Why Sprawl is a Problem: Interview with Evan Richert

A recent report of the Maine State Planning Office entitled The Cost of Sprawl (May 1997) begins with the observation.... We are spreading out. Over the last 30 years, the fastest growing towns in Maine have been new suburbs 10 to 25 miles distant from metropolitan areas....These high growth communities have accounted for virtually all of the state\u27s population growth. From town square to the countryside, from Main Street to the mall, we are dispersing.... This outward movement has had unanticipated and unintended consequences.... Such consequences are the focus of this interview with Evan Richert, director of the Maine State Planning Office. Richert points out that sprawl has implications for Maine\u27s fiscal integrity, quality of environment, and character of communities. As policymakers continue to focus on reducing tax burden and promoting economic development, Richert points out that the issue of sprawl will need to be factored into our solutions. He calls for statewide dialogue and suggests pursuing economic incentives rather than a regulatory approach to curb this pattern of development. Richert also comments on the status of utility restructuring. He is joined by State Economist Laurie Lachance for this portion of the interview

Influence of fluoride on the mineralization of collagen via the polymer-induced liquid-precursor (PILP) process.

ObjectiveThe polymer-induced liquid-precursor (PILP) mineralization process has been shown to remineralize artificial dentin lesions to levels consistent with those of native dentin. However, nanoindentation revealed that the moduli of those remineralized lesions were only ∼50% that of native dentin. We hypothesize that this may be due to the PILP process having been previously optimized to obtain high amounts (∼70wt%) of intrafibrillar crystals, but without sufficient interfibrillar mineral, another significant component of dentin.MethodsFluoride was added to the PILP-mineralization of collagen from rat tail tendon at varying concentrations to determine if a better balance of intra- versus inter-fibrillar mineralization could be obtained, as determined by electron microscopy. Nanoindentation was used to determine if fluoridated apatite could improve the mechanical properties of the composites.ResultsFluoride was successfully incorporated into the PILP-mineralization of rat tail tendon and resulted in collagen-mineral composite systems with the mineral phase of hydroxyapatite containing various levels of fluoridation. As the fluoride concentration increased, the crystals became larger and more rod-like, with an increasing tendency to form on the fibril surfaces rather than the interior. Nanomechanical testing of the mineralized tendons revealed that fluoride addition did not increase modulus over PILP mineralization alone. This likely resulted from the separated nature of collagen fibrils that comprise tendon, which does not provide lateral reinforcement and therefore may not be suited for the compressive loads of nanoindentation.SignificanceThis work contributes to the development of minimally invasive approaches to caries treatment by determining if collagen can be functionally mineralized

Scenario Planning for Building Coastal Resilience in the Face of Sea Level Rise: The Case of Jacobs Avenue, Eureka, CA

This article examines issues surrounding flood control measures for the Jacobs Avenue community located in Eureka, California. This area of northern California is experiencing some of the most rapid rates of sea level rise recorded throughout the state. Researchers conducted interviews with stakeholders, developed geospatial analyses, and reviewed policy documents in order to understand the social, environmental, and political context related to sea level rise planning for Jacobs Avenue. From this information we developed a scenario-based set of management options to guide stakeholders in future decision-making regarding the fate of Jacobs Avenue. We explored the potential challenges and benefits of three possible scenarios: no action, levee improvement, and strategic retreat. Our analysis reveals that there are no easy solutions. Lack of funding and lack of a clear political path towards retreat make it extremely difficult for planners to take proactive steps that might ultimately contribute to increased safety, as well as economic and environmental benefits, for flood-vulnerable communities. The scenario framework developed in this paper can be a useful tool for a wide range of coastal communities, in particular those of geographically isolated northern California and southern Oregon

Scenario Planning for Building Coastal Resilience in the Face of Sea Level Rise: The Case of Jacobs Avenue, Eureka, CA

This article examines issues surrounding flood control measures for the Jacobs Avenue community located in Eureka, California. This area of northern California is experiencing some of the most rapid rates of sea level rise recorded throughout the state. Researchers conducted interviews with stakeholders, developed geospatial analyses, and reviewed policy documents in order to understand the social, environmental, and political context related to sea level rise planning for Jacobs Avenue. From this information we developed a scenario-based set of management options to guide stakeholders in future decision-making regarding the fate of Jacobs Avenue. We explored the potential challenges and benefits of three possible scenarios: no action, levee improvement, and strategic retreat. Our analysis reveals that there are no easy solutions. Lack of funding and lack of a clear political path towards retreat make it extremely difficult for planners to take proactive steps that might ultimately contribute to increased safety, as well as economic and environmental benefits, for flood-vulnerable communities. The scenario framework developed in this paper can be a useful tool for a wide range of coastal communities, in particular those of geographically isolated northern California and southern Oregon

Immune mediators in the tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer tissue is composed of both cancer cells and host cells. The milieu of host components that compose the tumor is termed the tumor microenvironment (TME). Host cells can be those derived from the tissue in which the tumor originates (e.g., fibroblasts and endothelial cells) or those recruited, through chemotactic or other factors, to the tumor (e.g., circulating immune cells). Some immune cells are key players in the TME and represent a large proportion of non‐tumor cells found within the tumor. Immune cells can have both anti‐tumor and pro‐tumor activity. In addition, crosstalk between prostate cancer cells and immune cells affects immune cell functions. In this review, we focus on immune cells and cytokines that contribute to tumor progression. We discuss T‐regulatory and T helper 17 cells and macrophages as key modulators in prostate cancer progression. In addition, we discuss the roles of interleukin‐6 and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand in modulating prostate cancer progression. This review highlights the concept that immune cells and cytokines offer a potentially promising target for prostate cancer therapy.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152631/1/cac2s4088001701983.pd

Immune mediators in the tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer tissue is composed of both cancer cells and host cells. The milieu of host components that compose the tumor is termed the tumor microenvironment (TME). Host cells can be those derived from the tissue in which the tumor originates (e.g., fibroblasts and endothelial cells) or those recruited, through chemotactic or other factors, to the tumor (e.g., circulating immune cells). Some immune cells are key players in the TME and represent a large proportion of non‐tumor cells found within the tumor. Immune cells can have both anti‐tumor and pro‐tumor activity. In addition, crosstalk between prostate cancer cells and immune cells affects immune cell functions. In this review, we focus on immune cells and cytokines that contribute to tumor progression. We discuss T‐regulatory and T helper 17 cells and macrophages as key modulators in prostate cancer progression. In addition, we discuss the roles of interleukin‐6 and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand in modulating prostate cancer progression. This review highlights the concept that immune cells and cytokines offer a potentially promising target for prostate cancer therapy.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152631/1/cac2s4088001701983.pd

LKB1 Inactivation Dictates Therapeutic Response of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer to the Metabolism Drug Phenformin

SummaryThe LKB1 (also called STK11) tumor suppressor is mutationally inactivated in ∼20% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). LKB1 is the major upstream kinase activating the energy-sensing kinase AMPK, making LKB1-deficient cells unable to appropriately sense metabolic stress. We tested the therapeutic potential of metabolic drugs in NSCLC and identified phenformin, a mitochondrial inhibitor and analog of the diabetes therapeutic metformin, as selectively inducing apoptosis in LKB1-deficient NSCLC cells. Therapeutic trials in Kras-dependent mouse models of NSCLC revealed that tumors with Kras and Lkb1 mutations, but not those with Kras and p53 mutations, showed selective response to phenformin as a single agent, resulting in prolonged survival. This study suggests phenformin as a cancer metabolism-based therapeutic to selectively target LKB1-deficient tumors

Immune mediators in the tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer

Abstract Prostate cancer tissue is composed of both cancer cells and host cells. The milieu of host components that compose the tumor is termed the tumor microenvironment (TME). Host cells can be those derived from the tissue in which the tumor originates (e.g., fibroblasts and endothelial cells) or those recruited, through chemotactic or other factors, to the tumor (e.g., circulating immune cells). Some immune cells are key players in the TME and represent a large proportion of non-tumor cells found within the tumor. Immune cells can have both anti-tumor and pro-tumor activity. In addition, crosstalk between prostate cancer cells and immune cells affects immune cell functions. In this review, we focus on immune cells and cytokines that contribute to tumor progression. We discuss T-regulatory and T helper 17 cells and macrophages as key modulators in prostate cancer progression. In addition, we discuss the roles of interleukin-6 and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand in modulating prostate cancer progression. This review highlights the concept that immune cells and cytokines offer a potentially promising target for prostate cancer therapy.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136176/1/40880_2017_Article_198.pd