Use of information-based strategies in planning and preservation

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-74).This thesis explores one tool of government action - information - and its influence on local policy and planning. This thesis is not a comprehensive account of information-based strategies, which would require far-reaching analysis. Instead, this thesis explores designation as one example of an information-based strategy that is used in planning and development. Specifically, this thesis explores how the act of designating an area as a national historic site ("designation") can, if at all, influence local policy and planning and, subsequently, shapes our built environment. Using the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor as a case study, I demonstrate that information strategies such as designation can provide a vital and dynamic planning tool for government. Designation presents a new approach to preservation and development by encouraging dynamic, cross-boundary partnerships that are simultaneously committed to common goals and dynamic enough to respond to the complexities of place. Designation allows local communities to maintain a place-specific approach to planning, while operating within a larger regional network. In the case of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, designation united twenty-four communities across a bi-state region between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Designation in this region cultivated a coherent and dynamic vision that, when coupled with the organizational structure, can be seen in the physical environment of the Valley. At one scale, this is shown by the reintegration of underused or abandoned structures and the conversion of older structures for new uses.(cont.) At another scale, communities embraced the river as a source for recreation and now promote recreational uses along its shores. At the regional level, communities work to create new regional recreational and interpretive networks. Designation, when used by the Federal government as a tool has the ability to strengthen local governmental bodies as well as society to respond to changes in the economy, culture and environment. Designation as a tool links economic development and cultural programming with preservation efforts within communities and across traditional planning boundaries. Yet, because of a heavy reliance on partnerships, the success of designation as a tool for preservation and development is strongly associated with several key factors relating to the physical, economic and social qualities of place. These include the economic stability of the community, the availability of physical resources for heritage redevelopment, the engagement of the local government, the level of support of the local private sector (both the general public and private sector institutions), and the support and organization of the state.by Danielle M. McCarthy.S.M.M.C.P

Fabrication of Electrospun TiO2/Polymer Composite Nanofibers For Photocatalysis and Degradation of Toxins

Our society has made significant advancements in technology as it continues to grow in size which in turn has led to an accumulating amount of toxic threats. Some types of harmful pollution our society is currently facing include industrial waste such as organic dyes, pharmaceutical pollution and chemical warfare agents (CWAs). To date the nerve agent, O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate), also known as VX, is the world’s most lethal chemical substance. Some of these deadly nerve agents have been employed in various conflict and terrorist attacks. Currently available CWA degradation techniques include incineration and water hydrolysis followed by biotreatment with enzymes. Drawbacks to these techniques include the selectivity of the analyte, degradation of the enzyme over extended treatment time, and lack of robustness for practical applications. A more effective approach may be achieved by heterogeneous catalysis employing nanostructured materials. Solid catalysts including titania have demonstrated a means to effectively destroy CWAs. TiO2 is regarded as an efficient photocatalyst for degradation of organic toxins due to its strong oxidative power, high stability, low cost, and environmental friendliness. TiO2 nanofibers represent an alternative materials approach to conventional nanoparticle composites for use in photocatalytic degradation. Nanofibers were fabricated using a sol gel synthesis and electrospinning; a non-mechanical, electrostatic process using electrically driven jets producing fiberous matt that is followed by a thermal treatment resulting in TiO2. Further modification of TiO2 with metal nanoparticles introduces the area of study known as plasmonics. Materials possess unique optical characteristics that can further enhance the destruction of toxic threats. The synthesized fibers were used directly in photocatalytic degradations of 2- chloro ethyl ethylsulfide (CEES) and dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and were found to exhibit enhanced rates of degradation. It was seen that saturation of the TiO2 nanofibers with water prior to exposure with CEES showed an overall increased the degradation under UV irradiation. Photocatalytic degradations of DMMP were designed to demonstrate the role of surface area in the degradation process. The comparison of nanofibers vs. nanoparticles supports a conclusion that surface area is not a critical factor in the degradation of target species. Electrospun nanofibers of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and titanium triisopropoxide (TTiP) were found to possess catalytic properties when introduced to methyl paraoxon, a simulated chemical warfare agent (SCWA). In addition to the photocatalytic advantages of these fibers, increased flexibility and durability were observed compared to electrospun TiO2 nanofibers. The resulting fibers would also be better compatible with low temperature processing of multifunctional materials including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and sensors. It is shown that the presence of TTiP within the polymer/MOF composite increased percent conversion and lowered the half-life of the reaction. Results acquired are the best to date according to literature. It has been hypothesized there are multiple competing degradation mechanisms that are dependent on the source of irradiation used to drive the degradation reaction. Plasmonics have inspired a significant amount of interest in various research communities for applications in nanophotonics, optics, catalysis, and energy conversion. Materials possessing surface plasmon resonances (SPR), such as silver nanoparticles, have been studied and are known to exhibit appealing optical characteristics. Ag nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of the TiO2 fiber through a polyol synthesis with silver nitrate. The hypothesis is the emission lifetime of Ag-TiO2 will have a smaller intensity then that of TiO2, this in turn would mean the recombination rate of electron hole pair in Ag-TiO2 is slower than that of TiO2. Degradations of methyl paraoxon with TiO2 and Ag-TiO2 did show that the metal deposited TiO2 had an enhancement in the percent conversion to the nitrophenoxide product of methyl paraoxon. In this work, it is shown there are many factors involved in optimizing the photocatalytic performance of TiO2/ polymer composite nanofibers. The combination of novel nanotechnology with advancements in photocatalysis will provide new benefits and improvements with filtration, and self-decontaminating textiles and paints. The diversity of applications these materials can be incorporated in has the ability to be life changing for civilians and warfighters who are in constant threat of toxic agents. As research in this field continues to progress, degradation rates will only continue to increase in attempts to achieve airborne decontamination on a time-scale of milliseconds and liquid decontamination in seconds

Optogenetic activation of accessory olfactory bulb input to the forebrain differentially modulates investigation of opposite versus same-sex urinary chemosignals and stimulates mating in male mice

Surgical or genetic disruption of vomeronasal organ (VNO)-accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) function previously eliminated the ability of male mice to processes pheromones that elicit territorial behavior and aggression. By contrast, neither disruption significantly affected mating behaviors, although VNO lesions reduced males' investigation of nonvolatile female pheromones. We explored the contribution of VNO-AOB pheromonal processing to male courtship using optogenetic activation of AOB projections to the forebrain. Protocadherin-Cre male transgenic mice received bilateral AOB infections with channelrhodopsin2 (ChR2) viral vectors, and an optical fiber was implanted above the AOB. In olfactory choice tests, males preferred estrous female urine (EFU) over water; however, this preference was eliminated when diluted (5%) EFU was substituted for 100% EFU. Optogenetic AOB activation concurrent with nasal contact significantly augmented males' investigation compared to 5% EFU alone. Conversely, concurrent optogenetic AOB activation significantly reduced males' nasal investigation of diluted urine from gonadally intact males (5% IMU) compared to 5% IMU alone. These divergent effects of AOB optogenetic activation were lost when males were prevented from making direct nasal contact. Optogenetic AOB stimulation also failed to augment males' nasal investigation of deionized water or of food odors. Finally, during mating tests, optogenetic AOB stimulation delivered for 30 s when the male was in physical contact with an estrous female significantly facilitated the occurrence of penile intromission. Our results suggest that VNO-AOB signaling differentially modifies males' motivation to seek out female vs male urinary pheromones while augmenting males' sexual arousal leading to intromission and improved reproductive performance

Myocardial Dysfunction in an Animal Model of Cancer Cachexia

Aims Fatigue is a common occurrence in cancer patients regardless of tumor type or anti-tumor therapies and is an especially problematic symptom in persons with incurable tumor disease. In rodents, tumor-induced fatigue is associated with a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and increased expression of biomarkers of muscle protein degradation. The purpose of the present study was to determine if muscle wasting and expression of biomarkers of muscle protein degradation occur in the hearts of tumor-bearing mice, and if these effects of tumor growth are associated with changes in cardiac function. Main methods The colon26 adenocarcinoma cell line was implanted into female CD2F1 mice and skeletal muscle wasting, in vivo heart function, in vitro cardiomyocyte function, and biomarkers of muscle protein degradation were determined. Key findings Expression of biomarkers of protein degradation were increased in both the gastrocnemius and heart muscle of tumor-bearing mice and caused systolic dysfunction in vivo. Cardiomyocyte function was significantly depressed during both cellular contraction and relaxation. Significance These results suggest that heart muscle is directly affected by tumor growth, with myocardial function more severely compromised at the cellular level than what is observed using echocardiography

#MeToo in EM: A Multicenter Survey of Academic Emergency Medicine Faculty on Their Experiences with Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

Introduction: Gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment of female physicians are well documented. The #MeToo movement has brought renewed attention to these problems. This study examined academic emergency physicians’ experiences with workplace gender discrimination and sexual harassment.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of emergency medicine (EM) faculty across six programs. Survey items included the following: the Overt Gender Discrimination at Work (OGDW) Scale; the frequency and source of experienced and observed discrimination; and whether subjects had encountered unwanted sexual behaviors by a work superior or colleague in their careers. For the latter question, we asked subjects to characterize the behaviors and whether those experiences had a negative effect on their self-confidence and career advancement. We made group comparisons using t-tests or chi-square analyses, and evaluated relationships between gender and physicians’ experiences using correlation analyses.Results: A total of 141 out of 352 (40.1%) subjects completed at least a portion of the survey. Women reported higher mean OGDW scores than men (15.4 vs 10.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6–6.8). Female faculty were also more likely to report having experienced gender-based discriminatory treatment than male faculty (62.7% vs 12.5%; 95% CI, 35.1%-65.4%), although male and female faculty were equally likely to report having observed gender-based discriminatory treatment of another physician (64.7% vs 56.3%; 95% CI, 8.6%-25.5%). The three most frequent sources of experienced or observed gender-based discriminatory treatment were patients, consulting or admitting physicians, and nursing staff. The majority of women reported having encountered unwanted sexual behaviors in their careers, with a significantly greater proportion of women reporting them compared to men (52.9% vs 26.2%, 95% CI, 9.9%-43.4%). The majority of unwanted behaviors were sexist remarks and sexual advances. Of those respondents who encountered these unwanted behaviors, 22.9% and 12.5% reported at least somewhat negative effects on their self-confidence and career advancement.Conclusion: Female EM faculty perceived more gender-based discrimination in their workplaces than their male counterparts. The majority of female and approximately a quarter of male EM faculty encountered unwanted sexual behaviors in their careers.

Major shifts in nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre over the last 5000 years revealed by high-resolution proteinaceous deep-sea coral δ\u3csup\u3e15\u3c/sup\u3eN and δ\u3csup\u3e13\u3c/sup\u3eC records

The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) is the largest continuous ecosystem on Earth and is a critical component of global oceanic biogeochemical cycling and carbon sequestration. We report here multi-millennial-scale, sub-decadal-resolution records of bulk stable nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) isotope records from proteinaceous deep-sea corals. Data from three Kulamanamana haumeaae specimens from the main Hawaiian Islands extend the coral-based time-series back ∼5000 yrs for the NPSG and bypass constraints of low resolution sediment cores in this oligotrophic ocean region. We interpret these records in terms of shifting biogeochemical cycles and plankton community structure, with a main goal of placing the extraordinarily rapid ecosystem biogeochemical changes documented by recent coral records during the Anthropocene in a context of broader Late-Holocene variability. During intervals where new data overlaps with previous records, there is strong correspondence in isotope values, indicating that this older data represents a direct extension of Anthropocene records. These results reveal multiple large isotopic shifts in both δ15N and δ13C values similar to or larger in magnitude to those reported in the last 150 yrs. This shows that large fluctuations in the isotopic composition of export production in this region are not unique to the recent past, but have occurred multiple times through the Mid- to Late-Holocene. However, these earlier isotopic shifts occurred over much longer time intervals (∼millennial vs. decadal timescales). Further, the δ15N data confirm that the extremely low present day δ15N values recorded by deep sea corals (∼8‰) are unprecedented for the NPSG, at least within the past five millennia. Together these records reveal centennial to millennial-scale oscillations in NPSG biogeochemical cycles. Further, these data also suggest a number of independent biogeochemical regimes during which δ15N and δ13C trends were synchronous (similar to recent coral records) or distinctly decoupled. We propose that phytoplankton species composition and nutrient source changes are the dominant mechanisms controlling the coupling and de-coupling of δ15N and δ13C values, likely primarily influenced by changing oceanographic conditions (e.g., stratification vs. entrainment). The decoupling observed in the past further suggests that oceanographic forcing and ecosystem responses controlling δ15N and δ13C values of export production have been substantially different earlier in the Holocene compared to mechanisms controlling the present day system

Calibrating amino acid δ\u3csup\u3e13\u3c/sup\u3eC and δ\u3csup\u3e15\u3c/sup\u3eN offsets between polyp and protein skeleton to develop proteinaceous deep-sea corals as paleoceanographic archives.

Compound-specific stable isotopes of amino acids (CSI-AA) from proteinaceous deep-sea coral skeletons have the potential to improve paleoreconstructions of plankton community composition, and our understanding of the trophic dynamics and biogeochemical cycling of sinking organic matter in the Ocean. However, the assumption that the molecular isotopic values preserved in protein skeletal material reflect those of the living coral polyps has never been directly investigated in proteinaceous deep-sea corals. We examined CSI-AA from three genera of proteinaceous deep-sea corals from three oceanographically distinct regions of the North Pacific: Primnoa from the Gulf of Alaska, Isidella from the Central California Margin, and Kulamanamana from the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. We found minimal offsets in the δ13C values of both essential and non-essential AAs, and in the δ15N values of source AAs, between paired samples of polyp tissue and protein skeleton. Using an essential AA δ13C fingerprinting approach, we show that estimates of the relative contribution of eukaryotic microalgae and prokaryotic cyanobacteria to the sinking organic matter supporting deep-sea corals are the same when calculated from polyp tissue or recently deposited skeletal tissue. The δ15N values of trophic AAs in skeletal tissue, on the other hand, were consistently 3–4‰ lower than polyp tissue for all three genera. We hypothesize that this offset reflects a partitioning of nitrogen flux through isotopic branch points in the synthesis of polyp (fast turnover tissue) and skeleton (slow, unidirectional incorporation). This offset indicates an underestimation, albeit correctable, of approximately half a trophic position from gorgonin protein-based deep-sea coral skeleton. Together, our observations open the door for applying many of the rapidly evolving CSI-AA based tools developed for metabolically active tissues in modern systems to archival coral tissues in a paleoceanographic context

Controlled human malaria infection: applications, advances, and challenges

Controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) entails deliberate infection with malaria parasites either by mosquito bite or by direct injection of sporozoites or parasitized erythrocytes. When required, the resulting blood-stage infection is curtailed by the administration of antimalarial drugs. Inducing a malaria infection via inoculation with infected blood was first used as a treatment (malariotherapy) for neurosyphilis in Europe and the United States in the early 1900s. More recently, CHMI has been applied to the fields of malaria vaccine and drug development, where it is used to evaluate products in well-controlled early-phase proof-of-concept clinical studies, thus facilitating progression of only the most promising candidates for further evaluation in areas where malaria is endemic. Controlled infections have also been used to immunize against malaria infection. Historically, CHMI studies have been restricted by the need for access to insectaries housing infected mosquitoes or suitable malaria-infected individuals. Evaluation of vaccine and drug candidates has been constrained in these studies by the availability of a limited number of Plasmodium falciparum isolates. Recent advances have included cryopreservation of sporozoites, the manufacture of well-characterized and genetically distinct cultured malaria cell banks for blood-stage infection, and the availability of Plasmodium vivax-specific reagents. These advances will help to accelerate malaria vaccine and drug development by making the reagents for CHMI more widely accessible and also enabling a more rigorous evaluation with multiple parasite strains and species. Here we discuss the different applications of CHMI, recent advances in the use of CHMI, and ongoing challenges for consideration

Emergency Department Discharge Instructions: Lessons Learned through Developing New Patient Education Materials

Our multidisciplinary team developed a new set of discharge instructions for five common emergency department diagnoses using recommended tools for creating literacy-appropriate and patient-centered education materials. We found that the recommended tools for document creation were essential in constructing the new instructions. However, while the tools were necessary, they were not sufficient. This paper describes the insights gained and lessons learned in this document creation process