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Defining Leadership for Innovation: Challenges and Opportunities in a Sports Organization
Full text linkWhile leadership was the initial focus of this case study, innovation emerged as a key theme, revealing how leadership fragmentation directly impedes organizational adaptability and innovation capacity. In contemporary sports organizations, defining leadership remains a persistent challenge, where diverse interpretations among executives shape decision-making, organizational culture, and innovation capacity. This study investigates the impact of leadership perceptions within the executive team of a prominent sports organization on strategic alignment, team cohesion, and the adoption of innovation-driven practices. Using contextual inquiry methodologies, including interviews, observational analysis, and leadership framework comparisons, the research identifies 63 distinct leadership attributes that highlight both commonalities and disparities in leadership conceptualization. Findings reveal that fragmented leadership definitions contribute to inconsistent decision-making, internal conflicts, and a lack of clarity in strategic direction, ultimately limiting the organization’s ability to foster innovation. Moreover, the absence of structured leadership development programs and formalized mentorship leaves emerging leaders unprepared, thereby further exacerbating leadership fragmentation and reducing the organization’s ability to adapt to technological advancements and evolving market demands. To drive innovation and sustain competitive advantage, this study underscores the need for a unified leadership framework that aligns executive practices, facilitates collaboration, and integrates leadership development as a core organizational priority
Book Review: Inventing for Sports
Full text linkIn Inventing for Sports, editors Eric S. Hintz and Arthur A. Daemmrich curate a timely and engaging volume that explores how invention and innovation have shaped, and continue to reshape, modern sport. Rooted in years of public programming and research at the Smithsonian Institution’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, the book serves as both a standalone scholarly resource and a complement to the museum’s 2024 exhibition Change Your Game / Cambia tu juego
Light-Dependent Structural Changes in Photoreceptor Neurons Imaged by OCT
Full text linkBackground: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique with high spatiotemporal resolution used to monitor the retina, photoreceptor degeneration, and potentially the visual cycle. In this study, we aim to examine how various light conditions impact the photoreceptor structures using OCT.
Methods: C57BL/6 wild-type mice raised under a normal 12-hour light/dark cycle (200 lux) were exposed to three different light conditions from postnatal day 21 (P21) to P35: a 12-hour light/dark cycle (200 lux; normal), 12-hour light/dark cycle (2500 lux; bright), or constant darkness. Mice were imaged with OCT at P35 (n = 4 for each group).
Results: For the nasal region, the length of the outer segment (OS) to the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) were 20.892 ± 2.343 μm and 15.980 ± 2.284 μm for the normal and bright light conditions, respectively (mean ± SD, p = 0.0240). For the temporal region, the lengths were 22.185 ± 2.678 μm and 16.294 ± 2.204 μm for the normal and bright light conditions, respectively (mean ± SD, p = 0.015). For the ventral region, the lengths were 19.210 ± 3.027 μm and 14.875 ± 1.268 μm for the normal and bright light conditions, respectively (mean ± SD, p = 0.038). For the dorsal region, the lengths were 20.556 ± 2.441 μm and 19.247 ± 3.403 μm for the normal and bright light conditions, respectively (mean ± SD, p = 0.555).
Conclusions: We observed significant light-dependent changes in photoreceptor and RPE layers for most regions—showing that transitioning from the normal to the bright light cycle impacts the length of the OS to the RPE and that OCT can be applied for monitoring the process of light adaptation in photoreceptor cells. The results of this study will help by improving the diagnosis of vision disorders associated with photoreceptor and RPE dysfunctions. 
Effects of Gabapentin and the α2δ1 Voltage Sensitive Calcium Channel Subunit in Skeletal Muscle
Full text linkIntroduction: Gabapentin (GBP) is a neuropathic pain drug prescribed to millions of Americans which binds the auxiliary α2δ1 subunit of voltage sensitive calcium channels (VSCCs) to modulate calcium (Ca2+) influx. GBP functions by decreasing Ca2+ signaling in neurons; however, muscle dysfunction is commonly reported with GBP use. We hypothesized that GBP treatment, and deletion of the α2δ1 subunit, impairs skeletal muscle function by disrupting neuromuscular junction (NMJ) transmission.
Methods: Heterozygous breeder pairs for Cacna2d1, the gene encoding α2δ1, were used to generate knockout (KO) mice (male: 9 WT, 9 KO; female: 6 WT, 5 KO). The Aurora muscle contractility system determined maximum torque, rate of contraction, rate of relaxation, and fatigue of the plantarflexors. Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) and single motor unit potentials (SMUPs) provided motor unit number estimates (MUNEs). qPCR analyses on skeletal muscle assessed NMJ homeostasis. Male C57BL/6 mice received GBP (150 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline) twice daily via oral gavage (n=8 mice/drug group). Muscle testing was conducted at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. Gene expression in muscle was analyzed by qPCR.
Results: Males deplete of α2δ1 had decreased plantarflexion torque (p<0.001), max rate of contraction (p<0.001), max rate of relaxation (p<0.01), SMUP (p<0.001), and MUNE (p<0.01). Plantarflexion torque (p<0.01), and max rate of contraction (p<0.05) were decreased in female KO mice. Hspg2 (p<0.01) and Musk (p<0.05) expression was decreased in Male α2δ1 KO mice. However, expression of these genes was not altered in female mice. GBP treatment resulted in decreased max-torque (p<0.01), rate of contraction (p<0.001), rate of relaxation (p<0.01), and SMUP (p<0.001). Hspg2 (p<0.05), Lrp4 (p<0.05), Agrin (p<0.01), and Chrne (p<0.01) expression was decreased in muscle from GBP treated mice.
Conclusion & Significance: As GBP is a widely used neuropathic pain drug, understanding the consequences of chronic use on musculoskeletal tissues is of utmost importance. My data demonstrates that GBP treatment and α2δ1 KO decreased muscle performance. These data will help clinicians consider potential side-effects when prescribing GBP
Temporal Changes in Neuronal Innervation during Human Inner Ear Organoid Development
Full text linkBackground and Hypothesis: Ribbon synapses are specialized synapses in sensory systems, crucial for tonic neurotransmitter release. Neuronal refinement, involving synaptic elimination and strengthening, is essential for nervous system development. While vestibular neuronal refinement is not well understood, cochlear maturation in mice provides reference for investigation. This study aims to test whether neuronal refinement/pruning, similar to those seen in the mouse inner ear, takes place in human pluripotent stem cell-derived inner ear organoids during development.
Experimental Design or Project Methods: A 3D differentiation strategy developed in the laboratory was used to generate inner ear organoids, followed by tissue clearing and immunofluorescence labeling. Confocal microscopy was used to capture 3D volumetric images of vestibular hair cells and neurons at days 80, 120, and 200. Hair cell innervation was quantified by manually counting direct contact points between neurons and hair cells in 3D. NIS Elements annotation software was employed for accurate quantification.
Results: The mean number of neuron contacts per hair cell significantly decreases from day 80 to day 200 (x̄ = 2.56, 1.89, and 1.60) respectively. The variability in these contacts reduces, as indicated by the standard deviations (σ = 1.131, 0.8570, and 0.7107). Despite this, there is persistent non-normal distribution of neuronal contact.
Conclusion and Potential Impact: This study identifies temporal changes in neuronal contacts with hair cells in the human in vitro model of inner ear development, which is similar to neuronal refinement/pruning in the mouse inner ear during development. Observations include decreased neuronal contacts after differentiation day 80, branching refinement at day 120, and stabilization until day 200. The findings suggest varied maturation rates but increasing system uniformity over time. These results suggest that human inner ear organoids can be used to recapitulate normal and pathological development of ribbon synapses and neuronal innervation, essential components for sensory transduction in the human inner ear
Evaluating TAT-FXN Therapy Efficacy on Cardiac Manifestations of Friedreich\u27s Ataxia: Insights from Murine Models and Echocardiography
Full text linkBackground and Hypothesis: Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive disease in which the loss of nuclear-encoded frataxin (FXN) causes loss of iron-sulfur cluster formation in mitochondria. This is associated with progressive loss of motor function and a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy leading to death in the second or third decade of life. In the FRDA murine model of heart failure, treatment with the fusion protein TAT-FXN significantly extends life span and improves gait. TAT-FXN has advanced to Phase II clinical trials, but effective dosing and mechanism of action biomarkers remain challenging. We hypothesized that treatment with TAT-FXN mitigates FRDA metabolic disruption and may result in improved cardiac function.
Project Methods: FrdaL2/L2::MCK-Cre (MCK-KO) mice and controls underwent echocardiography at 30, 45, and 65 days of life. The animals were anesthetized with isoflurane and maintained on a warming stage. Parasternal long-axis, short-axis, and apical four-chamber views were used to measure interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, ejection fraction (EF), global longitudinal strain (GLS), and mitral E/A ratio. Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA and Tukey\u27s multiple comparisons test.
Results: Growth trajectories followed logistic curves across all groups. By day 65, MCK-KO mice showed significant impairment in EF, GLS, and cardiac index (CI) compared to controls. However, no significant differences in EF, GLS, or CI were observed between TAT-FXN-treated and vehicle-treated mice. Mitral E/A ratio and LV measurements were not significantly different between groups.
Conclusion and Potential Impact: TAT-FXN therapy did not significantly improve cardiac function compared to vehicle in this FRDA murine model. Thus, while TAT-FXN does not worsen cardiac impairment, it may not sufficiently mitigate existing cardiac dysfunction within the study\u27s timeframe. These findings highlight the importance of further research to identify biomarkers of treatment response and elucidate the effects of TAT-FXN treatment on cardiac outcomes. 
The Relevance of Health Equity to the Evidence Synthesis Process: Results From a Quantitative Survey of Health Information Professionals
Full text linkBackground
In their work as research collaborators, health information professionals often contribute both extensive knowledge of evidence synthesis methods and an engaged awareness of the sociopolitical context in which evidence synthesis takes place. Within this context, researchers are increasingly being encouraged to demonstrate how their work will advance health equity. Our study sought to determine how confident health information professionals feel discussing health equity in an evidence synthesis context and how relevant they think it is to the process.
Methods
Using the email lists of U.S.-based and international library organizations, the authors conducted a quantitative survey of health information professionals with experience working on evidence synthesis projects (e.g., systematic or scoping reviews) within the past 10 years. The authors used the survey software Qualtrics to calculate descriptive statistics for each of the survey questions and analyze correlations between responses to different questions.
Results
While a majority of health information professionals surveyed exhibited both familiarity with health equity as a concept and a belief in its relevance to evidence synthesis, far fewer were highly comfortable discussing health equity with researchers. Only 6% of participants had used the PRISMA-Equity Extension (a health equity-centered evidence synthesis tool) in a systematic review.
Discussion
The study results suggest that a number of health information professionals would benefit from training on health equity-centered evidence synthesis tools and more experience having health equity-related research discussions
Beyond Placement Rates: Realizing New Opportunities for Using First-Destination Data
Full text linkThis article offers a roadmap for readers to utilize their first-destination data in interactive and meaningful ways. Institutions often employ their first-destination data to assess the frequency or percentage with which students achieve various outcomes. The University of Arizona uses these data to inform continuous improvement of the overall student experience. It encourages faculty and staff to partner in fostering a culture of career development throughout the curriculum. This article highlights new opportunities to combine career outcomes data with existing institutional data to understand the student experience better and enhance career development capacity
Measuring Alumni Career Outcomes: A Validity Study
Full text link Colleges and universities use surveys like the National Alumni Career Mobility (NACM) to evaluate how well they prepare graduates for careers. This study tested two NACM scoring models—a five-factor model and a bifactor model—and evaluated whether results were consistent across first-generation and non-first-generation alumni. Findings supported the simpler five-factor model (i.e., support for computing five subscale scores), suggested removing a problematic item, and showed that the survey functioned consistently across groups. These findings provide the first peer-reviewed guidance on NACM scoring and support the use of subscale comparisons to inform student career development efforts
