Mid-Pliocene Paleotemperature Reconstruction: Evaluation of the Sclerochronologic Isotopic Record of Molluscan Bivalves from the Pinecrest Beds of the Tamiami Formation, FL and the Yorktown Formation, VA.

HonorsEarth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162612/1/eboswell.pd

The politics of institutionalizing preventive health

Prevention is an attractive idea to policymakers in theory, particularly in health where the burden of spending and care is increasingly taken up by complex and chronic conditions associated with lifestyle choices. However, prevention in general, and preventative health in particular, has proven hard to implement in practice. In this paper, we look to one tangible legacy of the recent rise of the prevention agenda: agencies with responsibility for preventative health policy. We ask how this form of institutionalizing preventative health happens in practice, and what consequences it has for the advancement of the prevention agenda. We draw on qualitative data to compare the trajectories of newly formed agencies in Australia, New Zealand and England. We find that building and maintaining legitimacy for such agencies may come at the expense of quick progress or radical action in service of the prevention agenda

Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise Preparedness and Resilience Intergovernmental Pilot Project. Phase 2 Report: Recommendations, Accomplishments and Lessons Learned

Executive Summary After two years, the Hampton Roads Sea level Rise and Resilience Intergovernmental Planning Pilot Project (Intergovernmental Pilot Project or IPP), convened at Old Dominion University, has come to a successful close. Although the conclusion of the project is different than originally imagined by the drafters of the IPP Charter, the process in and of itself brought hundreds of stakeholders together, built lasting and ongoing relationships, and produced many workable recommendations for the region that can be accomplished by a variety of partnerships. The key deliverables include a whole of government mitigation and adaptation planning process and an integrated regional recommendation, both which can serve as a template for other regions. Additionally the IPP demonstrated a new role for an urban campus to act as a community convener, matching focused research and curriculum development with public service across the university and the region. Initiated in June 2014, the IPP was an effort to use the knowledge, skills and expertise of all regional stakeholders to create a framework or template for intergovernmental strategic planning that could be used outside the region; and, to implement that integrated strategy in Hampton Roads, Virginia, creating an effective and efficient method for planning holistically for sea level rise and recurrent flooding. This “Whole of Government and Community” effort would not have been successful without the hundreds of stakeholders and volunteer leaders from across all levels of government, academia, and the community who participated out of a sense of duty to their community and commitment to the collaboration. Knowing water knows no jurisdictional bounds, a high level of intergovernmental collaboration is necessary to develop integrated regional solutions and implement effective sea level rise preparedness and resilience strategies. Additionally, the wider community in Hampton Roads recognizes that they too will be affected by not only sea level rise itself, but also the adaptation strategies implemented in preparation. Executive Summary Phase 2 Report: Recommendations, Accomplishments and Lessons Learned Executive Summary 11 Phase 1 of the project, from June 2014 through June 2015, saw the drafting and signing of a Charter, the recruitment of a steering committee, a host of events, and the development of working group and advisory committees comprised of subject matter experts. Phase 2, from June 2015 through June 2016, included heavy discussion with regard to ongoing strategies for intergovernmental collaboration as well as research, a number of case studies carried out by committees and working groups, and the careful development of recommendations for the region. The IPP concludes successfully with a series of recommendations from each working group and committee as well as a final resolution drafted by the Legal Working Group and containing the consensus views of steering committee members. Though the recommendations vary in specificity and subject area, a few themes are clear. In order to move forward regionally, local stakeholders need to maintain, institutionalize and build relationships with each other in order to facilitate effective collaboration and information sharing. Institutionalizing these relationships and partnerships is key, as people shift positions throughout their careers. Additionally, while more data is needed, the methods by which that data is integrated and shared are equally important. Further, some form of the Whole of Government and Community approach that focuses on the watershed as opposed to jurisdictional boundaries is essential to accomplishing the recommendations set forth in this report. The IPP has been a success because of the dedicated volunteers committed to a resilient Hampton Roads. During the last two years, this project advanced regional adaptation through the evaluation and recommendation of a future governance structure, the development of working group and committee recommendations, building public awareness, building awareness of the need for federal agency involvement locally and building relationships among numerous organizations involved in the Pilot Project. All of this work, which in pieces may be specific only to a unique circumstance or area, when taken as a whole, brings foundational change. It builds on previous work accomplished by other leaders in the Hampton Roads region and should be leveraged in the future to accelerate regional adaptation

Regulation of Stat5 by FAK and PAK1 in Oncogenic FLT3 and KIT driven Leukemogenesis

Oncogenic mutations of FLT3 and KIT receptors are associated with poor survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and currently available drugs are largely ineffective. Although Stat5 has been implicated in regulating several myeloid and lymphoid malignancies, how precisely Stat5 regulates leukemogenesis, including its nuclear translocation to induce gene transcription is poorly understood. In leukemic cells, we show constitutive activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), whose inhibition represses leukemogenesis. Downstream of FAK, activation of Rac1 is regulated by RacGEF Tiam1, whose inhibition prolongs the survival of leukemic mice. Inhibition of the Rac1 effector PAK1 prolongs the survival of leukemic mice in part by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of Stat5. These results reveal a leukemic pathway involving FAK/Tiam1/Rac1/PAK1 and demonstrate an essential role for these signaling molecules in regulating the nuclear translocation of Stat5 in leukemogenesis

Evaluating the Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutation D614G on Transmissibility and Pathogenicity.

Global dispersal and increasing frequency of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant D614G are suggestive of a selective advantage but may also be due to a random founder effect. We investigate the hypothesis for positive selection of spike D614G in the United Kingdom using more than 25,000 whole genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Despite the availability of a large dataset, well represented by both spike 614 variants, not all approaches showed a conclusive signal of positive selection. Population genetic analysis indicates that 614G increases in frequency relative to 614D in a manner consistent with a selective advantage. We do not find any indication that patients infected with the spike 614G variant have higher COVID-19 mortality or clinical severity, but 614G is associated with higher viral load and younger age of patients. Significant differences in growth and size of 614G phylogenetic clusters indicate a need for continued study of this variant

Investigation of hospital discharge cases and SARS-CoV-2 introduction into Lothian care homes

Background The first epidemic wave of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Scotland resulted in high case numbers and mortality in care homes. In Lothian, over one-third of care homes reported an outbreak, while there was limited testing of hospital patients discharged to care homes. Aim To investigate patients discharged from hospitals as a source of SARS-CoV-2 introduction into care homes during the first epidemic wave. Methods A clinical review was performed for all patients discharges from hospitals to care homes from 1st March 2020 to 31st May 2020. Episodes were ruled out based on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test history, clinical assessment at discharge, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data and an infectious period of 14 days. Clinical samples were processed for WGS, and consensus genomes generated were used for analysis using Cluster Investigation and Virus Epidemiological Tool software. Patient timelines were obtained using electronic hospital records. Findings In total, 787 patients discharged from hospitals to care homes were identified. Of these, 776 (99%) were ruled out for subsequent introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into care homes. However, for 10 episodes, the results were inconclusive as there was low genomic diversity in consensus genomes or no sequencing data were available. Only one discharge episode had a genomic, time and location link to positive cases during hospital admission, leading to 10 positive cases in their care home. Conclusion The majority of patients discharged from hospitals were ruled out for introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into care homes, highlighting the importance of screening all new admissions when faced with a novel emerging virus and no available vaccine

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is an immune escape variant with an altered cell entry pathway

Vaccines based on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 are a cornerstone of the public health response to COVID-19. The emergence of hypermutated, increasingly transmissible variants of concern (VOCs) threaten this strategy. Omicron (B.1.1.529), the fifth VOC to be described, harbours multiple amino acid mutations in spike, half of which lie within the receptor-binding domain. Here we demonstrate substantial evasion of neutralization by Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants in vitro using sera from individuals vaccinated with ChAdOx1, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273. These data were mirrored by a substantial reduction in real-world vaccine effectiveness that was partially restored by booster vaccination. The Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2 did not induce cell syncytia in vitro and favoured a TMPRSS2-independent endosomal entry pathway, these phenotypes mapping to distinct regions of the spike protein. Impaired cell fusion was determined by the receptor-binding domain, while endosomal entry mapped to the S2 domain. Such marked changes in antigenicity and replicative biology may underlie the rapid global spread and altered pathogenicity of the Omicron variant

Evaluating the Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutation D614G on Transmissibility and Pathogenicity

Global dispersal and increasing frequency of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant D614G are suggestive of a selective advantage but may also be due to a random founder effect. We investigate the hypothesis for positive selection of spike D614G in the United Kingdom using more than 25,000 whole genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Despite the availability of a large dataset, well represented by both spike 614 variants, not all approaches showed a conclusive signal of positive selection. Population genetic analysis indicates that 614G increases in frequency relative to 614D in a manner consistent with a selective advantage. We do not find any indication that patients infected with the spike 614G variant have higher COVID-19 mortality or clinical severity, but 614G is associated with higher viral load and younger age of patients. Significant differences in growth and size of 614G phylogenetic clusters indicate a need for continued study of this variant

Kautta aikojen kantapään kautta : Teatteripuvustaminen käytännössä

Teatteripuvustuksella on teatterin synnystä alkaen ollut tärkeä rooli esiintymisen viestinnällisessä ja esteettisessä kokonaisuudessa. Puvustuksella voidaan tuoda esille tarinassa kuvatun maailman aikakausi ja maantieteellinen sijainti sekä hahmojen suhteet toisiinsa, ympäröivään maailmaan ja itseensä. Puvustuksella voidaan myös herättää katsojassa mielleyhtymiä, joilla yleisimpiä hahmojen ominaisuuksia voidaan esitellä ilman ikävystyttävää korostusta. Opinnäytetyö pohjustetaan kuvailemalla länsimaisen teatteripuvustuksen kehittyminen syntymästään antiikin Kreikassa 500-luvulla ennen ajanlaskun alkua aina nykypäivään saakka. Koostetun historian tavoitteena on kuvata lukijalle teatteripuvustuksen viestinnällinen ja esteettinen kehitys sekä selventää kehityksen taustalla vaikuttaneita yhteiskunnallisia ilmiöitä. Työssä myös tarkastellaan ja pohditaan teatteripuvustamisen kannalta oleellisia ominaisuuksia ja taitoja. Nämä on jaettu kolmeen ryhmään: uuden luomiseen, organisointiin ja yhteistyöhön. Teatteripuvustuksen viestinnällistä vaikutusta produktion lopputulokseen pohditaan näytelmän kontekstin, hahmoihin liitettävien ominaisuuksien ja esteettisen kokonaisuuden kautta. Tutkimusmenetelmänä käytetään deskriptiota, sisällönanalyysina etnometodologista analyysia ja teoreettisena pohjana länsimaisen teatteripuvustuksen historiaa. Aineisto on kerätty asiantuntijoilta, kirjallisuudesta sekä tutkijan kokemuksista teatteripuvustamisen parissa. Työn toiminnallisena tuloksena syntyi harrastelijateatteri Ilvekselle tietopaketti, jossa kuvaillaan teatteripuvustuksen suunnittelun ja toteutuksen työjärjestys työryhmän ensimmäisestä tapaamisesta esityskauden loppuun. Tietopaketin avulla aloittelija kykenee itsenäisesti tuottamaan teatteripuvustuksen ilman merkittävää ulkopuolista apua. Työn teoreettisesta tutkimusosuudesta voi olla hyötyä tulevalle tutkimustyötä tekeville sekä ihmisille, jotka hakevat käytännön tietoa teatteripuvustuksen työjärjestyksestä sekä teatteripuvustajien keskeisestä taitopaletista.Theatre costume has played an important role in the informational and aesthetic whole of a performance since the birth of theatre. The costumes can bring to light the time and the place of the world depicted in the story and the characters' relations to this world, each other and themselves. Costume also has the power to evoke recognition in the viewer which makes trivial emphasis of the most common character traits unnecessary. The theoretical frame work of the dissertation is set by describing the evolution of western theatre costume from it's birth in the 6th century BC in ancient Greece to this day. The aim of compiling the history of costuming is to explain the informational and aesthetic evolution of costume and to indicate the influence of historic societal developments on it. The dissertation also considers the skills that are needed to work as a costumer. These skills are divided into three groups: creation, organisation and co-operation. The theatre costume's informational effect on the theatre production is assessed from the point of view of context, character traits and the aesthetic whole. Finally the costuming guide for Ilves theatre will be described. The used research method is description, whereas the contents was analysed from an ethnomethodological stand point. The material has been gathered from professionals in the field, literature and the writer's own experiences with costuming. The end product of the dissertation is a guide for Ilves Theatre, in which the procedure of designing and creating the collection of theatre costumes is described step by step, from the first meeting to the last performance. With the help of this guide, a beginner will be able to produce the costumes for a theatre production without much outside assistance. This dissertation may also prove useful for future research and for people seeking practical information on theatre costuming procedure and the skills required

Field emission from porous silicon

Vacuum microelectronic (VME) devices are of interest for the development of flat-screen displays and microwave devices. In many cases, their operation depends on the field emission of electrons from micron-sized cathodes (semiconductor or metal), into a vacuum. Major challenges to be met before these devices can be fully exploited include obtaining - low operating voltages, high maximum emission currents, uniform emission characteristics, and long-term emission stability. The research in this thesis concerns the production of silicon field emitters and the improvement of their emission properties by the process of anodisation. Anodisation was carried out for short times, in order to form a very thin layer of porous silicon (PS) at the surface of both p and p+-type silicon emitters. The aim in doing this was to form a high density of asperities over the surface of the emitters. It was the intention that these asperities, rather than the "macroscopic" apex of the emitter, would control emission. This was the first work of its kind to be carried out. Transmission electron microscopy was used to characterise the morphology of p and p+-type silicon emitters before and after anodisation. Both the structure and arrangement of the surface fibrils, the thickness of the PS layers at the apex and nature of PS cross-sections were studied. The morphology was correlated to subsequent field emission measurements. Field emission characteristics, before and after anodisation, were obtained using a scanning electron microscope adapted for field emission measurements, and a field emission microscope. Extensive measurements showed that, following anodisation, there was substantial improvement in emission behaviour. After anodisation, the following was found to be true: i) The starting voltage was reduced by up to 50% (with p+ ii) Number of emitting tips per array was increased. iii) Higher maximum currents (up to 3 times higher) were obtained before tips underwent destruction. iv) The resistive effect of the PS layer at the apex was important in determining the maximum current obtained from a tip. In addition, both field emission and field ion microscopy were used to identify the emission source following anodisation. It was shown that individual fibrils on the emission surface caused an increase in field enhancement over a flat plane, leading to emission at lower voltage. Overall, porous silicon appears to be a very promising material for field emission displays.</p