The Developmental Expression of Surfactant Protein-A (SP-A) in the Murine Intestinal Tract

Surfactant protein-A (SP-A) plays a critical role in the innate immune system and has well characterized effects in the lung where it attenuates inflammatory responses and controls invasion of bacteria. Extra-pulmonary sources of SP-A have also been indentified: SP-A mRNA and protein have been detected in the adult gastrointestinal (GI) tract, while significant levels of SP-A protein have been detected in amniotic fluid. To date it is not clear if newborn intestinal exposure to SP-A comes from ingested amniotic fluid or from production in the newborn intestinal tract. RNA in situ hybridization with a digoxigenin-labeled anti-sense SP-A probe was used to detect cells with the SP-A mRNA message in the intestinal tract of post-natal day (PND) 3 and PND 6 mice. Immunohistochemistry in PND 7 mice was used to determine intestinal SP-A protein expression. We report positive staining for SP-A protein in cells of the lamina propria of the intestinal tract, although results were mixed as some SP-A null intestinal tissue also stained positively. RNA in situ hybridization with a digoxigenin-labeled anti-sense SP-A probe hybridized to SP-A mRNA in the lamina propria and muscularis externa of the intestinal tract, the same cells that stained positively for SP-A protein. These results indicate that SP-A is likely produced in the intestinal tract in newborn mice

A physician-scientist preceptorship in clinical and translational research enhances training and mentorship

Abstract Background Dual degree program MD/PhD candidates typically train extensively in basic science research and in clinical medicine, but often receive little formal experience or mentorship in clinical and translational research. Methods To address this educational and curricular gap, the University of Wisconsin Medical Scientist Training Program partnered with the University of Wisconsin Institute for Clinical and Translational Research to create a new physician-scientist preceptorship in clinical and translational research. This six-week apprentice-style learning experience—guided by a physician-scientist faculty mentor—integrates both clinical work and a translational research project, providing early exposure and hands-on experience with clinically oriented research and the integrated career of a physician-scientist. Five years following implementation, we retrospectively surveyed students and faculty members to determine the outcomes of this preceptorship. Results Over five years, 38 students and 36 faculty members participated in the physician-scientist preceptorship. Based on student self-assessments (n = 29, response rate 76%), the course enhanced competency in conducting translational research and understanding regulation of clinical research among other skills. Mentor assessments (n = 17, response rate 47%) supported the value of the preceptorship in these same areas. Based on work during the preceptorship, half of the students produced a peer-reviewed publication or a meeting abstract. At least eleven peer-reviewed manuscripts were generated. The preceptorship also provided a structure for physician-scientist mentorship in the students’ clinical specialty of choice. Conclusion The physician-scientist preceptorship provides a new curricular model to address the gap of clinical research training and provides for mentorship of physician-scientists during medical school. Future work will assess the long-term impact of this course on physician-scientist career trajectories

Playing Chicken with Big Ag: Advocating Regionally Sensitive Food Sovereignty to Address Pandemic Influenza

Created as part of the 2014 Jackson School for International Studies SIS 495:Task Force. Celia Lowe, Task Force Advisor; Natsuki Yoshioka Coordinator.While a focus on pandemic preparedness is important, it does not address long term solutions to outbreak. In our highly globalized world, massive inequalities shape an environment in which preparedness benefits those of the first world, while ignoring the majority of disease victims. This strategy may have regionally contained outbreaks thus far, however avian influenza has the potential to spread across the world. Thus, it is important to move beyond basic awareness methods when seeking to control the spread of diseases. By viewing disease outbreak as a symptom of a greater world problem, we come closer to addressing the causes of outbreak

Intermodal Container Facility Innovations for the Chicago Area with focus on Kankakee (Semester Unknown) IPRO 307): IntermodalContainerFacilityIPRO307FinalReportSp11

IPRO 307 is following the path of its predecessors in order to help improve the shipping transportations and facilities in Kankakee County, IL. While there have been other IPRO teams that have contributed to the modernization of the intermodal system at MI-Jack Shipping Company, our sponsor is now looking for us to further their research in this field. They would also like us to further the research in high speed intermodal along with a viaduct enhancement system. One of our tasks is to select a location in Kankakee County to place the intermodal system. We have decided to break this into two locations with one being in-city and the other being out-of-city. Kankakee County has been selected because two major rail lines pass through it. There is also a highway that runs through the center of it. Therefore, it is an ideal 2 location for an intermodal yard. Also, there is a wind farm being built in Kankakee, so we will be able to save energy by thinking green. In our selection process for a location, we may need to relocate some people. Therefore, our plan is to have affordable housing at our out-of-city location. We will design this affordable housing along with the warehouses and storage facilities, which go along with the design of an intermodal yard.Deliverable

Intermodal Container Facility Innovations for the Chicago Area with focus on Kankakee (Semester Unknown) IPRO 307): IntermodalContainerFacilityIPRO307EthicsSp11

IPRO 307 is following the path of its predecessors in order to help improve the shipping transportations and facilities in Kankakee County, IL. While there have been other IPRO teams that have contributed to the modernization of the intermodal system at MI-Jack Shipping Company, our sponsor is now looking for us to further their research in this field. They would also like us to further the research in high speed intermodal along with a viaduct enhancement system. One of our tasks is to select a location in Kankakee County to place the intermodal system. We have decided to break this into two locations with one being in-city and the other being out-of-city. Kankakee County has been selected because two major rail lines pass through it. There is also a highway that runs through the center of it. Therefore, it is an ideal 2 location for an intermodal yard. Also, there is a wind farm being built in Kankakee, so we will be able to save energy by thinking green. In our selection process for a location, we may need to relocate some people. Therefore, our plan is to have affordable housing at our out-of-city location. We will design this affordable housing along with the warehouses and storage facilities, which go along with the design of an intermodal yard.Deliverable

Intermodal Container Facility Innovations for the Chicago Area with focus on Kankakee (Semester Unknown) IPRO 307)

IPRO 307 is following the path of its predecessors in order to help improve the shipping transportations and facilities in Kankakee County, IL. While there have been other IPRO teams that have contributed to the modernization of the intermodal system at MI-Jack Shipping Company, our sponsor is now looking for us to further their research in this field. They would also like us to further the research in high speed intermodal along with a viaduct enhancement system. One of our tasks is to select a location in Kankakee County to place the intermodal system. We have decided to break this into two locations with one being in-city and the other being out-of-city. Kankakee County has been selected because two major rail lines pass through it. There is also a highway that runs through the center of it. Therefore, it is an ideal 2 location for an intermodal yard. Also, there is a wind farm being built in Kankakee, so we will be able to save energy by thinking green. In our selection process for a location, we may need to relocate some people. Therefore, our plan is to have affordable housing at our out-of-city location. We will design this affordable housing along with the warehouses and storage facilities, which go along with the design of an intermodal yard.Deliverable

Intermodal Container Facility Innovations for the Chicago Area with focus on Kankakee (Semester Unknown) IPRO 307): IntermodalContainerFacilityIPRO307MidTermPresentationSp11

IPRO 307 is following the path of its predecessors in order to help improve the shipping transportations and facilities in Kankakee County, IL. While there have been other IPRO teams that have contributed to the modernization of the intermodal system at MI-Jack Shipping Company, our sponsor is now looking for us to further their research in this field. They would also like us to further the research in high speed intermodal along with a viaduct enhancement system. One of our tasks is to select a location in Kankakee County to place the intermodal system. We have decided to break this into two locations with one being in-city and the other being out-of-city. Kankakee County has been selected because two major rail lines pass through it. There is also a highway that runs through the center of it. Therefore, it is an ideal 2 location for an intermodal yard. Also, there is a wind farm being built in Kankakee, so we will be able to save energy by thinking green. In our selection process for a location, we may need to relocate some people. Therefore, our plan is to have affordable housing at our out-of-city location. We will design this affordable housing along with the warehouses and storage facilities, which go along with the design of an intermodal yard.Deliverable