In Vivo Measurements of Tumor Metabolism and Growth after Administration of Enzastaurin Using Small Animal FDG Positron Emission Tomography

Background. The use of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) may help to establish the antitumor activity of enzastaurin, a novel protein kinase C-beta II (PKC-βII) inhibitor, in mouse xenografts. Methods. The hematologic cell line RAJI and the solid tumor cell line U87MG were each implanted in NOD/SCID mice. Standard tumor growth measurements and [18F]FDG PET imaging were performed weekly for up to three weeks after tumor implantation and growth. Results. Concomitant with caliper measurements, [18F]FDG PET imaging was performed to monitor glucose metabolism. Heterogeneity of glucose uptake in various areas of the tumors was observed after vehicle or enzastaurin treatment. This heterogeneity may limit the use of [18F]FDG PET imaging to measure enzastaurin-associated changes in xenograft tumors. Conclusion. [18F]FDG PET imaging technique does not correlate with standard caliper assessments in xenografts to assess the antitumor activity of enzastaurin. Future studies are needed to determine the use of [18F]FDG PET imaging in preclinical models

Integrating urban information systems and spatial models

The evolution of spatial and nonspatial information systems is rapidly altering the role of applied computing in urban and regional planning. Urban development tracking and monitoring systems are in place in many regions in the United States and Canada. These systems provide continual status reports on land-use activity. Also, spatial interaction models are being developed for several major cities in the United States. The corollary collection of many types of spatial information has been impressive. The US Census will produce TIGER geo-referenced files with the 1990 census, and information will be widely available on CD-ROM disks. In this paper current trends in the development of new data sources, information systems, and spatial modelling are discussed and the potential for integrating these elements into a working planning-support system is discussed.

Transnational Experiences of COVID-19: Transferrable Lessons for Urban Planning between the Global South and Global North

This chapter progresses an international conversation held in June 2020 that sought to explore the future of urban planning in the wake of COVID-19. The discussion identified transferrable lessons that are beginning to emerge transnationally that planners may consider in an effort to address the inequalities and inadequacies highlighted by the pandemic. Here, we unpack the mutual and unique experiences of the pandemic and the subsequent unlockdown in four distinct territories – Australia, Canada, Denmark and Sri Lanka – in an effort to draw out transferrable lessons for planning practice. By reflecting on examples from the cities of Aalborg, Colombo, Melbourne and Toronto we highlight how extreme events such as pandemics require resilient, multi-scalar urban solutions. Here, we see how national, regional and local authorities attempted to alleviate unevenly distributed challenges, with varying degrees of success. In this chapter, we develop collective, transferrable lessons drawn from each city-region on resilient planning practice to further mutual learning on pandemic and post-pandemic urban planning internationally. In response to urban inequalities highlighted by the pandemic, we suggest that planning must reengage with localism to address global events. Furthermore, we stress the need to acknowledge the political nature of planning in order to grasp opportunities for change as part of a long-term programme of incrementalism rather than a return to ‘business as usual’ approaches. In doing so, planners should work with communities in an effort to educate and advocate for the continued revitalisation of public spaces and services and the broader promotion of sustainable modes of mobility. Through evidenced-based decision-making and the use of emerging/repurposed technologies, post-pandemic planning, as a key public service, has the opportunity to engender community trust in institutional leadership, and the betterment of the lives of citizens

Integrated Modeling Approach for the Transportation Disadvantaged

Transportation models have not been adequate in addressing severe long-term urban transportation problems that transportation disadvantaged groups overwhelmingly encounter, and the negative impacts of transportation on the disadvantaged have not been effectively considered in the modeling studies. Therefore this paper aims to develop a transportation modeling approach in order to understand the travel patterns of the transportation disadvantaged, and help in developing policies to solve the problems of the disadvantaged. Effectiveness of this approach is tested in a pilot study in Aydin, Turkey. After determining disadvantaged groups by a series of spatial and statistical analyses, the approach is integrated with a travel demand model. The model is run for both disadvantaged and nondisadvantaged populations to examine the differences between their travel behaviors. The findings of the pilot study reveal that almost two thirds of the population is disadvantaged, and this modeling approach could be particularly useful in disadvantage-sensitive planning studies to deploy relevant land use and transportation policies for disadvantaged groups