Towards a geographical information system for European economic community regional data

The study proposes the development of a geographical information system for European Economic Community (EEC) regional data. The features of geographical information systems and some related issues are discussed. An outline is given of likely user requirements and attempts by various European organisations to make provision for these. The practical work involves the application of three selected data analysis, manipulation and mapping packages, and operating system facilities to tasks which users of the data might wish to undertake. For this purpose, EEC "Level II" region boundaries were digitised, and selected socio-economic attributes for 1977 organised in disc files. Ten choropleth maps of the Level II regions (eight original variabels and two composite variables) are displayed. Although there is a lack of certain, more specialised features in the software system used, it is considered that there exists the imprtant basic requirements of data analysis, manipulation and mapping in package form, upon which to build the proposed geographical information system

Rescue of the MERTK phagocytic defect in a human iPSC disease model using translational read-through inducing drugs.

Inherited retinal dystrophies are an important cause of blindness, for which currently there are no effective treatments. In order to study this heterogeneous group of diseases, adequate disease models are required in order to better understand pathology and to test potential therapies. Induced pluripotent stem cells offer a new way to recapitulate patient specific diseases in vitro, providing an almost limitless amount of material to study. We used fibroblast-derived induced pluripotent stem cells to generate retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from an individual suffering from retinitis pigmentosa associated with biallelic variants in MERTK. MERTK has an essential role in phagocytosis, one of the major functions of the RPE. The MERTK deficiency in this individual results from a nonsense variant and so the MERTK-RPE cells were subsequently treated with two translational readthrough inducing drugs (G418 & PTC124) to investigate potential restoration of expression of the affected gene and production of a full-length protein. The data show that PTC124 was able to reinstate phagocytosis of labeled photoreceptor outer segments at a reduced, but significant level. These findings represent a confirmation of the usefulness of iPSC derived disease specific models in investigating the pathogenesis and screening potential treatments for these rare blinding disorders

Variations in Hip Shape Are Associated with Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis : Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Analyses of the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project

Acknowledgment We thank our funding sources, as well as the staff and participants in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, without whom this work would not be possible. Funding was provided in part by the US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) K23 AR061406 (Nelson); US National Institutes of Health (NIH)/NIAMS P60AR30701 (Jordan/Renner/Schwartz); US Centers for Disease Control/Association of Schools of Public Health S043 and S3486 (Jordan/Renner); K24-AR04884, P50-AR063043, and P50-AR060752 (Lane); and NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences KL2TR001109 (Golightly).Peer reviewedPostprin

Dynamically linking influenza virus infection kinetics, lung injury, inflammation, and disease severity

Influenza viruses cause a significant amount of morbidity and mortality. Understanding host immune control efficacy and how different factors influence lung injury and disease severity are critical. We established and validated dynamical connections between viral loads, infected cells, CD

Native IYG: Improving Psychosocial Protective Factors for HIV/STI and Teen Pregnancy Prevention among Youth in American Indian/Alaska Native Communities

Background: Few HIV/STI and pregnancy prevention programs for youth in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities have been rigorously evaluated despite sexual health disparities in this population. This study reports the evaluation of a culturally adapted Internet-based HIV/STI and pregnancy prevention program for AI/AN youth, Native It’s Your Game (Native IYG). Methods: A randomized study was conducted with 523 youth (12 to 14 years old), recruited from 25 tribal sites in Alaska, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest. Participants were surveyed at baseline and upon completion of treatment or comparison interventions. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess impact on short term psychosocial determinants of sexual initiation. Results: A sample of 402 intervention (n=290) and comparison (n=112) youth completed the post-intervention survey (76.9% retention) from 1 to 462 days post-baseline (mean = 114, SD = ±96.67). Participants were 55.5% female, mean age of 13.0 (± 0.97) years with 86.1% self-reporting as AI/AN. Reasons not to have sex, STI knowledge, condom knowledge, condom availability self-efficacy, and condom use self-efficacy were significantly impacted (all P ≤ .01). Limitations included variability in intervention exposure and time between data collection time points. Conclusions: Native IYG demonstrated efficacy to impact short-term psychosocial determinants of sexual behavior in a sample of predominantly AI/AN middle school youth

Combined mTOR and MEK inhibition is an effective therapy in a novel mouse model for angiosarcoma

Angiosarcoma is an aggressive malignancy of vascular origin that occurs de novo or in the context of previous cancer therapy. Despite multi-modal aggressive treatment including surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation, five-year overall survival remains poor at 35%. Due to its rarity, little is known about its molecular pathology and clinical trials have been extremely difficult to conduct. Development of animal models for rare diseases like angiosarcoma is critical to improve our understanding of tumorigenesis and to test novel treatment regimens. A genetically engineered mouse model for angiosarcoma was generated by conditional deletion of Trp53, Pten, and Ptpn12 in endothelial cells. Tumors arising from these mice recapitulate the histology and molecular pathology of the human disease including hyperactivation of the PI3K/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with mTOR or MEK inhibitors effectively inactivated signaling and resulted in reduced proliferation and elevated apoptosis leading to tumor regression. The effect of treatment on tumor growth was transient and proliferation was restored after a period of dormancy. However, combined inhibition of mTOR and MEK resulted in profound tumor regression which was sustained for the duration of treatment. These results suggest that angiosarcoma may be effectively treated by this drug combination

The Grizzly, March 22, 2007

Speaker on Ethics in the Pharmaceutical Industry • New Plans for the Field House • Potential Carcinogen Found Abundant in Collegeville • WeCAN Button and T-Shirt Campaign Successful • Scientific Sexual Healing • Nutrition Tips: Atkins in the News • Brief History of St. Patrick\u27s Day • Spotlight on Professor Laurian Bowles • Opinions: Obama-mania! • Bears Hungry for CC Crown • Longball Key to Bears Victoryhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1734/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 19, 2007

Airband a Success • Omega Chi Blood Drive • Hillel Holocaust Discussion • Letter to the Editor • What Dreams May Come • Ivory-billed Woodpecker Not Extinct! • Fiber Facts • Earth-Shattering Drumming • Opinions: No Child Left Behind? Really?; Gitmo on Strike • Bears Win 11th in a Row; Coach McGowan Earns 200th Victory • Women\u27s Lacrosse Hangs Tough with #4 Gettysburghttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1738/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, March 1, 2007

Media Lecture: The Jailhouse Doesn\u27t Rock • Peanut Butter Recall Update • Annual UC Job and Internship Fair • Living in Sin • Creating Communication Elation • Spotlight on Coach Kevin Small • Laramie Hits Big at Ursinus • Nutrition Tips: Fad Diets • Opinions: English as the Official Language? • Bears Capture Centennial Conference Title • Men\u27s Lacrosse Season Previewhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1733/thumbnail.jp