Benchmark: using sensors to study public space

Efforts have been made throughout history to measure how people use public space. This research seeks to integrate a range of sensor technologies to automate analysis of pedestrian usage of public space. A range of environmental sensors, image recognition utilities, and open-source software are combined to create a system to measure in detail how people use public space, with the intention of serving as a tool for creating better public spaces in the future. This framework is part of a broader effort to offer organizations and individuals methods and data to inform place-making interventions at multiple scales in conjunction with the Gehl Institute and Better Block Foundation

Angiogenesis genotyping in the selection of first-line treatment with either sunitinib or pazopanib for advanced renal cell carcinoma

Recent data from the COMPARZ study seem to suggest a noninferiority of pazopanib confronted with sunitinib in PFS and OS. We previously reported how VEGF and VEGFR polymorphisms might have a predictive role in patients treated with first-line sunitinib. Aim of our study was to investigate whether tumour angiogenesis genotyping could influence clinical outcome in RCC patients treated with either sunitinib or pazopanib, in order to help clinicians select the appropriate treatment for each patient. Results: 19 patients were treated with pazopanib while 78 received sunitinib. VEGF A rs833061 resulted significant in PFS in sunitinib vs pazopanib patients (CC+CT > TT in sunitinib, TT > CC+CT in pazopanib; p CC in sunitinib, CC > GG+CG in pazopanib; p CC in sunitinib, CC > AA+AC in pazopanib; p < 0,0001). OS showed no statistically significant difference. Conclusions: In our analysis patients with opposite polymorphisms of rs833061, rs2010963, rs699947 of VEGF A seems to have a better PFS if treated with either sunitinib or pazopanib. Our data seem to suggest that biology could have a role choosing first line treatment for mRCC patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis on 97 histologic samples of mRCC patients was conducted for VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGFR-1,2,3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs

Angiogenesis genotyping and clinical outcome during regorafenib treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer patients

Regorafenib monotherapy is a potential option for metastatic colorectal cancer patients. However, the lack of predictive factors and the severe toxicities related to treatment have made its use in clinical practice challenging. Polymorphisms of VEGF and its receptor (VEGFR) genes might regulate angiogenesis and thus potentially influence outcome during anti-angiogenesis treatment such as regorafenib. Aim of our study was to evaluate the role of VEGF and VEGFR genotyping in determining clinical outcome for colorectal cancer patients receiving regorafenib. We retrospectively collected clinical data and samples (tumour or blood) of 138 metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with regorafenib. We analysed the correlation of different VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGFR-1,2,3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with patients' progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results from angiogenesis genotyping showed that only VEGF-A rs2010963 maintained an independent correlation with PFS and OS. Among clinical factors only ECOG PS was independently correlated with OS, whereas no correlation with PFS was evident. Grouping together those results allowed further patients stratification into 3 prognostic groups: favourable, intermediate and unfavourable. VEGF-A rs2010963 genotyping may represent an important tool for a more accurate selection of optimal candidates for regorafenib therap

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Vulnerability of What? Vulnerability of Whom? : evaluating and communicating vulnerability to extreme floods in Houston, TX using a novel web-based platform

Thesis: M.C.P., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, 2018.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 81-88).The global climate is changing and these changes will continue to have adverse effects on cities and their residents. Coastal cities in particular, which contain the majority of the global urban population, are becoming increasingly sensitive to changing climactic conditions. The particularly devastating extreme storm season experienced in 2017-18 on the east coast of the United States (including storms Harvey, Irma, Maria, and four nor'easters on the mid-Atlantic coast) has intensified discussion regarding the preparation for, response to, and communication of risk and vulnerabilities related to extreme weather events. Risk is a function of the probability of experiencing a hazard event and the vulnerability of the system in question. Vulnerability to extreme weather events is the susceptibility of a system to internal or external stressors, exposure to those stressors, and the capacity of that system to adapt or respond to that extreme event. These concepts are understood in terms of social, economic, environmental, infrastructural, institutional, and built environment systems, and the focus of policymakers and stakeholders is often split between these domains. Furthermore, responses to vulnerability of any one categorical domain is potentially incongruous with responses to other domains. The modes by which this information is presented to decision-makers often either preferences single domains of interest or obscures the degree to which individual categories influence overall measures of vulnerability. Similarly, this information is often spatialized and presented in a planimetric view which is at times at odds with the conditions experienced on the ground before, during, and after an extreme event. This project begins with a review of relevant literature exploring definitions and measures of vulnerability to extreme flood events, identifying gaps in existing categorical domain combinations and opportunities for the application of a novel method of synthesis for Houston, Texas, a city hit by three 500-year storms in as many years and in the process of updating building codes, flood zone designations, and precipitation estimates. This method is then applied using established statistical tools to create vulnerability scores for social and built environment systems. The result of this analysis is presented in a novel way using web-based technologies that transcend the strictly-planimetric view of the city. This method blends traditional cartographic techniques with perspective, elevation, and diagrammatic representation methods, as well as collected images, to contextualize estimated vulnerability. The resultant web tool is available online at houstonbetweenthelines.com.by Mario A. Giampieri.M.C.P