Archeota, Fall 2017

https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/saasc_archeota/1005/thumbnail.jp

Evaluation of the Community Leadership Project 2.0

Social Policy Research Associates (SPR), the contracted evaluator for CLP, began work partway through the first phase of CLP and has continued its role for CLP 2.0. SPR's overall goals for the evaluation are to: (1) inform improvements in CLP 2.0 implementation; (2) share lessons with the philanthropic field on effective capacity-building strategies for small organizations working in low-income communities and communities of color; and (3) assess the impact of CLP 2.0 on community grantees. This report focuses specifically on the launching of CLP 2.0 and on community grantees' characteristics and capacity levels at baseline

ENHANCING DNA-DAMAGING THERAPY THROUGH THE INHIBITION OF DNTP SYNTHESIS USING A SYNERGISTIC DRUG COMBINATION TO TREAT PANCREATIC NEUROENDOCRINE NEOPLASMS

Despite clinical advances, pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNEN) remain a difficult clinical entity to treat and can carry a poor prognosis. Systemic therapy is used to treat pNENs which are not amenable to surgical resection. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, a form of radiation therapy (RT) and cisplatin are two different forms of DNA-damaging therapy in current use to treat pNENs. However, their efficacy remains poor as single agents. This study aimed to increase the sensitivity of pNENs to the DNA-damaging agents, RT and cisplatin, by inhibiting deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) synthesis. Triapine, a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor (RNRi), and ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein inhibitors (ATRi) were used to block the de novo and salvage pathways for dNTP synthesis, respectively. Of the three orally bioavailable ATRi tested (VX-970, AZD-6738, and BAY1895344), BAY1895344 was the most cytotoxic with and without RT. BAY1895344 and triapine show synergistic potential with increased DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis compared to singular treatment, which is amplified when combined with either RT or cisplatin. Additionally, we identified synergism between cisplatin and BAY1895344 which further amplified their therapeutic effects on the pNEN cells. With triapine treatment alone, we identified strong activation of the ATR pathway which may represent a mechanism of resistance to this treatment which is subsequently blocked by the addition of BAY1895344. With direct quantification, we identified levels of phosphorylated deoxynucleotides increased with triapine treatment alone but were decreased with combination therapy of triapine and BAY1895344, supporting our hypothesis that this combination therapy blocks dNTP synthesis. A similar trend was observed when combined with radiation therapy. Our findings show inhibition of the de novo and salvage pathways for dNTP synthesis markedly sensitize pNENs to subsequent radiation therapy and cisplatin therapy. By capitalizing on the synergy of this combination, clinical efficacy may be achieved at lower doses and represents two potentially novel pNEN treatments

How To Pick The Best Regression Equation: A Review And Comparison Of Model Selection Algorithms

This paper reviews and compares twenty-one different model selection algorithms (MSAs) representing a diversity of approaches, including (i) information criteria such as AIC and SIC; (ii) selection of a “portfolio” or best subset of models; (iii) general-to-specific algorithms, (iv) forward-stepwise regression approaches; (v) Bayesian Model Averaging; and (vi) inclusion of all variables. We use coefficient unconditional mean-squared error (UMSE) as the basis for our measure of MSA performance. Our main goal is to identify the factors that determine MSA performance. Towards this end, we conduct Monte Carlo experiments across a variety of data environments. Our experiments show that MSAs differ substantially with respect to their performance on relevant and irrelevant variables. We relate this to their associated penalty functions, and a bias-variance tradeoff in coefficient estimates. It follows that no MSA will dominate under all conditions. However, when we restrict our analysis to conditions where automatic variable selection is likely to be of greatest value, we find that two general-to-specific MSAs, Autometrics, do as well or better than all others in over 90% of the experiments.Model selection algorithms; Information Criteria; General-to-Specific modeling; Bayesian Model Averaging; Portfolio Models; AIC; SIC; AICc; SICc; Monte Carlo Analysis; Autometrics

Can the UK achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050?

Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the UK’s current target, requires bridging a dramatic energy transition and eliminating all other net sources of emissions while ensuring a just transition. Key components like renewable electricity generation and electric vehicles are well developed, but many issues remain. Public support for a green economy may wane if the economic costs are too high or seen as unfair, so although renewable energy is cheaper than fossil fuels, it is essential to maintain employment, real per-capita growth and reduced inequality. Decarbonizing the UK economy requires an integrated sequential approach and need not be delayed while dealing with the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, energy crisis and resulting inflation

Archeota, Spring 2018

https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/saasc_archeota/1007/thumbnail.jp

Archeota, Fall 2016

https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/saasc_archeota/1003/thumbnail.jp

Archeota, Fall 2018

This is the Fall 2018 issue of Archeota, the official publication of the SJSU SAASChttps://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/saasc_archeota/1008/thumbnail.jp

Value-Added Dairy Products from Grass-Based Dairy Farms: A Case Study in Vermont

On-farm processing of value-added dairy products can be a way for small dairy farms to diversify production and increase revenue. This article examines characteristics of three groups of Vermont farmers who have grass-based dairy farms—those producing value-added dairy products, those interested in such products, and those not interested in such products—and their needs for information and assistance. The three groups differ significantly relative to herd size, engagement in organic operation, land management, self-rated level of business success, and demographic factors, such as education. Topics for which information and assistance are needed include how to make and market value-added dairy products and how to finance such operations