Impact Factors: Methodological Standards for Applied Input-Output Analysis

Input-output economics, commonly referred to as economic impact analysis, is a common methodology to examine changes in local, regional, and national economies. Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) models are a more comprehensive form of input-output (I-O) models, though the term “I-O model” is frequently used to describe both. These models are used for a wide variety of purposes but are most often used for economic impact and economic contribution analysis. The field is brimming with studies by analysts with a loose understanding of the method to those following strict academic rigor. This paper outlines the best practices in conducting economic impact and contribution analysis to set standards for conducting these analyses. Using a thorough review of the literature and examining best practices from the field, a list of recommendations for conducting a robust economic impact and contribution analysis will be presented. It will include understanding model assumptions, analysis framing and methodology recommendations, and interpretation of results. This includes considerations when choosing a region of study, what type of event to examine, which values to include and exclude, using margins, when there is a need for a net analysis, how to accurately report results, and understanding reasonable multipliers

Impact Factors: Methodological Standards for Applied Input-Output Analysis

Input-output economics, commonly referred to as economic impact analysis, is a common methodology to examine changes in local, regional, and national economies. Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) models are a more comprehensive form of input-output (I-O) models, though the term “I-O model” is frequently used to describe both. These models are used for a wide variety of purposes but are most often used for economic impact and economic contribution analysis. The field is brimming with studies by analysts with a loose understanding of the method to those following strict academic rigor. This paper outlines the best practices in conducting economic impact and contribution analysis to set standards for conducting these analyses. Using a thorough review of the literature and examining best practices from the field, a list of recommendations for conducting a robust economic impact and contribution analysis will be presented. It will include understanding model assumptions, analysis framing and methodology recommendations, and interpretation of results. This includes considerations when choosing a region of study, what type of event to examine, which values to include and exclude, using margins, when there is a need for a net analysis, how to accurately report results, and understanding reasonable multipliers

Nasal associated lymphoid tissue of the Syrian golden hamster expresses high levels of PrPC.

The key event in the pathogenesis of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is a template-dependent misfolding event where an infectious isoform of the prion protein (PrPSc) comes into contact with native prion protein (PrPC) and changes its conformation to PrPSc. In many extraneurally inoculated models of prion disease this PrPC misfolding event occurs in lymphoid tissues prior to neuroinvasion. The primary objective of this study was to compare levels of total PrPC in hamster lymphoid tissues involved in the early pathogenesis of prion disease. Lymphoid tissues were collected from golden Syrian hamsters and Western blot analysis was performed to quantify PrPC levels. PrPC immunohistochemistry (IHC) of paraffin embedded tissue sections was performed to identify PrPC distribution in tissues of the lymphoreticular system. Nasal associated lymphoid tissue contained the highest amount of total PrPC followed by Peyer's patches, mesenteric and submandibular lymph nodes, and spleen. The relative levels of PrPC expression in IHC processed tissue correlated strongly with the Western blot data, with high levels of PrPC corresponding with a higher percentage of PrPC positive B cell follicles. High levels of PrPC in lymphoid tissues closely associated with the nasal cavity could contribute to the relative increased efficiency of the nasal route of entry of prions, compared to other routes of infection

NALT contains significantly more PrP^C than other lymphoid tissues.

<p>A) Western blot analysis and B) normalized quantification of lymphatic tissue PrP^C abundance. SP—spleen, SLN—submandibular lymph node, MLN—mesenteric lymph node, PP—Peyer’s patch, NALT—nasal associated lymphoid tissue.</p

PrP^C migration patterns were distinct for different lymphoid tissues.

<p>A) Migration banding patterns are consistent when comparing individual animal homogenates. SP, SLN and PP homogenates from individual animals migrate similarly. B) Line graph of lane intensity analysis demonstrating peak differences in intensity of PrP^C migration. C) Western blot of lymphoid tissue (NALT, SP, and PP) and BR control. D) Line graph of lane analysis of PrP^C intensity of lymphoid tissue indicates intensity difference and migration profile of NALT. E) Comparison of PNGase treated and untreated PrP^C from lymphoid tissue (SLN, PP and NALT and BR) demonstrates variable levels of full length and truncated PrP^C in samples. BR—brain, SP—spleen, PP—Peyer’s patch, SLN—submandibular lymph node, NALT—nasal associated lymphoid tissue.</p

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of lymphoid tissues demonstrating presence and localization of PrP^C within B cell follicles.

<p>IHC was performed on A/B) NALT, C) MLN, D) SLN, E) PP and F) SP with the anti-PrP antibody 3F4 (B-F) or an isotype control (A). The tissue sections were processed identically using the same reagents at the same time to illustrate relative differences in PrP^C expression between tissues. The scale bar represents 100 μm. NALT—nasal associated lymphoid tissue, MLN—mesenteric lymph node, SLN—submandibular lymph node, PP—Peyer’s patch, SP—spleen.</p

Raised ground, razed structure: ceramic chronology, occupation and chiefly authority on Mound P at Moundville

Mound P is the largest mound on the western plaza periphery at Moundville in west-central Alabama. Excavations on the western mound flank revealed at least two mound construction episodes and a large amount of modern disturbance. Excavations on the mound summit intersected a large burnt daub structure that was previously indicated by a magnetometer survey. Moundville was depopulated around A.D. 1400 and the occupation of mound summits after this time indicates that leadership positions in the region were still important. Mounds were used as symbols of authority that leaders could co-opt to legitimize their position. A ceramic chronology was developed based on the site's type-variety system for the mound to determine the date of terminal occupation on the summit of the mound. This revealed that the mound was used lightly during the Moundville IV (A.D. 1520-1650) ceramic phase. Other artifacts from the mound suggest that the pigment complex was in use on the summit but a stone manufacturing industry was not. It is suggested that Mound P was occupied late in Moundville's history but abandoned prior to the Protohistoric period and the Spanish intrusion into the Southeastern United States. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries

Enhancement of tight junctional barrier function by micronutrients: compound-specific effects on permeability and claudin composition.

Amid an increasing number of reports in the literature concerning epithelial barrier enhancement by various nutrient compounds, there has never been a study performing side-by-side comparisons of these agents in a single epithelial model. We compare five nutrient compounds (previously reported in various epithelial models to enhance barrier function) regarding their ability to increase transepithelial electrical resistance (R(t)) and decrease transepithelial mannitol permeability (J(m)) across LLC-PK₁ renal epithelial cell layers. The effects of these nutrients on the abundance of various tight junctional proteins are also compared. In the overall group of nutrients tested--zinc, indole, quercetin, butyrate and nicotine--only nicotine failed to improve barrier function by either parameter. Nicotine also was without effect on tight junctional proteins. Quercetin simultaneously increased R(t) and decreased J(m). Zinc, butyrate and indole only exhibited statistically significant enhancement of R(t). Each of these four effective nutrient compounds had unique patterns of effects on the panel of tight junctional proteins studied. No two compounds produced the same pattern of effects. This unique pattern of effects on tight junctional complex composition by each compound establishes the chance for additive or even synergistic improvement of barrier function by combinations of compounds. A synergistic effect of the combination of quercetin and zinc on R(t) is shown

Identification and Functional Analysis of in Vivo Phosphorylation Sites of the Arabidopsis BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE1 Receptor Kinase

Brassinosteroids (BRs) regulate multiple aspects of plant growth and development and require an active BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) and BRI1-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE1 (BAK1) for hormone perception and signal transduction. Many animal receptor kinases exhibit ligand-dependent oligomerization followed by autophosphorylation and activation of the intracellular kinase domain. To determine if early events in BR signaling share this mechanism, we used coimmunoprecipitation of epitope-tagged proteins to show that in vivo association of BRI1 and BAK1 was affected by endogenous and exogenous BR levels and that phosphorylation of both BRI1 and BAK1 on Thr residues was BR dependent. Immunoprecipitation of epitope-tagged BRI1 from Arabidopsis thaliana followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) identified S-838, S-858, T-872, and T-880 in the juxtamembrane region, T-982 in the kinase domain, and S-1168 in C-terminal region as in vivo phosphorylation sites of BRI1. MS analysis also strongly suggested that an additional two residues in the juxtamembrane region and three sites in the activation loop of kinase subdomain VII/VIII were phosphorylated in vivo. We also identified four specific BAK1 autophosphorylation sites in vitro using LC/MS/MS. Site-directed mutagenesis of identified and predicted BRI1 phosphorylation sites revealed that the highly conserved activation loop residue T-1049 and either S-1044 or T-1045 were essential for kinase function in vitro and normal BRI1 signaling in planta. Mutations in the juxtamembrane or C-terminal regions had only small observable effects on autophosphorylation and in planta signaling but dramatically affected phosphorylation of a peptide substrate in vitro. These findings are consistent with many aspects of the animal receptor kinase model in which ligand-dependent autophosphorylation of the activation loop generates a functional kinase, whereas phosphorylation of noncatalytic intracellular domains is required for recognition and/or phosphorylation of downstream substrates

Reduced exposure using asymmetric cone beam processing for wide area detector cardiac CT

The purpose of this study was to estimate dose reduction after implementation of asymmetrical cone beam processing using exposure differences measured in a water phantom and a small cohort of clinical coronary CTA patients. Two separate 320 × 0.5 mm detector row scans of a water phantom used identical cardiac acquisition parameters before and after software modifications from symmetric to asymmetric cone beam acquisition and processing. Exposure was measured at the phantom surface with Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dosimeters at 12 equally spaced angular locations. Mean HU and standard deviation (SD) for both approaches were compared using ROI measurements obtained at the center plus four peripheral locations in the water phantom. To assess image quality, mean HU and standard deviation (SD) for both approaches were compared using ROI measurements obtained at five points within the water phantom. Retrospective evaluation of 64 patients (37 symmetric; 27 asymmetric acquisition) included clinical data, scanning parameters, quantitative plus qualitative image assessment, and estimated radiation dose. In the water phantom, the asymmetric cone beam processing reduces exposure by approximately 20% with no change in image quality. The clinical coronary CTA patient groups had comparable demographics. The estimated dose reduction after implementation of the asymmetric approach was roughly 24% with no significant difference between the symmetric and asymmetric approach with respect to objective measures of image quality or subjective assessment using a four point scale. When compared to a symmetric approach, the decreased exposure, subsequent lower patient radiation dose, and similar image quality from asymmetric cone beam processing supports its routine clinical use