Current Research Priorities Research Articles

Interactions between microbial consortia in biofilms: a paradigm shift in rumen microbial ecology and enteric methane mitigation

Minimising enteric CH4 emissions from ruminants is a current research priority because CH4 contributes to global warming. The most effective mitigation strategy is to adjust the animal’s diet to complement locally available feed resources so that optimal production is gained from a minimum of animals. This essay concentrates on a second strategy – the use of feed additives that are toxic to methanogens or that redirect H2 (and electrons) to inhibit enteric CH4 emissions from individual animals. Much of the published research in this area is contradictory and may be explained when the microbial ecology of the rumen is considered. Rumen microbes mostly exist in organised consortia within biofilms composed of self-secreted extracellular polymeric substances attached to or within feed particles. In these biofilms, individual colonies are positioned to optimise their use of preferred intermediates from an overall process of organic matter fermentation that generates end-products the animal can utilise. Synthesis of CH4 within biofilms prevents a rise in the partial pressure of H2 (pH2) to levels that inhibit bacterial dehydrogenases, and so reduce fermentation rate, feed intake and digestibility. In this context, hypotheses are advanced to explain changes in hydrogen disposal from the biofilms in the rumen resulting from use of anti-methanogenic feed additives as follows. Nitrate acts as an alternative electron sink when it is reduced via NO2– to NH3 and CH4 synthesis is reduced. However, efficiency of CH4 mitigation is always lower than that predicted and decreases as NO3– ingestion increases. Suggested reasons include (1) variable levels of absorption of NO3–or NO2– from the rumen and (2) increases in H2 production. One suggestion is that NO3– reduction may lower pH2 at the surface of biofilms, thereby creating an ecological niche for growth of syntrophic bacteria that oxidise propionate and/or butyrate to acetate with release of H2. Chlorinated hydrocarbons also inhibit CH4 synthesis and increase H2 and formate production by some rumen methanogens. Formate diffuses from the biofilm and is converted to HCO3– and H2 in rumen fluid and is then excreted via the breath. Short-chain nitro-compounds inhibit both CH4 and formate synthesis when added to ruminal fluid but have little or no effect in redirecting H2 to other sinks, so the pH2 within biofilms may increase to levels that support reductive acetogenesis. Biochar or activated charcoal may also alter biofilm activity and reduce net CH4 synthesis; direct electron transfer between microbes within biofilms may also be involved. A final suggestion is that, during their sessile life stage, protozoa interact with biofilm communities and help maintain pH2 in the biofilm, supporting methanogenesis.

A re-evaluation of castor ( Ricinus communis L.) as a crop plant.

Abstract Castor ( Ricinus communis L.) has been transformed from a wasteland colonizer to an important industrial oilseed crop. Its seed oil is one of the most sought-after vegetable oils because of its rich properties and variety of end-users. Castor is an ancient crop but its production now has been limited mainly to India, China and Brazil, for many reasons. Castor oil is a hot market commodity product. It has been recently recognized as an efficient feedstock for biodiesel production. Increasing demand world over for biofuel resources and many recently identified industrial uses of castor oil have escalated castor oil demand. Global demand for castor oil is rising constantly at 3-5% per annum. In the last decade, many countries have started making serious exploratory efforts at growing castor as there is a tremendous scope to establish castor as a supplementary crop production option to farmers and to provide significant returns on investment given high global demand for castor oil. In view of the increasing worldwide interest in castor oil, this review evaluates the global scenario of castor cultivation, exports and imports of castor oil, new interests in castor oil and genetic improvement in productivity. In addition, the current research challenges and priorities have been discussed in the review.

An agenda for service research at the base of the pyramid

Purpose – The article aims to combine research priorities in the service domain with the emerging topic of service management for the base of the pyramid (BoP). This combination allows us to construct an agenda for service research at the BoP. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses bibliographic methods for structuring the BoP contributions, and a literature review for the current research priorities in the service domain. Findings – First, the paper highlights the main topics in the emerging BoP debate. Second, the paper constructs a research agenda for service management at the BoP. This agenda can guide service researchers in the selection of feasible empirical fields, support them in finding appropriate research designs, and finally, help them to develop suitable theoretical perspectives. Research limitations/implications – Limitations arise from the literature review and bibliographic methods themselves. Practical implications – Service research on the BoP provides new ideas for practitioners interested in learning about BoP markets, strategies, and entrepreneurial initiatives. Social implications – Understanding the need to explore BoP activities is fundamental to working with a huge segment of society, not only as passive consumers, but also as genuine entrepreneurs capable of creating and managing “inclusive” innovations. Originality/value – The research agenda for future service management offers a relevant source of ideas and guidance for interested researchers to rethink their empirical fields, research approaches, and theoretical perspectives.

Childhood infections, but not early life growth, influence hearing in the Newcastle thousand families birth cohort at age 14 years

BackgroundWhile current research priorities include investigations of age-related hearing loss, there are concerns regarding effects on childhood hearing, for example through increased personal headphone use. By utilising historical data, it is possible to assess what factors may have increased hearing problems in children in the past, and this may be used to inform current public health policies to protect children against hearing loss and in turn reduce the long-term burden on individuals and services that may possible evolve. The aim of this study was to investigate which factors in early life significantly impacted on hearing level in childhood using existing data from the Newcastle Thousand Families Study, a 1947 birth cohort.MethodsData on early life factors, including growth, socio-economic status and illness, and hearing at age 14 years were collated for a representative subset of individuals from the cohort (n = 147). Factors were assessed using linear regression analysis to identify associations with hearing thresholds.ResultsMales were found to have lower hearing thresholds at 250 Hz, 500 Hz and 1 kHz. Main analyses showed no associations between hearing thresholds and early life growth or socio-economic indicators. An increasing number of ear infections from birth to age 13 years was associated with hearing thresholds at 250Hz (p = 0.04) and 500Hz (p = 0.03), which remained true for females (p = 0.050), but not males (p = 0.213) in sex-specific analysis. Scarlet fever and bronchitis were associated with hearing thresholds at 8 kHz. After adjustment for all significant predictors at each frequency, results remained unchanged.ConclusionsWe found no associations between childhood hearing thresholds and early life growth and socio-economic status. Consistent with other studies, we found associations between childhood infections and hearing thresholds. Current public health strategies aimed at reducing childhood infections may also have a beneficial effect upon childhood hearing.

Luers, ethics, research and service evaluation: even more shades of grey?

Luers, ethics, research and service evaluation: even more shades of grey?

Cognitive‐Affective Processing System Analysis of Intra‐Individual Dynamics in Collaborative Therapeutic Assessment: Translating Basic Theory and Research Into Clinical Applications

According to the cognitive-affective processing system (CAPS) model, behavior is a function of how the distinctive cognitive-affective system of the individual responds to one's subjective experience of the situation encountered. Thus an individual's maladaptive coping processes may be understood by identifying the nature of the situations that a client experiences as highly stressful and the psychological reactions they trigger. An initial study established the feasibility and utility of an Internet-based CAPS daily diary program; it was then used to facilitate a clinical stress-management intervention. The daily diary enabled researchers and clinicians to gather Highly-Repeated Within-Persons (HRWP) data on the situational features, cognitions, affect, and coping behaviors associated with daily life stress, which were then analyzed separately for each participant to identify each individual's unique and distinctive pattern of intra-individual dynamics. Results suggested that individuals differed reliably in the features of psychological situations that triggered stress and maladaptive coping behaviors. HRWP analysis of daily diary data enhanced the efficacy of clinical intervention, and clients' self-regulatory capabilities and life satisfaction were shown to increase over the course of the intervention. We discuss how our program of research fits into the larger goals of translational science and current NIMH clinical research priorities.

Allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma

Allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and asthma have a high worldwide prevalence and confer a significant socioeconomic burden. This article reviews the recent advances in allergic rhinitis, CRS and asthma with view to understanding the upper and lower airway as one system. Allergic rhinitis, CRS and asthma demonstrate strong epidemiological coassociation, and early life risk factors for upper airway disease are now apparent. The absence of demonstrable peripheral IgE does not strictly classify airway disease as nonallergic. Excess mucosal inflammation with immune dysregulation is a common feature to all. An important role for innate immunity is now apparent and offers prospects of novel therapeutic approaches in the future. A role for bacterial superantigens is also emerging in all three diseases. Genetic studies highlight common associations between allergic rhinitis, CRS and asthma. Whether such overlapping pathological findings reflect a manifestation of the same disease but in relation to the different airway locations in individuals with genetic predisposition remains unknown, although likely. This continues under investigation and debate. The current research priorities are to understand what key events predispose to both upper and lower airway disease together and the critical immunological factors that establish and sustain airway inflammation.

Applied Linguist, School Reform, and Technology:

In this presentation, I propose to describe briefly the rapidly changing demography of the U.S. school population and the implications of these changes for pedagogical practice(s). I will then summarize current research priorities for the language education profession that have recently been articulated by several professional associations and task forces. I will conclude by discussing some of the implications of these suggested research priorities and directions for the work of those concerned with improving the effectiveness of language learning and teaching through the use of innovative technologies.

A successful safety trial of gentamicin-attenuated Leishmania infantum vaccine in an endemic area in Southeast of Iran.

Event Abstract Back to Event A successful safety trial of gentamicin-attenuated Leishmania infantum vaccine in an endemic area in Southeast of Iran. Mohammad J. Namazi1, 2* 1 Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, immunology, parasitology and microbilogy, Iran 2 University of Glasgow, Center for immunity, infection and inflmmation, United Kingdom Namazi, M. J1. , Daneshvar2, H, and Kamyabi, H2. Leishmania infantum is an obligatory intracellular protozoan and causative of visceral leishmaniasis in human and dogs. Vaccine development in the reservoir host, the domestic dog, is a current research priority. The aim of this study was to conduct safety trial of gentamicin-attenuated L. infantum (L. infantum H-line) in dogs in the endemic area of Southeast Iran. The household dogs were vaccinated subcutaneously with L. infantum H-line. The prospective incidence of natural infection by this vaccine was assessed during a two-year follow up period. The number of animals vaccinated and non-treated control groups was 70 and 50 respectively. The safety of the vaccine on the interruption of the endemic area transmission of the disease was assessed by monitoring the clinical signs and measuring the serum specific anti-Leishmania IgG. No clinical signs of disease including anorexia, apathy, local swelling on injection site, vomiting and diarrhea were developed or observed after the vaccine injection. Therefore, our gentamicin-attenuated L. infantum vaccine induced a significant and strong protective effect against canine leishmaniasis and the consequent transmission to human in the field. Key words: Leishmania infantum, attenuated H-line, vaccine, safety trail 1- Department of Immunology, Parasitology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Iran. mjnamazi@gmail.com 2- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. hamiddaneshvar@gmail.com Keywords: Leishmania infantum, attenuated H-line, Vaccine, safety trail, immune protection Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Host-pathogen interactions Citation: Namazi M (2013). A successful safety trial of gentamicin-attenuated Leishmania infantum vaccine in an endemic area in Southeast of Iran. . Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.00022 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 08 Mar 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013. * Correspondence: Dr. Mohammad J. Namazi, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, immunology, parasitology and microbilogy, Sabzevar, Khorana razavi, 9613873136, Iran, mjnamazi@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Mohammad J. Namazi Google Mohammad J. Namazi Google Scholar Mohammad J. Namazi PubMed Mohammad J. Namazi Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Xenon: A Solution for Anesthesia in Liver Disease?

Xenon: A Solution for Anesthesia in Liver Disease?

The Dynamic Capability View in Strategic Management: A Bibliometric Review

The dynamic capability view (DCV) is one of the most vibrant approaches to strategic management. In this study, the extant literature published between 1994 and 2011 is analysed, using bibliometric methods in order to explore the scope of this approach and detect current research priorities. For this purpose, the method of bibliographic coupling is introduced in management research, which shifts the focus of analysis from past traditions to current trends. Several clusters of thematically related research are extracted from bibliographic networks, which represent interconnected yet distinct subfields of inquiry within the DCV. The core cluster of the current DCV, which visualizes this research field's nascent but fragile identity, focuses on learning and change capabilities and relates them to firm performance, thus merging aspects of organization theory and strategic management. In addition, several peripheral clusters of research are identified, which reflect a parallel process of differentiation in the overall field. Both trends, i.e. of integration and differentiation, attest to the emancipation of the DCV as a distinct approach to strategic management. However, the DCV still lacks consensual concepts that allow comparisons of empirical studies and advance the theoretical understanding of dynamic capabilities. In the light of the above, some implications of this analysis for further research are discussed.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies of the European Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy: The Discursive Shaping of Institutional and Policy Frameworks in the Bio-Pharmaceuticals Sector

Discourses matter. They help to shape institutions and policies. A new discourse has emerged in recent EU innovation policy centred on the idea of a knowledge-based bio-economy (KBBE). It is officially defined as ‘the sustainable, eco-efficient transformation of renewable biological resources into health, food, energy and other industrial products.’ The KBBE agenda links current problem diagnoses, research priorities, technological innovation, and societal benefits. In analysing the KBBE discourse, this paper draws on the sociology of technological expectations, which emphasises the performative, mobilising and self-fulfilling roles of such future-oriented visions. For example, the KBBE agenda shapes European research and innovation priorities in the bio-pharmaceutical sector. It frames socially relevant bio-knowledge in terms of pre-competitive research which can eventually facilitate new commercial products and patentable knowledge. Moreover, the agenda defines new institutional and policy frameworks necessary to realise societal benefits from these products and knowledge.

Exploring Health Priorities for Young People Leaving Care

Care-leavers are considered amongst the most vulnerable and disadvantaged group of young people with worse health outcomes than their peers. However, there is limited evidence to suggest how this can be improved, particularly from the perspective of the young people themselves. The aim of this study was to explore the health priorities of young people leaving care. Nine young people were interviewed (aged 16–21 years) from two local authorities in England using an interpretive phenomenological approach. Participants experienced variable planning arrangements for the transition from care and a limited focus on emotional and psychological preparation. Some participants reported deterioration in health after leaving care and others referred to difficulties with motivation, self-esteem and loneliness. The findings highlighted a polarisation between dependence and independence when leaving care and demonstrated the “structural disadvantage” experienced with no family safety net or extended support. The study showed the need for a more holistic and flexible approach to the transition out of care and considered the adoption of a resilience framework for transition planning. Current priorities for further research and the need to evaluate strategies and interventions to improve the health and resilience of young people leaving care were highlighted.

Nanomaterials in Plant Protection and Fertilization: Current State, Foreseen Applications, and Research Priorities

Scientific publications and patents on nanomaterials (NM) used in plant protection or fertilizer products have exponentially increased since the millennium shift. While the United States and Germany have published the highest number of patents, Asian countries released most scientific articles. About 40% of all contributions deal with carbon-based NM, followed by titanium dioxide, silver, silica, and alumina. Nanomaterials come in many diverse forms (surprisingly often ≫100 nm), from solid doped particles to (often nonpersistent) polymer and oil-water based structures. Nanomaterials serve equally as additives (mostly for controlled release) and active constituents. Product efficiencies possibly increased by NM should be balanced against enhanced environmental NM input fluxes. The dynamic development in research and its considerable public perception are in contrast with the currently still very small number of NM-containing products on the market. Nanorisk assessment and legislation are largely in their infancies.

Practical Research Strategies for Reducing Social and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Obesity.

Adult and childhood obesity and related adverse outcomes are most common among racial/ethnic minorities and socio-economically disadvantaged populations in the United States. Research approaches to obesity developed in mainstream populations and deploying new information technologies may exacerbate existing disparities in obesity. Current obesity management and prevention research priorities will not maximally impact this critical problem unless investigators explicitly focus on discovering innovative strategies for preventing and managing obesity in the disadvantaged populations that are most affected. On the basis of our research experience, four key research approaches are needed: (1) elucidating the underlying social forces that lead to disparities; (2) directly involving community members in the development of research questions and research methods; (3) developing flexible strategies that allow tailoring to multiple disadvantaged populations; and (4) building culturally and socio-economically tailored strategies specifically for populations most affected by obesity. Our experience with a community-based longitudinal cohort study and two health-center-based clinical trials illustrate these principles as a contrast to traditional research priorities that can inadvertently worsen existing social inequities. If obesity research does not directly address healthcare and health-outcome disparities, it will contribute to their perpetuation.

Discharged drilling waste from oil and gas platforms and its effects on benthic communities

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 456:285-302 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09622 REVIEW Discharged drilling waste from oil and gas platforms and its effects on benthic communities J. I. Ellis1,*, G. Fraser2, J. Russell3 1Coastal & Freshwater Research Group, Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7010, New Zealand 2Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, Ontario M6H 1T5, Canada 3Alder Institute, Tors Cove, Newfoundland A0A 4A0, Canada *Email: joanne.ellis@cawthron.org.nz ABSTRACT: This review paper identifies the main effects of oil and gas drilling waste on benthic environments. We identified 26 papers and technical reports that surveyed sediment samples from 72 production or exploration platform sites to assess the zone of influence of sediment contamination and biological effects on benthic communities. While oil-based fluids are now rarely used in the marine context, their release has had large-scale (out to 6 km) and persistent (decadal time scale) impacts on benthic communities. The zone of influence of water-based drilling fluids as determined by sediment barium concentration was larger (2 to 20 km) than for synthetic-based fluids (200 to 2000 m). The zone of biological effects on benthic community diversity and abundance ranged from 100 to 1000 m for both water and synthetic fluids. Effects include changes in benthic species diversity, abundance and alterations to community structure. Functional changes included a loss of suspension-feeding species and increases in deposit feeders and polychaetes. In general, this review demonstrates a loss of benthic biodiversity and suspension-feeding communities due to oil exploration and production and the potential for large-scale effects on sensitive communities such as deep-sea, coral and vegetated habitats. Current research gaps and priorities are identified. KEY WORDS: Benthic community composition · Chemical toxicity · Organic enrichment · Suspended sediments · Oil-based fluids · Synthetic-based fluids · Water-based fluids Full text in pdf format PreviousCite this article as: Ellis JI, Fraser G, Russell J (2012) Discharged drilling waste from oil and gas platforms and its effects on benthic communities. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 456:285-302. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09622 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 456. Online publication date: June 07, 2012 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.

Identification of Current Priorities for Research in Humanitarian Action: Proceedings of the First Annual UN OCHA Policy and Research Conference

On December 12-13, 2011, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) hosted a humanitarian policy and research conference on the theme of "Risk, Adaptation and Innovation in Humanitarian Action." The four sessions of the conference covered humanitarian action in a changing world, adaptation and innovation in humanitarian action, humanitarian action in protracted and violent conflict, and effective humanitarian action. This special report contains summaries of presentations in each session and the conclusions resulting from the discussions throughout. Through a process of open discussion, debate, and a closing survey, the conference participants identified four top priorities in humanitarian research for the coming years: evidence-driven humanitarian decision-making; accountability and transparency; risk and agility; and partnership. In addition to plans for a 2nd Annual Research and Policy conference in December of 2012, specific outcomes of the conference include a series of regional workshops in 2012 and 2013, launching with Asia, Africa and the Middle East; creation of Policy Working Groups (PWG) for each research priority identified; and a new flagship OCHA publication, to be launched in late 2012 or early 2013, which will share the progress made on the research priorities identified.

Spatio-temporal course of macrophage-like cell accumulation after experimental embolic stroke depending on treatment with tissue plasminogen activator and its combination with hyperbaric oxygenation

Inflammation following ischaemic stroke attracts high priority in current research, particularly using human-like models and long-term observation periods considering translational aspects. The present study aimed on the spatio-temporal course of macrophage-like cell accumulation after experimental thromboembolic stroke and addressed microglial and astroglial reactions in the ischaemic border zone. Further, effects of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) as currently best treatment for stroke and the potentially neuroprotective co-administration of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) were investigated. Rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion and were assigned to control, tPA or tPA+HBO. Twenty-four hours, 7, 14 and 28 days were determined as observation time points. The accumulation of macrophage-like cells was semiquantitatively assessed by CD68 staining in the ischaemic area and ischaemic border zone, and linked to the clinical course. CD11b, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and Neuronal Nuclei (NeuN) were applied to reveal delayed glial and neuronal alterations. In all groups, the accumulation of macrophage-like cells increased distinctly from 24 hours to 7 days post ischaemia. tPA+HBO tended to decrease macrophage-like cell accumulation at day 14 and 28. Overall, a trend towards an association of increased accumulation and pronounced reduction of the neurological deficit was found. Concerning delayed inflammatory reactions, an activation of microglia and astrocytes with co-occurring neuronal loss was observed on day 28. Thereby, astrogliosis was found circularly in contrast to microglial activation directly in the ischaemic area. This study supports previous data on long-lasting inflammatory processes following experimental stroke, and additionally provides region-specific details on glial reactions. The tendency towards a decreasing macrophage-like cell accumulation after tPA+HBO needs to be discussed critically since neuroprotective properties were recently ascribed to long-term inflammatory processes.

‘Back to the future’: How archaeological remains can describe salmon adaptation to climate change

A strategy for species to survive climate change will be to change adaptively their way of life. Understanding rapid adaptation to climate change is therefore a priority for current research. In this issue, Turrero et al. (2012) use an original approach to unravel life history trait responses to climate change in two fish species (Salmo trutta and S. salar). Going against the flow, the authors adopt the strategy of going back to the future by investigating the responses of fish to the warming periods that followed the Last Glacial Period (approximately 30-20,000 years BP). To do this, they analysed Salmo vertebrae from well-dated archaeological sites in northern Spain in order to uncover key life history traits, which they then compared to those of contemporary specimens. They found that, as the climate got warmer, Salmo species tended to reduce the time spent in growing areas and reached spawning areas at a younger age; this tendency began approximately 15,000 years BP and accelerated in contemporary periods. The implication is a lower age at maturity and a lower reproductive success, which they tentatively related to recent declines in population growth rate. This innovative study demonstrates how changes in life history traits are linked both to the population growth rate and to the evolutionary rate under climatic constraints, which may serve as a basis for future conservation research.

Thermal energy storage: “How previous findings determine current research priorities”

Thermal energy storage is an expanding field within the subject of renewable energy technologies. After a listing of the different possibilities available for energy storage, this paper provides a comparison of various materials for High Temperature Thermal Energy Storage (HTTS). Several attributes and needs of each solution are listed. One in particular is using the latent heat as one of the most efficient ways to store thermal energy. The mixture of phase change material (PCM) embedded in a metal foam is optimising the thermal properties of the material for latent heat energy storage. The results of previous studies show that mechanical and thermal properties of foam were extensively studied separately. This paper highlights the potential for an advanced study of thermo-mechanical properties of metal foams embedded with PCM.