Impacts of Climate Change on the State of Indiana: ensemble future projections based on statistical downscaling

Using an ensemble of 10 statistically downscaled global climate model (GCM) simulations, we project future climate change impacts on the state of Indiana (IN) for two scenarios of greenhouse-gas concentrations (a medium scenario--RCP4.5, and a high scenario--RCP 8.5) for three future time periods (2020s, 2050s, 2080s). Relative to a 1971-2000 baseline, the scenarios project substantial changes in temperature for IN, with a change in the annual ensemble mean temperature for the 2080s RCP8.5 scenario of about 5.6 °C (10.1 °F). Such changes also indicate major changes in extreme temperatures. For southern IN, the number of days with daily maximum temperatures above 35 °C (95 °F) is projected to be about 100 days per year for the 2080s RCP8.5 scenario, as opposed to an average of 5 days for the historical baseline climate. Locations in northern IN could experience 50 days per year above 35 °C (95 °F) for the same conditions. Energy demand for cooling, as measured by Cooling Degree Days (CDD), is projected to increase nearly fourfold in response to this extreme warming, but heating demand as measured by Heating Degree Days (HDD) is projected to decline by 30%, which would result in a net reduction in annual heating/cooling energy demand for consumers. The length of the growing season is projected to increase by about 30 to 50 days by the 2080s for the RCP8.5 scenario, and U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones are projected to shift by about two half zones throughout IN. By the 2080s, all GCM simulations for the RCP8.5 scenario show higher annual precipitation (P) over IN. Projected seasonal changes in P include a 25-30% increase in winter and spring P by the 2080s for the RCP8.5 scenarios and a 1-7% decline in summer and fall P (although there is low model agreement in the latter two seasons). Rising temperatures are projected to result in systematic decreases in the snowfall-to-rain ratio from Nov-Mar. Snow is projected to become uncommon in southern IN by the 2080s for the RCP8.5 scenario, and snowfall is substantially reduced in other areas of the state. The combined effects of these changes in T, P, and snowfall will likely result in increased surface runoff and flooding during winter and spring

Gender differences in diet-induced steatotic disease in Cyp2b-null mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease; however, progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with most adverse outcomes. CYP2B metabolizes multiple xeno- and endobiotics, and male Cyp2b-null mice are diet-induced obese (DIO) with increased NAFLD. However, the DIO study was not performed long enough to assess progression to NASH. Therefore, to assess the role of Cyp2b in fatty liver disease progression from NAFLD to NASH, we treated wildtype (WT) and Cyp2b-null mice with a normal diet (ND) or choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined high fat diet (CDAHFD) for 8 weeks and determined metabolic and molecular changes. CDAHFD-fed WT female mice gained more weight and had greater liver and white adipose tissue mass than their Cyp2b-null counterparts; males experienced diet-induced weight loss regardless of genotype. Serum biomarkers of liver injury increased in both CDAHFD-fed female and male mice; however CDAHFD-fed Cyp2b-null females exhibited significantly lower serum ALT, AST, and ASP concentrations compared to WT mice, indicating Cyp2b-null females were protected from liver injury. In both genders, hierarchical clustering of RNA-seq data demonstrates several gene ontologies responded differently in CDAHFD-fed Cyp2b-null mice compared to WT mice (lipid metabolism \u3e fibrosis \u3e inflammation). Oil Red O staining and direct triglycerides measurements confirmed that CDAHFD-fed Cyp2b-null females were protected from NAFLD. CDAHFD-fed Cyp2b-null mice showed equivocal changes in fibrosis with transcriptomic and serum markers suggesting less inflammation due to glucocorticoid-mediated repression of immune responses. In contrast to females, CDAHFD-fed Cyp2b-null males had higher triglyceride levels. Results indicate that female Cyp2b-null mice are protected from NAFLD while male Cyp2b-null mice are more susceptible to NAFLD, with few significant changes in NASH development. This study confirms that increased NAFLD development does not necessarily lead to progressive NASH. Furthermore, it indicates a role for Cyp2b in fatty liver disease that differs based on gender

Experience with miniaturized cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery: A prospective comparison of the NovoSCI ready system to off-pump and conventional coronary artery bypass grafting

The major source of morbidity following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is the systemic inflammatory response (SIRS response) which leads to multiple derangements in different organ systems. To combat this, miniaturized cardiopulmonary bypass circuits (MCPBC) have been created to lessen the inflammatory response to CPB. Here we examine early outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using a MCPBC system compared to conventional bypass techniques at a single institution. Methods: 60 consecutive patients undergoing elective CABG were prospectively enrolled. Nine patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with conventional CPB (cCABG), 33 underwent off-pump CABG (OPCAB), and the remaining 18 patients underwent CABG with a MCPBC system. Demographics and outcomes were compared between groups and statistical analyses applied. Results: No significant difference was observed in mortality between groups, with only one death reported in total. Morbidity was also low, totaling only 6.7%, with none occurring in the MCPBC group. The MCPBC group required less PRBC and total blood product transfusion than the cCABG and OPCABG groups (p = 0.05), but changes in PLT and Hct over time were not different between groups. Conclusions: The MCPBC system was shown to be comparable to conventional bypass and OPCABG in terms of postoperative complications and mortality. Furthermore, the MCPBC system had the advantage of a decreased transfusion requirement. Based on our preliminary observations, this mini-cardiopulmonary bypass circuit provides a safe alternative to conventional bypass techniques

Metrics of the Gynecologic Oncology Literature Focused on Cited Utilization and Costs

OBJECTIVE: The newest findings on literature utilization relevant to gynecologic oncology were published by Thomson Reuters during June 2013 as determinants of journal standing. Our objective was to assess the different metrics reported for relative impact and cost for journals relevant to gynecologic oncology. METHODS: 55 journals were evaluated for Impact Factor (IF), 5Year IF, Immediacy Index, Cited Half Life, Eigenfactor (EF) Score, Article Influence (AI) scores and subscription costs obtained from publisher information. RESULTS: CA-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians had the highest IF (101.78) & AI (24.502). The top EF cancer-specific journals were the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research and Oncogene. Rankings for Gynecologic Oncology (409 articles, 18,243 citations) were IF=3.929, 43/55, EF=0.038, 28/55, and AI=1.099, 44/55, all higher than the previous year. The IF improved from the 5year IF in 31 journals, including Gynecologic Oncology, 29/31. Subscription costs for Gynecologic Oncology compared favorably to other journals. CONCLUSIONS: The high utilization of review information in CA-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and Nature Review Cancer illustrated by the IF coupled with a relatively low number of articles and short cited half life indicates that they serve as a leading source of quoted cancer statistics (CA-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians). Rankings for Gynecologic Oncology and the International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer have improved. Regardless of specialty size, the Impact Factor for Gynecologic Oncology is respectably strong. The decreased IF in 44% of the journals may reflect the international economy\u27s effect on cancer research

Development of a High-Throughput Assay for Identifying Inhibitors of TBK1 and IKKε

IKKε and TBK1 are noncanonical IKK family members which regulate inflammatory signaling pathways and also play important roles in oncogenesis. However, few inhibitors of these kinases have been identified. While the substrate specificity of IKKε has recently been described, the substrate specificity of TBK1 is unknown, hindering the development of high-throughput screening technologies for inhibitor identification. Here, we describe the optimal substrate phosphorylation motif for TBK1, and show that it is identical to the phosphorylation motif previously described for IKKε. This information enabled the design of an optimal TBK1/IKKε substrate peptide amenable to high-throughput screening and we assayed a 6,006 compound library that included 4,727 kinase-focused compounds to discover in vitro inhibitors of TBK1 and IKKε. 227 compounds in this library inhibited TBK1 at a concentration of 10 µM, while 57 compounds inhibited IKKε. Together, these data describe a new high-throughput screening assay which will facilitate the discovery of small molecule TBK1/IKKε inhibitors possessing therapeutic potential for both inflammatory diseases and cancer

Changes in Outdoor Workers' Sun-Related Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors: A Pre–Post Workplace Intervention

Objective: To evaluate changes in outdoor workers' sun-related attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors in response to a health promotion intervention using a participatory action research process. Methods: Fourteen workplaces across four outdoor industry types worked collaboratively with the project team to develop tailored sun protection action plans. Workers were assessed before and after the 18-month intervention. Results: Outdoor workers reported increases in workplace support for sun protection (P < 0.01) and personal use of sun protection (P < 0.01). More workers reported seeking natural shade (+20%) and wearing more personal protective equipment, including broad-brimmed hats (+25%), long-sleeved collared shirts (+19%), and long trousers (+16%). The proportion of workers reporting sunburn over the past 12 months was lower at postintervention (-14%) (P = 0.03); however, the intensity of reported sunburn increased. Conclusions: This intervention was successful in increasing workers' sun protective attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors

Indiana’s Past & Future Climate: A Report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment

Indiana’s climate is changing. Temperatures are rising, more precipitation is falling and the last spring frost of the year has been getting steadily earlier. This report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment (IN CCIA) describes historical climate trends from more than a century of data, and future projections that detail the ways in which our climate will continue to change

Planeamiento estratégico de la industria peruana de la madera

La industria de la madera se encuentra en crecimiento a nivel mundial. El Perú es el noveno país con mayor extensión forestal en el mundo y posee una gran biodiversidad, la cual demuestra el potencial de la industria peruana. El modelo de extracción que se tiene actualmente está basado, principalmente, en concesiones forestales de los bosques naturales. Además de la gran riqueza del bosque, cuenta con grandes extensiones aptas para la reforestación que permite impulsar plantaciones forestales comerciales con el fin de incrementar el volumen de ventas, así como el desarrollo de nuevos productos orientados a la demanda mundial. El presente plan estratégico tiene como objetivo la promoción del desarrollo de la industria de la madera, indicando cuáles son los objetivos y las estrategias necesarias para alcanzar la visión propuesta al 2028, con el fin de lograr que sea reconocida como una industria sostenible, altamente productiva, orientada a la exportación y generadora de empleo. Una vez definida la visión, se fijaron cinco objetivos de largo plazo, referidos al incremento de las exportaciones, incremento del rendimiento por hectárea, generación de empleos, la certificación de la madera que asegure la sostenibilidad de la industria y el desarrollo de un modelo de extracción mixto que contemple tanto bosques naturales y plantaciones forestales. Así también, para la realización de la visión y objetivos definidos, se han planteado once estrategias que resultaron de las matrices desarrolladas en el presente documento, las cuales se centran, principalmente, en la exportación y búsqueda de nuevos mercados, desarrollo de productos con valor agregado, exportación de madera certificada, aumento de plantaciones forestales de árboles de crecimiento rápido, desarrollo de clústeres que integren toda la cadena productiva y, finalmente, la instalación de plantas de transformación y el uso de la investigación y tecnología forestal para incrementar la productividad.The wood industry is growing worldwide. Peru is the ninth largest forest country in the world and has a great biodiversity, which can demonstrate the potential of Peruvian industry. The current extraction model is based mainly on forestry concessions of natural forests. In addition to the great wealth of the forest, there are large extensions suitable for reforestation that would allow the promotion of commercial forest plantations in order to increase the volume of sales, as well as the development of new products oriented to global demand. The objective of this strategic plan is to promote the development of the wood industry, indicating the objectives and strategies necessary to achieve the vision proposed by 2028 in order to achieve recognition as a sustainable, highly productive and oriented industry to export and generate employment. Once the vision was defined, five long-term objectives were set, referring to the increase of exports, increase in yield per hectare, generation of jobs, certification of wood that ensures the sustainability of forests and the development of a model of mixed extraction that includes both natural forests and forest plantations. Likewise, to achieve the vision and defined objectives, eleven strategies have been proposed that resulted from the matrices developed in this document, focused mainly on export and search for new markets, development of value-added products, export of certified wood, increase in fastgrowing tree plantations, development of clusters that integrate the entire production chain and installation of processing plants, as well as the use of forestry research and technology to increase productivity.Tesi