No Pact with the Devil: Defending & Strengthening New York City’s Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) - P3

Faced with the dual threats of a federal receivership and a growing deficit of federal appropriations, in 2018, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio enrolled the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) into the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (“PACT”). PACT would allow NYCHA to convert its federal Section 9 funding streams into federal Section 8 vouchers and permit the local public housing authority to enter public-private partnerships with private developers. This move would infuse NYCHA with an additional $12.8 billion in funding to counteract its roughly$31.8 billion deficit. However, immediately after the mayor unveiled his plans to pursue PACT, tenant advocates and residents vocalized their concerns that the program would completely privatize NYCHA, dramatically reduce its affordability, and ultimately lead to resident displacement. This Note responds to popular anxiety over NYCHA’s future and evaluates PACT’s likelihood of meeting its stated objectives by using the six-prong “success factor” test derived from public management and engineering literature on public-private partnerships (“P3s”). This Note finds that PACT possesses most of the infrastructure industry’s leading success factors for P3s and does more to shore up NYCHA’s future viability than to jeopardize it. However, it identifies two vulnerabilities: (1) moderate Section 8 subsidy interruption risk; and (2) moderate tenant and local elected official opposition. This Note offers two recommendations to strengthen the program: (1) creation of municipal capital and operational reserve funds for each converted NYCHA development and (2) a scaling of the Chelsea Working Group model across all converted developments to ensure added resident and local representative engagement. Together, these recommendations will reduce resident displacement risk and increase the likelihood that NYCHA tenants will capture greater shares of the city and state budget to further stave off the authority’s future obsolescence

Case Study: Sustainability Planning in New York City

Under former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City adopted one of the most aggressive sustainability policies in U.S. government. Responding to the needs of future New Yorkers, the city analyzed its anticipated growth, the growth rate of services required to meet the needs of a growing population, and the impact of that population on aging infrastructure, and developed a sustainability roadmap that has served as a model for cities around the world

Model Sensitivity to Topographic Uncertainty in Meso- and Microtidal Marshes

Light detection and ranging (Lidar) derived digital elevation models are widely used in modeling coastal marsh systems. However, the topographic error in these models can affect simulations of marsh coverage and characteristics. We investigated the relevance and impact of this error in micro- and mesotidal systems. Lidar-derived and RTK-adjusted topography were each used in a dynamic marsh model, and the resulting marsh coverages were examined. For two microtidal sites (Apalachicola, FL, USA, and Grand Bay, MS, USA) using solely lidar-derived topography, the model produced Cohen Kappa values of 0.1 for both estuaries when compared with National Wetland Inventory data indicating “very poor agreement.” Applying the RTK-adjusted topography improved the model marsh coverage results to “substantial agreement” with the values to 0.6 and 0.77, respectively. The mesotidal site in Plum Island, MA, USA, contained similar topographic errors, but the model produced a Cohen Kappa value of 0.73, which categorized it as “very good agreement” with no need for a further topographic adjustment given its present robust biomass productivity. The results demonstrate that marsh models are sensitive to topographic errors when the errors are comparable to the tidal range. The particular sensitivity of the modeling results to topographic error in microtidal systems highlights the need for close scrutiny of lidar-derived topography

Postnatal changes in the growth dynamics of the human face revealed from bone modelling patterns

Human skull morphology results from complex processes that involve the coordinated growth and interaction of its skeletal components to keep a functional and structural balance. Previous histological works have studied the growth of different craniofacial regions and their relationship to functional spaces in humans up to 14 years old. Nevertheless, how the growth dynamics of the facial skeleton and the mandible are related and how this relationship changes through the late ontogeny remain poorly understood. To approach these two questions, we have compared the bone modelling activities of the craniofacial skeleton from a sample of subadult and adult humans. In this study, we have established for the first time the bone modelling pattern of the face and the mandible from adult humans. Our analyses reveal a patchy distribution of the bone modelling fields (overemphasized by the presence of surface islands with no histological information) reflecting the complex growth dynamics associated to the individual morphology. Subadult and adult specimens show important differences in the bone modelling patterns of the anterior region of the facial skeleton and the posterior region of the mandible. These differences indicate developmental changes in the growth directions of the whole craniofacial complex, from a predominantly downward growth in subadults that turns to a forward growth observed in the adult craniofacial skeleton. We hypothesize that these ontogenetic changes would respond to the physiological and physical requirements to enlarge the oral and nasal cavities once maturation of the brain and the closure of the cranial sutures have taken place during craniofacial development.This research is founded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Projects CGL2009-09013 and CGL2012-36682)Peer reviewe

An aphasia research agenda - a consensus statement from the collaboration of aphasia trialists.

Coordination of international aphasia research would minimise duplication of effort, support synergistic international activities across languages and multidisciplinary perspectives, and promote high-quality conduct and reporting of aphasia research, thereby increasing the relevance, transparency, and implementation of findings. The Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CATs) sought to develop an aphasia research agenda to direct future research activities, based on priorities shared by people with aphasia, family members, and healthcare professionals. Our established international research network spanning 33 countries contributed to this activity. Research literature reporting the priorities of stakeholders was reviewed and synthesised (phase 1). Representatives from Working Groups on Aphasia Assessment & Outcomes, Prognosis & Predictors of Recovery, Effectiveness of Interventions, and Societal Impact & Reintegration participated in a two-day research agenda setting meeting. The CATs expert panel refined research objectives and identified constituent components of research and methodological developments required to address these research components. The objectives and research components were grouped into overarching themes (phase 2). The resultant list was then circulated to more than 180 CATs members for review, revision, and approval. Consensus on the final aphasia research agenda and road-map was reached by CATs executive committee (phase 3). The expert panel identified five overarching research themes: (i) evidence-based interventions for people with aphasia, (ii) effective interventions to support those communicating with people with aphasia, (iii) cross-linguistic assessment and core outcomes for aphasia research, (iv) predictors of language recovery, and (v) clinical implementation of research findings. Within these broad themes, 30 research objectives and 91 individual aphasia research components were identified and sequentially ordered. This agenda builds on research priorities identified by people with aphasia and their families, and includes priorities of healthcare professionals and researchers, and will support the rehabilitation and recovery of people with aphasia. Our internationally relevant research agenda promotes rigour in methodology, considers international applicability, synergistic activities, and sharing of resources and expertise

Transdisciplinary studies in socio-ecosystems: Theoretical considerations and its application in Latin American contexts

Debido a limitaciones para abordar la complejidad de la relación sociedad-naturaleza, los esfuerzos para solucionar los problemas ambientales han sido en general infructuosos. Aquí proponemos que el enfoque holístico de “socio-ecosistema” por parte de la academia, podría contribuir a disminuir estas limitaciones desde la adopción de cuatro cambios: i) ontológico, que presenta el concepto de “socio-ecosistemas”; ii) epistemológico, que propone a la transdisciplina como la forma de entenderlos, iii) metodológico, que sugiere intervenir en ellos de forma participativa y adaptativa y, iv) cambios institucionales que facilitarían la adopción de esta propuesta. Este planteamiento se complementa con la descripción de una experiencia transdiciplinaria en la cuenca del río San Juan Zitácuaro, México, en el contexto de un curso internacional de manejo de socio-ecosistemas.Given the difficulties to approach the complex relationship bettween society and nature, efforts to solve environmental problems have generally been unsuccessful. Here we suggest that a hollistic “socio-ecosystem” approach by the sciencies could help diminish these difficulties by embracing four kinds of changes: i) ontological, which introduces the concept of “socio-ecosystem”; ii) epistemological, which proposes transdiscipline as the way to understand them, iii) metholodogical, which suggests that in intervention in them must be participatory and adaptive, iv) institutional changes that would facilitate the adoption of this approach. This is then followed by a description of a transdisciplinary work experience in the Zitácuaro river basin, in Mexico, in the context of an international course on socio-ecosystem management.Fil: Ortega Uribe, Tamara. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Mastrangelo, Matias Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Villarroel Torrez, Daniel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Piaz, Agustín Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Humanidades. Centro de Estudios de Historia de la Ciencia y de la Técnica ; ArgentinaFil: Vallejos, María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Saenz Ceja, Jesús Eduardo. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas; MéxicoFil: Gallego, Federico. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Franquesa Soler, Monserrat. Instituto de Ecología; MéxicoFil: Calzada Peña, Leonardo. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Espinosa Mellado, Noelia. Universidad de la Armada; MéxicoFil: Fiestas Flores, Jerico. Instituto de Estudios Peruanos; PerúFil: Gill Mairhofer, Luis R.. Ministerio de la Defensa Pública; ParaguayFil: González Espino, Zarahí. Instituto Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas. Facultad de Medio Ambiente. Departamento de Meteorología; CubaFil: Luna Salguero, Betsabé Montserrat. Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparajá; MéxicoFil: Martinez Peralta, Claudia María. Comisión de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable del Estado de Sonora. Dirección General de Conservación; MéxicoFil: Ochoa, Olivia. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Pérez Volkow,Lucía. No especifica;Fil: Sala, Juan Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez Rose, Isabelle. Universidad Central de Venezuela; VenezuelaFil: Weeks, Madeline. University of Cambridge; Reino UnidoFil: Ávila García, Daniela. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: García Reyes, Isabel Bueno. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas; MéxicoFil: Carmona, Alejandra. Universidad Austral de Chile. Instituto de Economía Agraria; ChileFil: Castro Videla, Fernando Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Mendoza-San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Ferrer Gonzalez, César Sergio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Frank Buss, María Elisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: López Carapia, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Núñez Cruz, Martha. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Taboada Hermoza, Rossi. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; PerúFil: Benet, Daniel. Alternare A. C.; MéxicoFil: Venegas, Ysmael. Alternare A. C.; MéxicoFil: Balvanera, Patricia. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas; MéxicoFil: Mwampamba, Tuyeni H.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas; MéxicoFil: Lazos Chavero, Elena. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas; MéxicoFil: Noellemeyer, Elke Johanna. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Maass, Manuel. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas; Méxic

Non-canonical Wnt signalling regulates scarring in biliary disease via the planar cell polarity receptors

The number of patients diagnosed with chronic bile duct disease is increasing and in most cases these diseases result in chronic ductular scarring, necessitating liver transplantation. The formation of ductular scaring affects liver function; however, scar-generating portal fibroblasts also provide important instructive signals to promote the proliferation and differentiation of biliary epithelial cells. Therefore, understanding whether we can reduce scar formation while maintaining a pro-regenerative microenvironment will be essential in developing treatments for biliary disease. Here, we describe how regenerating biliary epithelial cells express Wnt-Planar Cell Polarity signalling components following bile duct injury and promote the formation of ductular scars by upregulating pro-fibrogenic cytokines and positively regulating collagen-deposition. Inhibiting the production of Wnt-ligands reduces the amount of scar formed around the bile duct, without reducing the development of the pro-regenerative microenvironment required for ductular regeneration, demonstrating that scarring and regeneration can be uncoupled in adult biliary disease and regeneration

Rockport Comprehensive Plan

This document was developed and prepared by Texas Target Communities (TxTC) at Texas A&M University in partnership with the City of Rockport, Texas Sea Grant, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University - School of Law and Texas Tech University.Founded in 1871, the City of Rockport aims to continue growing economically and sustainably. Rockport is a resilient community dedicated to sustainable growth and attracting businesses to the area. Rockport is a charming town that offers a close-knit community feel and is a popular tourist destination for marine recreation, fairs, and exhibitions throughout the year. The Comprehensive Plan 2020-2040 is designed to guide the city of Rockport for its future growth. The guiding principles for this planning process were Rockport's vision statement and its corresponding goals, which were crafted by the task force. The goals focus on factors of growth and development including public participation, development considerations, transportation, community facilities, economic development, parks, and housing and social vulnerability

City of Hitchcock Comprehensive Plan 2020-2040

Hitchcock is a small town located in Galveston County (Figure 1.1), nestled up on the Texas Gulf Coast. It lies about 40 miles south-east of Houston. The boundaries of the city encloses an area of land of 60.46 sq. miles, an area of water of 31.64 sq. miles at an elevation just 16 feet above sea level. Hitchcock has more undeveloped land (~90% of total area) than the county combined. Its strategic location gives it a driving force of opportunities in the Houston-Galveston Region.The guiding principles for this planning process were Hitchcock’s vision statement and its corresponding goals, which were crafted by the task force. The goals focus on factors of growth and development including public participation, development considerations, transportation, community facilities, economic development, parks, and housing and social vulnerabilityTexas Target Communitie