Connecting Green Infrastructure with Transportation Planning

The development of green infrastructure planning is increasingly espoused by landscape, conservation, and metropolitan planners as an effective way to create a network of ecological functionality in regions that are otherwise highly impacted by anthropogenic changes. The most common condition is one of expanding metropolitan growth transforming cultivated and natural landscapes into developed ones. Despite its promise, several critical problems arise with green infrastructure planning. We will consider three. The first is that the definition of green infrastructure within the public realm remains highly variable if not embryonic. The second is green infrastructure is a long-term investment whose effects will not be able to be measured until years after implementation, yet there are very few cases of green infrastructure planning that have actually resulted in adopted and implemented plans, which can be used as models of success. And third, although the public benefits of green infrastructure are positive, other forms of regional scale planning have more dominant influence and impacts, most notably transportation planning. Concerning this last point, our thesis is that green infrastructure and transportation infrastructure have important interactions. Furthermore, transportation infrastructure potentially degrades green infrastructure networks through fragmentation, ecosystem impairment, and loss of connectivity. Mitigating the impacts of transportation infrastructure could potentially be an important asset to green infrastructure planning. Coordination of transportation and green infrastructure holds promise for sustainable development across regional landscapes. We address this thesis by assessing the landscape significance of both green and transportation infrastructure planning and presenting a case study from Maryland, USA. The case study indicates that there are numerous logical connections between the two types of plans, some of them conflicting. However, it also indicates that there is much research still necessary on green infrastructure, especially in the areas of implementation and efficacy

Inclusion of Knowledge Communities in Planning Processes : An Analysis of Green Infrastructure Planning in Maryland, USA.

Throughout the United States many natural areas are facing tremendous threats due to increases in population and haphazard development patterns. Recently, green infrastructure planning initiatives have emerged, providing a proactive approach to conservation planning. One area under particular stress is the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland. Several counties within Maryland have created countywide green infrastructure plans that are based upon a larger state initiative. Although there is a guiding framework for developing these plans, little is known about how these plans are being created in practice and how the integration of knowledge held by the various knowledge communities, commonly involved in environmental planning practices, are included in the process. This dissertation fills this gap with an analysis of how knowledge communities are involved throughout the green infrastructure planning process as well as the role of the planner within planning practice. Qualitative methods are used to analyze each process whereby themes are presented based on inductive procedures. The cases are analyzed based on the inclusion of expert and experiential knowledge and each case is analyzed within the broader context of statewide green infrastructure planning. Although there is no "one size fits all" approach to green infrastructure planning, the research finds that scientific data alone is not sufficient to create adoptable and implementable plans. The study recommends the (1) establishment of a guiding committee comprised of expert and experiential knowledge communities prior to goal setting and linking goals with those within the comprehensive plan; (2) inclusion of knowledge communities early and often in the process to foster support and establish measurable and attainable goals; (3) utilization of principles of landscape ecology and conservation biology to guide network identification while using the feedback gathered from experiential knowledge communities to lead to better integration of knowledge and more informed decision-making; (4) collaboration with agencies and neighboring jurisdictions to increase discourse and ensure the appropriate knowledge communities, possessing relevant data, are included in the process. Ultimately, the planner functions as the catalyst for this process and shapes how the knowledge held by these essential experiential knowledge communities is integrated within the planning process.  Ph.D

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Psiguadial B

The first enantioselective total synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product (+)-psiguadial B is reported. Key features of the synthesis include (1) the enantioselective preparation of a key cyclobutane intermediate by a tandem Wolff rearrangement/asymmetric ketene addition, (2) a directed C(sp^3)–H alkenylation reaction to strategically forge the C1–C2 bond, and (3) a ring-closing metathesis to build the bridging bicyclo[4.3.1]decane terpene framework

Slaves, Soldiers, Citizens: African American Artifacts of the Civil War Era

Based on the exhibit Slaves, Soldiers, Citizens: African American Artifacts of the Civil War Era, this book provides the full experience of the exhibit, which was on display in Special Collections at Musselman Library November 2012- December 2013. It also includes several student essays based on specific artifacts that were part of the exhibit. Table of Contents: Introduction Angelo Scarlato, Lauren Roedner ’13 & Scott Hancock Slave Collars & Runaways: Punishment for Rebellious Slaves Jordan Cinderich ’14 Chancery Sale Poster & Auctioneer’s Coin: The Lucrative Business of Slavery Tricia Runzel ’13 Isaac J. Winters: An African American Soldier from Pennsylvania Who Fought at Petersburg Avery Lentz ’14 Basil Biggs: A Prominent African American in Gettysburg after the Battle Lauren Roedner ’13 Linton Ingram: A Former Slave Who Became a Notable African American Educator in Georgia Brian Johnson & Lincoln Fitch ’14 Uncle Tom’s Cabin Theatre Poster: Racism in Post-Emancipation Entertainment Michelle Seabrook ’13 Essay Bibliographies Grand Army of the Republic Exhibit Inventory Acknowledgmentshttps://cupola.gettysburg.edu/libexhibits/1001/thumbnail.jp

A modular approach to prepare enantioenriched cyclobutanes: synthesis of (+)-rumphellaone A

A modular synthesis of enantioenriched polyfunctionalized cyclobutanes was developed that features an 8-aminoquinolinamide directed C–H arylation reaction. The C–H arylation products were derivatized through subsequent decarboxylative coupling processes. This synthetic strategy enabled a 9-step enantioselective total synthesis of the antiproliferative meroterpenoid (+)-rumphellaone A

Histologic Heterogeneity of Extirpated Renal Cell Carcinoma Specimens: Implications for Renal Mass Biopsy

Pathologic characteristics of extirpated renal cell carcinoma (RCC) specimens <7 cm were reviewed to get better information on technical nuances of renal mass biopsy (RMB). Specimens were stratified according to tumor stage, nuclear grade, size, histology, presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI), necrosis, and sarcomatoid features. When considering pT1 (0–7 cm) tumors, pT1b (4–7 cm) RCC masses were more likely to have necrosis (43% vs 16%, P < 0.001), LVI (6% vs 2%, P = 0.024), high-grade nuclear elements (29% vs 17%, P < 0.001), and sarcomatoid features (2% vs 0%, P = 0.006) compared with pT1a (0–4 cm) tumors. Additionally, pT3a tumors were more highly associated with necrosis (P = 0.005), LVI, sarcomatoid features, and high-grade disease (P for all < 0.001) when compared to pT1 masses. For masses ≤ 4 cm, pT3a cancers were more likely to demonstrate necrosis (38% vs 16%, P < 0.001), LVI (22% vs 2%, P < 0.001), high-grade nuclear elements (45% vs 17%, P < 0.001), and sarcomatoid features (12% vs 0%, P < 0.001) compared to pT1a tumors. Similarly, for masses 4–7 cm, pathologic T3a tumors were significantly more likely to have sarcomatoid features (12% vs 2%, P = 0.006) and LVI (22% vs 6%, P = 0.003) compared to pT1b tumors. In summary, pT3a tumors and those RCC masses >4 cm exhibit considerable histologic heterogeneity and may harbor elements that are not easily appreciated with limited renal sampling. Therefore, if RMB is considered for renal masses greater than 4 cm or those that abut sinus fat, a multi-quadrant biopsy approach is necessary to ensure adequate sampling and characterization of the mass

Neurofilament Light Protein as a Potential Blood Biomarker for Huntington's Disease in Children

BACKGROUND: Juvenile-onset Huntington's disease (JOHD) is a rare and particularly devastating form of Huntington's disease (HD) for which clinical diagnosis is challenging and robust outcome measures are lacking. Neurofilament light protein (NfL) in plasma has emerged as a prognostic biomarker for adult-onset HD. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of samples and data collected between 2009 and 2020 from the Kids-HD and Kids-JHD studies. Plasma samples from children and young adults with JOHD, premanifest HD (preHD) mutation carriers, and age-matched controls were used to quantify plasma NfL concentrations using ultrasensitive immunoassay. RESULTS: We report elevated plasma NfL concentrations in JOHD and premanifest HD mutation-carrying children. In pediatric HD mutation carriers who were within 20 years of their predicted onset and patients with JOHD, plasma NfL level was associated with caudate and putamen volumes. CONCLUSIONS: Quantifying plasma NfL concentration may assist clinical diagnosis and therapeutic trial design in the pediatric population. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson Movement Disorder Society

Relationship of Blood Lactate and Sweat Lactate on Exercise Intensity

Typical procedures for measuring blood lactate involve either finger stick blood samples or venous blood draws. The literature is equivocal regarding whether sweat lactate values change with exercise intensity. Recently, wearable technology devices have been developed to measure sweat lactate. Purpose: To examine the relationship between sweat lactate and blood lactate values during incremental exercise. Methods: This study consisted of 12 (8 male, 4 female) healthy recreationally active individuals (VO2peak 35.5 ± 7.6 ml/kg/min) between the ages of 18 and 25 (22 ± 2 yrs) who volunteered for the study. Participants performed an exercise test on a cycle ergometer to volitional fatigue to determine blood lactate, lactate threshold, VO2peak, and peak heart rate (HR). Blood lactate was collected via finger stick at each 3-min stage of exercise. Participants performed a subsequent exercise session at 40, 60, and 80% heart rate reserve (HRR). During the 20-min stages of this test, blood and sweat lactate were collected during each intensity level. Sweat lactate was collected in a sweat “pouch” at each state of exercise. Sweat lactate samples were analyzed via the lactate oxidase method on a Chemwell 2910 chemistry analyzer. Blood lactate samples were analyzed using a Lactate Plus analyzer. Whole body sweat rate was calculated from pre- and post-exercise body weight at each intensity, factoring in water consumed and urine voided. Results: Sweat rate increased with increasing intensity (40%: 9.66 ± 7.58; 60%: 18.10 ± 12.51; 80% 24.32 ± 15.44 ml/min). Sweat lactate significantly differed between 60 and 80% intensities (15.66 ± 5.73, 12.52 ± 4.44 mmol/L, respectively), P = 0.03. Blood lactate levels at 40, 60, and 80% intensities were 2.67 ± 1.15, 3.60 ± 1.90, and 4.83 ± 1.52, respectively (P \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings agree with Buono, Lee, & Miller, 2010 who found sweat lactate decreases as sweat rate increases. It is likely that sweat lactate decreases with increasing exercise intensity due to dilution as sweat rate increases. From this data, it appears that sweat lactate does not demonstrate a relationship with blood lactate that warrants replacing blood lactate in exercise testing with sweat lactate. This may be due to the lactate in sweat originating from eccrine glands and thus is not reflective of muscle metabolism

Preempting Racial Inequities in Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., and Black patients experience higher lung cancer incidence and mortality than White patients.1 Lung cancer screening facilitates diagnoses at earlier, more treatable stages. In 2011, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) showed a relative reduction in lung cancer-specific mortality by 20% in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), a multisite randomized controlled trial comparing LDCT and chest radiography for lung cancer screening (N=53,454).2 NLST results indicated that LDCT reduces lung cancer mortality in all racial groups, but a stronger effect was observed among Black patients.3 Therefore, LDCT has potential to mitigate racial disparities in lung cancer mortality. However, this potential can only be achieved with equitable LDCT utilization