraged by providing tax incentives and employment policy should be the responsibility of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

In addition, universities should promote enterprise and ensure their courses are relevant to future job opportunities, the body stated.

Nora Senior, president of the BCC, said: "Although we believe that successive governments have failed our young people by not properly equipping them for their future careers, it is time to break away from the blame game. Various organisations and sectors continue to blame each other for a lack of ‘work readiness’ among young people but it is time for everyone to accept some responsibility, and find ways to move forward."

Ms Senior warned that if Britain does not keep up the pace with its competitors in a rapidly-changing world it could lose valuable business. However, she stressed that simple measures such as providing a good careers service can help put the country back on course for a prosperous future.

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Microbiology

Molecule could protect brain from diabetes damage

Diabetics' chances of developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease could be significantly reduced thanks to a new molecule created by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

High levels of sugar in the blood have been identified as a risk factor in dementia, impaired cognition, and a decline of brain function in diabetics and non-diabetics alike. The chance of diabetics developing Alzheimer's disease is twice as high as those not suffering from the disease.

A potential neuro-inflammatory pathway was discovered which could be responsible for the increased risk faced by diabetics and a possible treatment has also been identified.

A study was conducted on rats in an attempt to determine the mechanism responsible for changes in the brain due to high sugar levels. Diabetic rats were found to display high levels of enzymes called MAPK kinases, which facilitate cellular responses to a variety of stimuli, leading to inflammatory activity in brain cells and the early death of cells.

When the rats were injected with a sugar-lowering drug rosiglitazone for a month, they enjoyed a significant decrease in MAPK enzyme activity and a reduction in the inflammatory processes in the brain. The study's authors say this provides the first evidence of a functional link between high blood sugar and the activation of this specific inflammatory pathway in the brain.

A series of molecules called thioredoxin-mimetic peptides (TXM) has been developed by the study's leader, Professor Daphne Atlas, over the past few years. It mimics the action of thioredoxin and protects the cells from early death through activating inflammatory pathways. These were wound to prevent the action of MAPK kinases in animal models.

One of these molecules, TXM-CB3, significantly reduced the activity of these enzymes in the rats suffering from diabetes, reducing the accelerated brain cell death. This shows the molecule was able to traverse the blood-brain barrier and lower inflammatory processes in the animals' brains, despite the high blood sugar levels.

Professor Atlas said the discovery could lead to the development of preventive treatment in humans with high blood sugar levels.

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HR Information

‘More opportunities’ for HR staff in 2014

HR professionals are set to move during 2014, with 60 per cent expecting to look for a new job.

According to research conducted by recruitment company Hays, the resurgent strength of the UK economy means recruitment in the HR industry is set to increase during the next 12 months. 

Some 47 per cent of employers expect to hire more permanent HR staff and 28 per cent intend to take on additional temporary workers.

The findings are published in the Hays Human Resources Salary and Benefits Guide 2014. They are based on a survey of 570 employers and 780 employees.

Salaries for HR staff are forecast to increase in line with the cost of living by two-fifths of employers and 14 per cent of employers believe they will rise above inflation. More than half report having awarded pay rises during the past year.

HR generalists are expected to enjoy a growing number of opportunities, particularly within the £30,000 – £40,000 bracket. Opportunities will also abound for those in resourcing and talent, and reward roles.

HR advisors are predicted to earn an average salary of £28,000, while a salary of £77,000 will be available to HR directors.

There is expected to be a significant shortfall in experienced talent during the next 12 months. A shortage of such candidates is anticipated by 64 per cent of employers, while 41 per cent of employers believe their current business objectives are being compromised by a lack of talent. 

Barney Ely, director of Hays human resources, predicts a positive 2014 for the HR industry, with more opportunities available for staff. 

"It is evident that employers are now shifting from managing the challenges of the economic downturn to taking advantage of the growing confidence in the economy. This will increase competition for commercially astute HR professionals who can manage change, so employers will need to work hard to retain and attract the best talent to ensure their business can grow in 2014," he commented.

Categories
Microbiology

Microtubule research could help develop cancer drugs

New research into the microscopic transport system that occurs within cells could help to develop new cancer treatments.

A critical point of failure in the microtubules, which act as a cellular transport system, was identified by researchers at Warwick Medical School.

Microtubules are 1,000 times thinner than a human hair and are used to transport molecules around cells. The study, published in Nature Communications, explains how these structures are targets for cancer drugs and how better treatments may be developed.

Narrow seams run down the length of microtubules, forming their weakest point. The structure dissolves if the seam cracks and splits.

Although scientists have been aware before now that microtubules have a single seam running along their length, the function of such a seam was not known. The Warwick researchers developed microtubules with extra seams in the laboratory and examined their stability using video microscopes. They found the structures become more unstable the more seams they have. 

The research has significantly altered thinking on the role of microtubules and scientists are now looking for factors inside the cell that influence the stability of microtubule seams

Some cancer therapy drugs target microtubules. Taxol, used in breast cancer therapy, prevents tumours from growing by binding to microtubules and stopping them from dissolving. This prevents microtubule tracks from remodelling themselves prior to cell division and stops them from dividing.

Professor Robert Cross, head of the research team at Warwick Medical School, explained: "It is clear that any new drugs aiming to stabilise or destabilise microtubules must target the microtubule seam. We expect this to lead us to a better understanding of the way microtubules are regulated in cells and why this sometimes goes wrong, such as in development of cancer."

He went on to say the insights the team have gained show how existing cancer drugs work and may lead to the development of more effective anti-microtubule drugs. Such drugs could have a significant impact on cancer treatment.

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HR Information

CEOs ‘should talk from the heart to promote gender equality’

CEOs should talk from their heart as well as their head in order to promote more equal roles between men and women, according to a new study.

Research conducted by KPMG and King's College London shows that merely outlining the business case for diversity is not sufficient to increase the number of women at senior levels. A more effective case can be made if CEOs talk from their heart as well as their head.

The study, carried out by Dr Elisabeth Kelan from the Department of Management at King’s, analysed how CEOs make the case for diversity within their organisations and the kind of leadership behaviours adopted in order to make change happen.

A number of factors are cited by CEOs as reasons for the lack of women at senior levels within organisations. Although "management failure" – shortcomings in systems, processes and people necessary to achieve equality – was the main reason, CEOs also believe women seek roles which enable them to achieve a greater balance between work and caring responsibilities.

Such attitudes risk stereotyping women's roles, as this sort of work-life balance is sought after by some women but not by all of them.

According to the findings of the research, CEOs often downplay the personal reasons for wanting more women in the workplace. In fact, they need to be more vocal about such reasons, as they often have strong women in their lives or other personal reasons for believing gender diversity at the top of organisations is a positive goal.

Dr Kelan said: "The current generation of CEOs has an opportunity to chart new territory in making progress on this issue and they need to understand the power of doing things with words. Through aligning their words and actions as much as their hearts with their heads, they can set their organisations on a trajectory that disrupts current practices and allows for sustainable change on gender parity."

Simon Collins, UK chairman of KPMG, said the research showed the conventional ways of addressing the problem of gender inequality are inadequate and discussing the issue of gender diversity in personal terms is the best way to make progress.

Categories
Microbiology

Combining therapies can help combat cancer

Scientists have discovered that two different cancer treatments developed independently can result in significantly improved outcomes when used in conjunction with one another.

Although there is a pressing demand for new cancer drugs, it is difficult for companies to develop new therapies quickly. Researchers in Ottawa tried combining existing treatments in different ways to help speed up the process.

In a report published in Nature Biotechnology, they show how two existing therapies can be used together to greater effect.

"We are very excited about this novel combination approach and are looking to move this experimental therapy into clinical trials as soon as possible," said Dr Robert Korneluk, distinguished professor at the University of Ottawa and senior scientist at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute. "I firmly believe that it's not a matter of 'if' this will help cancer patients – but 'when' this therapy becomes a standard of care."

Two immunotherapies are known to be effective in the fight against cancer. SMAC Mimetics targets cancer-causing genes using an IAP-based therapy. IAPs were discovered at CHEO 19 years ago. Live virus therapies, or oncolytics, is another method currently flourishing in Ottawa.

Both are currently undergoing clinical trials but neither of them, considered in isolation, has had significant effects.

However, a team of scientists led by Dr Korneluk discovered that SMAC Mimetics used in combination with a live virus (or even other non-viral immune stimulators), leads to an amplified tumour-killing effect, which overcomes the limitation of either agent working in isolation.

Dr Korneluk said the results of the experiment surpassed the researchers' expectations. Moreover, unlike conventional chemotherapy, which can produce negative side-effects, the combination of therapies did not result in any harm to the healthy tissue surrounding the tumours.

In some cases, 10,000 less virus was required to kill a cancer cell when used in combination with a SMAC Mimetic. The pioneering research could potentially save years of clinical development time and ensure patients receive treatment quicker than would otherwise occur.

Around 910 people are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and in 2011 more than 331,000 people in the country were diagnosed with the disease.

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HR Information

Take on younger staff to boost retention, advises Barclays chief

Companies looking to invest resources in building a skilled and committed workforce have been advised their best course of action could be to take on a number of young people.

Barclays' head of early careers Mike Thompson said hiring school leavers and other people at the very start of their careers can be a shrewd move as these individuals tend to go on to become more loyal to the organisation and will be more easily retained over the years to come, reports HR Magazine.

He was speaking at the Bett Workplace Learning Summit in London this week and explained UK businesses need to start taking a "slightly long-term view" when it comes to identifying and recruiting talent.

Firms can be frustrated if they pay out to hire more experienced staff who go on to leave for a better opportunity just a short time later, so taking on those who are more likely to stick it out with a job for a considerable time is a wise option.

Creating links with young adults is a good starting point and using undergraduate training programmes and higher apprenticeships was recommended.

"If you're investing in someone's degree, which costs around £20,000, that generates loyalty," Mr Thompson stated.

In the case of Barclays, just 20 per cent of the people it hires through graduate schemes end up staying with the company, but this rate rises to around 80 per cent of staff who have joined via an undergraduate programme or apprenticeship.

"That's because you're investing a lot of time and effort over three years in somebody, versus buying in someone at the equivalent level of capability," Mr Thompson added.

Gillian Dore, learning and development consultant at Cisco, was also quoted by the magazine as suggesting it is important to look beyond the most obvious sources for new talent. She said bosses who have a "diversity and inclusion mindset" are a must.