Institutional Experience with Academic Reform: A Panel Discussion

This paper consists of the transcripts of a panel discussion focusing on athletic directors’, chancellors’, and presidents’ experiences with academic reform. The panel participants discuss a number of topics, including recent and past academic reform efforts, the process of implementing those initiatives, and the effects of those policies on student athletes and intercollegiate sport

The gravity of China's African export promise

Africa’s largest trade partner, China, criticised for exchanging resources for manufactures, has promised to increase imports and optimise the structure of trade with Africa. Using a gravity model of China’s imports for the years 1995- 2009, we explore potential dynamics for this promise, uniquely accounting for market economy recognition and Taiwan recognition. The former is associated with increased imports, while the latter effect is ambiguous and statistically insignificant. Comparison of projected against actual imports across three growth-path-aligned economic geography typologies - resource-rich; landlocked and resource-poor; coastal and resource-poor – sets out China’s imports trends in an abstract framework of African export potential. We find not only ‘under’ importing across a majority of resource-poor countries. We also find that current trade policy is the least applicable to these comparatively poor exporters’ trade with China. If the latter are to serve a broader catalytic role in Africa’s regional industrial transformation as compared to the role of coastal and resource poor countries in regional economic transformation in Asia and Latin America, China-Africa trade and investment policies may need additional thinking

Development of adenovirus immobilization strategies for in situ gene therapy

Background Regenerative gene therapy using viral vectors enables transduced cells to express bioactive factors in vivo . Viral delivery with spatial control can enhance transduction efficiency and may limit systemic infection. Consequently, we tethered biotinylated adenovirus via interactions with avidin on chitosan surfaces to gain robust control for in situ transduction. Methods Avidin was either directly conjugated to chitosan (virus–biotin–avidin-material; VBAM) or indirectly docked on biotinylated chitosan surfaces (virus–biotin–avidin–biotin-material; VBABM) to tether biotinylated adenovirus. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and spectroscopic analysis were performed to demonstrate the binding profiles. Biotin-alkaline phosphatase and biotinylated adenovirus were used as different sized particles to evaluate binding efficiencies and were compared by the Sips isotherm adsorption method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination illustrated virus distribution, and the transduction efficiency was determined by in vitro cell transduction. Results ELISA and spectroscopic analysis both demonstrated that the VBAM system led to multilayer avidin formation on biomaterial surfaces, whereas VBABM formed a monolayer of avidin. Sips isotherm adsorption indicated that the VBAM method increased heterogeneity and steric hindrance of binding sites. By contrast, the VBABM method docked avidin on chitosan surfaces and orientated the binding sites to facilitate ligand binding. In addition, SEM images illustrated that the VBABM method led to more even viral distribution. In vitro cell infection experiments also demonstrated that the VBABM system enhanced virus immobilization and thus improved cell transduction efficiency over the VBAM system. Conclusions The VBABM strategy is a superior method for in situ transduction from biomaterials. This strategy could be adapted for use with a variety of biomaterials as well as viral vectors, and thus may be an alternative method for in vivo regenerative gene therapy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/60964/1/1233_ftp.pd

Public-sector service provision for older people affected by homelessness in England

This paper assesses provision for older people affected by homelessness in England, giving regard to research findings, such as those developed through a pathways model, which show that the experiences of this group are qualitatively distinct when compared to younger households. Current conceptualisations of older age held by Local Authority Housing Option Service professionals are considered, alongside factors relating to government policy and resource issues. It was found that some practitioners adopted an age-blind approach when assessing older groups, despite this being contrary to policy guidance on assessing vulnerability in England. Further, services and housing options aimed at older groups were viewed as inadequate due to a mixture of lack of awareness, targeting and resources. It is concluded that assessment of vulnerability based on older age is complex, as whilst gerontological discourse may discourage viewing age as a number, homelessness scholars stress that rooflessness causes poor health conditions consistent with premature ageing. It is therefore asserted that policy makers must focus greater attention to developing suitable provision for older service users and look to incorporate a richer conceptualisation of how older age may impact upon the homelessness experience

An Innovative, Prospective, Hybrid Cohort-Cluster Study Design to Characterize Dengue Virus Transmission in Multigenerational Households in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand

Difficulties inherent in the identification of immune correlates of protection or severe disease have challenged the development and evaluation of dengue vaccines. There persist substantial gaps in knowledge about the complex effects of age and sequential dengue virus (DENV) exposures on these correlations. To address these gaps, we were conducting a novel family-based cohort-cluster study for DENV transmission in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand. The study began in 2015 and is funded until at least 2023. As of May 2019, 2,870 individuals in 485 families were actively enrolled. The families comprise at least 1 child born into the study as a newborn, 1 other child, a parent, and a grandparent. The median age of enrolled participants is 21 years (range 0–93 years). Active surveillance is performed to detect acute dengue illnesses, and annual blood testing identifies subclinical seroconversions. Extended follow-up of this cohort will detect sequential infections and correlate antibody kinetics and sequence of infections with disease outcomes. The central goal of this prospective study is to characterize how different DENV exposure histories within multigenerational family units, from DENV-naive infants to grandparents with multiple prior DENV exposures, affect transmission, disease, and protection at the level of the individual, household, and community

Compassionate and self‐image goals as interpersonal maintenance factors in clinical depression and anxiety

ObjectiveInterpersonal models of depression and anxiety have not examined the role of interpersonal goals in shaping relationships and symptoms. Striving to promote/protect desired self‐images (self‐image goals) may undermine relationships and increase symptoms, whereas striving to support others (compassionate goals) may be protective, but clinical relevance is unknown.MethodWe tested effects of compassionate versus self‐image goals on interpersonal functioning and symptoms in clinically depressed and/or anxious participants (N = 47) during 10 days of experience sampling, over a 6‐week follow‐up, and in a dyadic relationship.ResultsParticipants reported higher conflict and symptoms on days that they most pursued self‐image goals, but noted higher perceived support and lower symptoms when pursuing compassionate goals. Goals prospectively predicted symptom changes 6 weeks later. Lastly, informant‐rated interpersonal goals predicted relationship satisfaction of both patients and significant others.ConclusionResults suggest the relevance of self‐image and compassionate goals for the interpersonal maintenance of depression and anxiety.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142915/1/jclp22524_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142915/2/jclp22524.pd

Treg Depletion Inhibits Efficacy of Cancer Immunotherapy: Implications for Clinical Trials

Regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) infiltrate human glioblastoma (GBM); are involved in tumor progression and correlate with tumor grade. Transient elimination of Tregs using CD25 depleting antibodies (PC61) has been found to mediate GBM regression in preclinical models of brain tumors. Clinical trials that combine Treg depletion with tumor vaccination are underway to determine whether transient Treg depletion can enhance anti-tumor immune responses and improve long term survival in cancer patients.Using a syngeneic intracrabial glioblastoma (GBM) mouse model we show that systemic depletion of Tregs 15 days after tumor implantation using PC61 resulted in a decrease in Tregs present in tumors, draining lymph nodes and spleen and improved long-term survival (50% of mice survived >150 days). No improvement in survival was observed when Tregs were depleted 24 days after tumor implantation, suggesting that tumor burden is an important factor for determining efficacy of Treg depletion in clinical trials. In a T cell dependent model of brain tumor regression elicited by intratumoral delivery of adenoviral vectors (Ad) expressing Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) and Herpes Simplex Type 1-Thymidine Kinase (TK) with ganciclovir (GCV), we demonstrate that administration of PC61 24 days after tumor implantation (7 days after treatment) inhibited T cell dependent tumor regression and long term survival. Further, depletion with PC61 completely inhibited clonal expansion of tumor antigen-specific T lymphocytes in response to the treatment.Our data demonstrate for the first time, that although Treg depletion inhibits the progression/eliminates GBM tumors, its efficacy is dependent on tumor burden. We conclude that this approach will be useful in a setting of minimal residual disease. Further, we also demonstrate that Treg depletion, using PC61 in combination with immunotherapy, inhibits clonal expansion of tumor antigen-specific T cells, suggesting that new, more specific targets to block Tregs will be necessary when used in combination with therapies that activate anti-tumor immunity