Using Systems Thinking in State Health Policymaking: An Educational Initiative

In response to limited examples of opportunities for state policymakers to learn about and productively discuss the difficult, adaptive challenges of our health system, the Georgia Health Policy Center developed an educational initiative that applies systems thinking to health policymaking. We created the Legislative Health Policy Certificate Program – an in-depth, multi-session series for law-makers and their staff – concentrating on building systems thinking competen-cies and health content knowledge by applying a range of systems thinking tools: behavior over time graphs, stock and flow maps, and a system dynamics-based learning lab (a simulatable model of childhood obesity). Legislators were taught to approach policy issues from the big picture, consider changing dynamics, and explore higher-leverage interventions to address Georgia’s most intractable health challenges. Our aim was to determine how we could improve the policymaking process by providing a systems thinking-focused educational program for legislators. Over 3 years, the training program resulted in policy-makers’ who are able to think more broadly about difficult health issues. The program has yielded valuable insights into the design and delivery of policy-maker education that could be applied to various disciplines outside the legislative process

Recycling of epidermal growth factor-receptor complexes in A431 cells: identification of dual pathways

The intracellular sorting of EGF-receptor complexes (EGF-RC) has been studied in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. Recycling of EGF was found to occur rapidly after internalization at 37 degrees C. The initial rate of EGF recycling was reduced at 18 degrees C. A significant pool of internalized EGF was incapable of recycling at 18 degrees C but began to recycle when cells were warmed to 37 degrees C. The relative rate of EGF outflow at 37 degrees C from cells exposed to an 18 degrees C temperature block was slower (t1/2 approximately 20 min) than the rate from cells not exposed to a temperature block (t1/2 approximately 5-7 min). These data suggest that there might be both short- and long-time cycles of EGF recycling in A431 cells. Examination of the intracellular EGF-RC dissociation and dynamics of short- and long-time recycling indicated that EGF recycled as EGF-RC. Moreover, EGF receptors that were covalently labeled with a photoactivatable derivative of 125I-EGF recycled via the long-time pathway at a rate similar to that of 125I-EGF. Since EGF-RC degradation was also blocked at 18 degrees C, we propose that sorting to the lysosomal and long-time recycling pathway may occur after a highly temperature-sensitive step, presumably in the late endosomes

Cytogenetic analysis of adult T-Cell leukemia/ lymphoma: evaluation of a Caribbean cohort

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a rare and highly aggressive type of peripheral T-cell lymphoma associated with human T-lymphotropic virus, type I (HTLV-I) infection. ATLL has a long latency and only a small percentage of HTLV-I infected individuals develop ATLL, suggesting the requirement of additional genetic events for neoplastic transformation of HTLV-I infected lymphocytes. The disease is endemic in several regions of the world, in particular, southwestern Japan and the Caribbean basin. The clinical features of Caribbean ATLL have been reported to differ from Japanese cases, includ- ing a younger age at diagnosis, higher frequency of the lymphomatous subtype, and a more aggressive clinical course [1–7]. A number of publications have described the cytogenetic profile of Japanese ATLL [8–11]; however, cytogenetic data on Caribbean ATLL are limited [5,6]. In this study, we assessed the cytogenetic alterations in a large series of Caribbean ATLL cases to investigate whether the differences in the types and frequencies of karyotype abnormalities account for the reported differ- ences in clinical presentation and outcome between Japanese and Caribbean patients

Inorganic and Radiochemical Analysis of AW-101 and AN-107 ''Diluted Feed'' Materials

This report presents the inorganic and radiochemical analytical results for AW-101 and AN-107 diluted feed materials. The analyses were conducted in support of the BNFL Proposal No. 29952/29953 Task 2.1. The inorganic and radiochemical analysis results obtained from the diluted feed materials are used to provide initial characterization information for subsequent processing testing. Quality Assurance (QA) Plan MCS-033 provides the operational and quality control protocols for the analytical activities

Radiolysis Process Model

Assessing the performance of spent (used) nuclear fuel in geological repository requires quantification of time-dependent phenomena that may influence its behavior on a time-scale up to millions of years. A high-level waste repository environment will be a dynamic redox system because of the time-dependent generation of radiolytic oxidants and reductants and the corrosion of Fe-bearing canister materials. One major difference between used fuel and natural analogues, including unirradiated UO2, is the intense radiolytic field. The radiation emitted by used fuel can produce radiolysis products in the presence of water vapor or a thin-film of water (including OH• and H• radicals, O2-, eaq, H2O2, H2, and O2) that may increase the waste form degradation rate and change radionuclide behavior. H2O2 is the dominant oxidant for spent nuclear fuel in an O2 depleted water environment, the most sensitive parameters have been identified with respect to predictions of a radiolysis model under typical conditions. As compared with the full model with about 100 reactions it was found that only 30-40 of the reactions are required to determine [H2O2] to one part in 10–5 and to preserve most of the predictions for major species. This allows a systematic approach for model simplification and offers guidance in designing experiments for validation

Radiolysis Process Model

Assessing the performance of spent (used) nuclear fuel in geological repository requires quantification of time-dependent phenomena that may influence its behavior on a time-scale up to millions of years. A high-level waste repository environment will be a dynamic redox system because of the time-dependent generation of radiolytic oxidants and reductants and the corrosion of Fe-bearing canister materials. One major difference between used fuel and natural analogues, including unirradiated UO2, is the intense radiolytic field. The radiation emitted by used fuel can produce radiolysis products in the presence of water vapor or a thin-film of water (including OH• and H• radicals, O2-, eaq, H2O2, H2, and O2) that may increase the waste form degradation rate and change radionuclide behavior. H2O2 is the dominant oxidant for spent nuclear fuel in an O2 depleted water environment, the most sensitive parameters have been identified with respect to predictions of a radiolysis model under typical conditions. As compared with the full model with about 100 reactions it was found that only 30-40 of the reactions are required to determine [H2O2] to one part in 10–5 and to preserve most of the predictions for major species. This allows a systematic approach for model simplification and offers guidance in designing experiments for validation

Concert recording 2018-11-13

[Track 1]. Douzes etudes pour Caisse Claire. No. 1 / Jacques Delecluse -- [Track 2]. Ghost garden / Adam Hopper -- [Track 3]. Rotation no. 4 / Eric Sammut -- [Track 4]. Nine French-American rudimental solos. No. 6 / Unknown -- [Track 5]. Advanced studies for snare drum. No. 3 / Mitchell Peters -- [Track 6]. Tempest / Todd Ukena -- [Track 7]. Excerpt from Northern lights / Eric Ewazen -- [Track 8]. Caleidoscópio / Gene Koschinksi -- [Track 9]. Advanced studies for snare drum. No. 1 / Peters -- [Track 10]. Sweet dreams from Album for the young / Tchaikovsky arranged by L.H. Stevens -- [Track 11]. Furioso and valse in D minor / Earl Hatch -- [Track 12]. Pratt\u27s taps / William Schinstine -- [Track 13]. Max / J.C. Combs -- [Track 14]. Raga no. 1 / William Cahn -- [Track 15]. Sechs Miniaturen. No. 3 / Matthias Schmitt -- [Track 16]. Eden / Adam Miller -- [Track 17]. Four pieces for timpani. Mvts. 3 & 4 / John Bergamo -- [Track 18]. Swerve / Gene Kaschinski -- [Track 19]. White knuckle stroll / Casey Cangelosi -- [Track 20]. Evergreen / Benjamin Finley -- [Track 21]. Time remembered / Branden Steinmetz