Nukes or no nukes: how does the community view the Salem & Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations

This study addresses resident and political opinion surrounding the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations (SHCNGS) owned by Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) by analyzing survey responses of residents and politicians living within 0-10 miles, 11-30 miles and from 31-50 miles from the stations in New Jersey and Delaware. The study also investigates resident and political opinion since September 11, 2001, and how residents and politicians receive information about SHCNGS. In addition, resident and political opinion on four key issues facing the future existence of SHCNGS is also captured. Those four key issues are license renewal, environmental impact, safety/security, and radioactive waste storage. The major findings include: Nearly 38% of residents are neutral on how they feel about the use of nuclear energy from SHCNGS. Seventy-two percent of the politicians either strongly favor or somewhat favor the use of energy from SHCNGS. Nearly 75% of the residents somewhat or strongly agree when the original license of nuclear energy plants expire, plants should renew their license. Eighty-four percent of the politicians feel the same way. Forty-six percent of residents believe radioactive waste can\u27t be safely stored. Fifty-two percent of the politicians believe radioactive waste can be safely stored. Large don\u27t know populations (22% resident and 25% politicians) exist in both survey groups. Of the 39% of the residents whose perceptions have changed since September 11 concerning SHCNGS\u27 security, 19% feel their perceptions have changed in a positive way and 20% feel their perceptions have changed in a negative way. Of the 50% of the politicians whose perceptions have changed, 61% have changed in a positive way while 39% have changed in a negative way. Of the residents who recall seeing information about nuclear energy or nuclear generating stations, 13% got it from a news story, 3.5% from a brochure, 1% from a community letter and 9% from other sources. Of the politicians who do recall seeing information about nuclear energy, 46.7% came from a news story, 9.3% from a brochure, 10.7% from a community letter and 10.7% from other sources

Facilitators and Barriers to Incorporating Students with Disabilities in the General Education Classroom at the Secondary Level: A Study of Teacher Perceptions.

The history of incorporating students with disabilities in the general education classroom is driven by parents and advocates of children with disabilities. The push has been to educate all children in the least restrictive environment (LRE), changing the role of general education teacher from a subject matter specialist to include the responsibility of educating students with a wide range of special needs. While most agree that educating children with disabilities in the general education classroom alongside their non-disabled peers is better than excluding them from academic and social opportunities, general educators have been a noticeably absent voice in regards to these changes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to give general educators the opportunity to provide this missing voice. In order to collect data for this phenomenological study, open-ended interviews were conducted with 22 teachers in Northeast Tennessee. The subjects were purposefully sampled to gain maximum variation in terms of school setting, years of experience, and subject matter taught. Using constant comparative analysis, incidents were classified into teacher perceptions regarding incorporating students with disabilities in their classroom, the efficacy of this practice, and facilitators and barriers to this practice. Within each of these categories, sub-categories emerged. The data collected in this study supported the notion that general educators were excluded from the decision making process in regards to special education, and that they viewed the rules and regulations as mandates handed to them by superiors as opposed to joint decisions made in the best interest of their students. Respondents also voiced their opinions regarding the efficacy of incorporating students with disabilities in the general education classroom, as well as facilitators and barriers to success with the practice. This study is important to parents, teachers, and administrators who are interested in a better understanding of the phenomenon of incorporating students with disabilities in the general education classroom from a general education teacher\u27s perspective. It also serves to provide the missing voice of the general educator in regards to this topic

Role of ATP hydrolysis in the DNA translocase activity of the bovine papillomavirus (BPV-1) E1 helicase

The E1 protein of bovine papillomavirus type-1 is the viral replication initiator protein and replicative helicase. Here we show that the C-terminal ∼300 amino acids of E1, that share homology with members of helicase superfamily 3 (SF3), can act as an autonomous helicase. E1 is monomeric in the absence of ATP but assembles into hexamers in the presence of ATP, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or both. A 16 base sequence is the minimum for efficient hexamerization, although the complex protects ∼30 bases from nuclease digestion, supporting the notion that the DNA is bound within the protein complex. In the absence of ATP, or in the presence of ADP or the non–hydrolysable ATP analogue AMP–PNP, the interaction with short ssDNA oligonucleotides is exceptionally tight (T(1/2) > 6 h). However, in the presence of ATP, the interaction with DNA is destabilized (T(1/2) ∼60 s). These results suggest that during the ATP hydrolysis cycle an internal DNA-binding site oscillates from a high to a low-affinity state, while protein–protein interactions switch from low to high affinity. This reciprocal change in protein–protein and protein–DNA affinities could be part of a mechanism for tethering the protein to its substrate while unidirectional movement along DNA proceeds

Structural basis for the design of selective phosphodiesterase 4B inhibitors

AbstractPhosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B) regulates the pro-inflammatory Toll Receptor –Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα) pathway in monocytes, macrophages and microglial cells. As such, it is an important, although under-exploited molecular target for anti-inflammatory drugs. This is due in part to the difficulty of developing selective PDE4B inhibitors as the amino acid sequence of the PDE4 active site is identical in all PDE4 subtypes (PDE4A-D). We show that highly selective PDE4B inhibitors can be designed by exploiting sequence differences outside the active site. Specifically, PDE4B selectivity can be achieved by capture of a C-terminal regulatory helix, now termed CR3 (Control Region 3), across the active site in a conformation that closes access by cAMP. PDE4B selectivity is driven by a single amino acid polymorphism in CR3 (Leu674 in PDE4B1 versus Gln594 in PDE4D). The reciprocal mutations in PDE4B and PDE4D cause a 70–80 fold shift in selectivity. Our structural studies show that CR3 is flexible and can adopt multiple orientations and multiple registries in the closed conformation. The new co-crystal structure with bound ligand provides a guide map for the design of PDE4B selective anti-inflammatory drugs

Spatiotemporal predictions of soil properties and states in variably saturated landscapes

Understanding greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from landscapes with variably saturated soil conditions is challenging given the highly dynamic nature of GHG fluxes in both space and time, dubbed hot spots, and hot moments. On one hand, our ability to directly monitor these processes is limited by sparse in situ and surface chamber observational networks. On the other hand, remote sensing approaches provide spatial data sets but are limited by infrequent imaging over time. We use a robust statistical framework to merge sparse sensor network observations with reconnaissance style hydrogeophysical mapping at a well‐characterized site in Ohio. We find that combining time‐lapse electromagnetic induction surveys with empirical orthogonal functions provides additional environmental covariates related to soil properties and states at high spatial resolutions (~5 m). A cross‐validation experiment using eight different spatial interpolation methods versus 120 in situ soil cores indicated an ~30% reduction in root‐mean‐square error for soil properties (clay weight percent and total soil carbon weight percent) using hydrogeophysical derived environmental covariates with regression kriging. In addition, the hydrogeophysical derived environmental covariates were found to be good predictors of soil states (soil temperature, soil water content, and soil oxygen). The presented framework allows for temporal gap filling of individual sensor data sets as well as provides flexible geometric interpolation to complex areas/volumes. We anticipate that the framework, with its flexible temporal and spatial monitoring options, will be useful in designing future monitoring networks as well as support the next generation of hyper‐resolution hydrologic and biogeochemical models

The future-climate, current-policy framework: towards an approach linking climate science to sector policy development

That global climate is being altered by human activities is well-established; for specific locations, however, the details of how and when many aspects of the changes will become manifest remains somewhat uncertain. For many policy makers there is a gap between recognising a long-term change and implementing short-term practical responses; therefore many countries are failing to implement changes needed for long-term adaptation. Traditional planning approaches are often closely aligned with near- term political cycles and perform poorly in terms of prioritising interventions that address multi-decadal climate impacts. We propose a novel approach that builds on adaptive planning and lessons from the business sector. The Future-Climate, Current-Policy (FCCP) Framework is based on plausible medium-term future climate scenarios, linked 'backwards' to identify short-term 'no regrets' actions. The approach was designed by a team of climate scientists and policy practitioners in East Africa and tested in national and regional fora. Initial trials of the FCCP Framework has proved it to be popular and effective as a way of linking climate science with policy. Its use shows promise as a way of initiating discussions that can enable long-term climate change information to feed effectively into the policy and planning process

Impacts of Climate Change on indirect human exposure to pathogens and chemicals from agriculture

Objective: Climate change is likely to affect the nature of pathogens and chemicals in the environment and their fate and transport. Future risks of pathogens and chemicals could therefore be very different from those of today. In this review, we assess the implications of climate change for changes in human exposures to pathogens and chemicals in agricultural systems in the United Kingdom and discuss the subsequent effects on health impacts. Data sources: In this review, we used expert input and considered literature on climate change ; health effects resulting from exposure to pathogens and chemicals arising from agriculture ; inputs of chemicals and pathogens to agricultural systems ; and human exposure pathways for pathogens and chemicals in agricultural systems. Data synthesis: We established the current evidence base for health effects of chemicals and pathogens in the agricultural environment ; determined the potential implications of climate change on chemical and pathogen inputs in agricultural systems ; and explored the effects of climate change on environmental transport and fate of different contaminant types. We combined these data to assess the implications of climate change in terms of indirect human exposure to pathogens and chemicals in agricultural systems. We then developed recommendations on future research and policy changes to manage any adverse increases in risks. Conclusions: Overall, climate change is likely to increase human exposures to agricultural contaminants. The magnitude of the increases will be highly dependent on the contaminant type. Risks from many pathogens and particulate and particle-associated contaminants could increase significantly. These increases in exposure can, however, be managed for the most part through targeted research and policy changes

Psychological experience and coping strategies of patients in the Northeast US delaying care for infertility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: On March 17, 2020 an expert ASRM task force recommended the temporary suspension of new, non-urgent fertility treatments during an ongoing world-wide pandemic of Covid-19. We surveyed at the time of resumption of fertility care the psychological experience and coping strategies of patients pausing their care due to Covid-19 and examined which factors were associated and predictive of resilience, anxiety, stress and hopefulness. METHODS: Cross sectional cohort patient survey using an anonymous, self-reported, single time, web-based, HIPPA compliant platform (REDCap). Survey sampled two Northeast academic fertility practices (Yale Medicine Fertility Center in CT and Montefiore\u27s Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Health in NY). Data from multiple choice and open response questions collected demographic, reproductive history, experience and attitudes about Covid-19, prior infertility treatment, sense of hopefulness and stress, coping strategies for mitigating stress and two validated psychological surveys to assess anxiety (six-item short-form State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAl-6)) and resilience (10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, (CD-RISC-10). RESULTS: Seven hundred thirty-four patients were sent invitations to participate. Two hundred fourteen of 734 (29.2%) completed the survey. Patients reported their fertility journey had been delayed a mean of 10 weeks while 60% had been actively trying to conceive \u3e 1.5 years. The top 5 ranked coping skills from a choice of 19 were establishing a daily routine, going outside regularly, exercising, maintaining social connection via phone, social media or Zoom and continuing to work. Having a history of anxiety (p \u3c 0.0001) and having received oral medication as prior infertility treatment (p \u3c 0.0001) were associated with lower resilience. Increased hopefulness about having a child at the time of completing the survey (p \u3c 0.0001) and higher resilience scores (p \u3c 0.0001) were associated with decreased anxiety. Higher reported stress scores (p \u3c 0.0001) were associated with increased anxiety. Multiple multivariate regression showed being non-Hispanic black (p = 0.035) to be predictive of more resilience while variables predictive of less resilience were being a full-time homemaker (p = 0.03), having received oral medication as prior infertility treatment (p = 0.003) and having higher scores on the STAI-6 (\u3c 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Prior to and in anticipation of further pauses in treatment the clinical staff should consider pretreatment screening for psychological distress and provide referral sources. In addition, utilization of a patient centered approach to care should be employed

Genomics 2 Proteins portal: a resource and discovery tool for linking genetic screening outputs to protein sequences and structures

peer reviewedRecent advances in AI-based methods have revolutionized the field of structural biology. Concomitantly, high-throughput sequencing and functional genomics have generated genetic variants at an unprecedented scale. However, efficient tools and resources are needed to link disparate data types—to ‘map’ variants onto protein structures, to better understand how the variation causes disease, and thereby design therapeutics. Here we present the Genomics 2 Proteins portal (https://g2p.broadinstitute.org/): a human proteome-wide resource that maps 20,076,998 genetic variants onto 42,413 protein sequences and 77,923 structures, with a comprehensive set of structural and functional features. Additionally, the Genomics 2 Proteins portal allows users to interactively upload protein residue-wise annotations (for example, variants and scores) as well as the protein structure beyond databases to establish the connection between genomics to proteins. The portal serves as an easy-to-use discovery tool for researchers and scientists to hypothesize the structure–function relationship between natural or synthetic variations and their molecular phenotypes.9. Industry, innovation and infrastructur