Measuring the Mitigating Transportation Emissions in Downtown Detroit

This project was designed to assist Detroit 2030 District to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation by 50% by 2030. This project utilizes a variety of research methods to create meaningful deliverables for the client. These research methods include data collection, surveys, interviews, modeling, literature review and analysis. We obtained data from SEMCOG household travel survey, which tracks travel movements around southeast Michigan. We were able to obtain information about traffic patterns as well as individual traveler characteristics and household demographics. We identified the area of interest by comparing the boundary of the District to the boundaries of SEMCOG’s traffic analysis zones. After, we used EPA MOVES software to calculate emission factors and created a baseline estimate of the District’s transportation emissions. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a strategy to engage building owners, managers, and tenants, in the process of measuring and reducing GHG emissions generated by the occupants of their buildings associated with transportation. An emission reduction model utilize to evaluate the possibility of hitting the organizations target reduction and to better understand the barriers to hitting that goal. According to the two scenarios, and adjusting the VMT based on Mode, Distance, and Purpose, we propose reduction strategies. Several recommendations are offered including Commuter Incentives, Cycling Program, Pedestrian Development, etc. From another aspect, Detroit is one city where green infrastructure has emerged as a planning priority. Green Infrastructure will have a positive impact on GHG reduction.Master of ScienceSchool for Environment and SustainabilityUniversity of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148806/1/Measuring and Mitigating Transportation Emissions in Downtown Detroit_337.pd

Opening the Black Box: The Impacts of Environmental Regulations on Technological Innovation.

Environmental regulations (ERs) that can stimulate technological innovation (TI) are the key to enabling a win-win strategy that benefits both economic development and environmental protection. This study seeks to analyze the impacts of ERs on TI. Previous literature highlighted that the black box of TI can be decomposed into technology investment and technology transformation, but empirical studies on such a decomposition have largely been ignored. Moreover, a detailed discussion of the links between ERs and the decomposed components of TI has not been conducted in developing countries such as China. Our study attempts to address these research gaps by (i) decomposing TI using a novel data envelopment analysis (DEA) procedure and further analyzing the impacts of ERs on the decomposed components of TI and (ii) applying this novel methodology to Chinese context. Accordingly, this study is conducted in two stages. First, a novel application of the slack-based measure Network DEA model is developed to uncover the black box of TI using Chinese data in order to estimate the overall efficiency of technological innovation (TIE) and to decompose it into the efficiency of technology investment (TVE) and the efficiency of technology transformation (TTE). Second, a random effect Tobit model is applied to (i) investigate both the linear and nonlinear impacts of ERs on TIE in all sectors and (ii) examine whether the impacts of ERs on TVE and TTE in different subprocesses are heterogeneous or not. Our results have showed the benefits of decomposing TI: while technology transformation in China closely follows the trend of TI, the trend of technology investment is somewhat different. The estimation results further indicate that the impacts of ERs on TIE are nonlinear. Besides, ERs have heterogeneous impacts on the decomposed components of TI. The impacts of ERs on TVE are nonlinear, whereas the impacts of ERs on TTE are statistically insignificant

Zinc finger and SCAN domain containing 1, ZSCAN1, is a novel stemness-related tumor suppressor and transcriptional repressor in breast cancer targeting TAZ

IntroductionCancer stem cells (CSCs) targeted therapy holds the potential for improving cancer management; identification of stemness-related genes in CSCs is necessary for its development.MethodsThe Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) datasets were used for survival analysis. ZSCAN1 correlated genes was identified by Spearman correlation analysis. Breast cancer stem-like cells (BCSLCs) were isolated by sorting CD44+CD24- cells from suspension cultured breast cancer (BC) spheroids. The sphere-forming capacity and sphere- and tumor-initiating capacities were determined by sphere formation and limiting dilution assays. The relative gene expression was determined by qRT-PCR, western blot. Lentivirus system was used for gene manipulation. Nuclear run-on assay was employed to examine the levels of nascent mRNAs. DNA pull-down and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were used for determining the interaction between protein and target DNA fragments. Luciferase reporter assay was used for evaluating the activity of the promoter.Results and discussionZSCAN1 is aberrantly suppressed in BC, and this suppression indicates a bad prognosis. Ectopic expression of ZSCAN1 inhibited the proliferation, clonogenicity, and tumorigenicity of BC cells. ZSCAN1-overexpressing BCSLCs exhibited weakened stemness properties. Normal human mammary epithelial (HMLE) cells with ZSCAN1 depletion exhibited enhanced stemness properties. Mechanistic studies showed that ZSCAN1 directly binds to -951 ~ -925bp region of WWTR1 (encodes TAZ) promoter, inhibits WWTR1 transcription, thereby inhibiting the stemness of BCSCs. Our work thus revealed ZSCAN1 as a novel stemness-related tumor suppressor and transcriptional repressor in BC

How can landscape strategy make the unavailable coastal areas that are influenced by motorways more accessible?

Globally, there are more than 3.5 billion people living close to the coast, or within about 100 kilometres of it, which means this huge population relies heavily on the coastal and marine environment. The value and importance of coastal areas are largely embodied in terms of settlement, economy, environment, transportation and recreation. However, due to some limitations, including human activities such as urbanisation and developments on waterfronts, or natural factors such as rough landforms or coastal hazards, some coastal areas with huge potential may be unavailable and inaccessible to people. This study focuses on coastal areas that are affected by the construction of motorways, which are regarded as representative of modern urbanisation and have a crucial function for the majority of cities. Through case studies which deal with relevant issues, I learned some methods, inspiration and techniques which have been adapted as part of my own design. Shoal Bay, the research site, located between the Auckland city centre and the North Shore centre, Takapuna, possesses potential to be a new coastal landmark. However, State Highway 1 along Northcote Point severs the connection between the local community and the existing adjacent coastal areas. In order to protect existing ecological habitats for seabirds, most coastal development is discouraged by relevant agencies, so to a large extent the current narrow coastal strip is almost unavailable and difficult for the public to access. The proposed design concentrates on four perspectives: connectivity, availability, protection and ecological mitigation. It aims to achieve coherent connections combined with the proposed Skypath to Takapuna, and create larger available coastal areas through beach nourishment techniques. Further design will provide protective elements for the motorway and nearby residential housing areas from predicted coastal hazards. Finally, there will be specific design methods to ensure the mitigation of the possible ecological loss caused by hard construction to create a harmonious, multifunctional coastal park

MicroRNAs Regulating Signaling Pathways: Potential Biomarkers in Systemic Sclerosis

AbstractSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem fibrotic and autoimmune disease. Both genetic and epigenetic elements mediate SSc pathophysiology. This review summarizes the role of one epigenetic element, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), involved in different signaling pathways of SSc pathogenesis. The expression of key components in transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway has been found to be regulated by miRNAs both upstream and downstream of TGF-β. We are specifically interested in the pathway components upstream of TGF-β, while miRNAs in other signaling pathways have not been extensively studied. The emerging role of miRNAs in vasculopathy of SSc suggests a promising new direction for future investigation. Elucidation of the regulatory role of miRNAs in the expression of signaling factors may facilitate the discovery of novel biomarkers in SSc and improve the understanding and treatment of this disease

Age-Related Changes in Redox Signaling and VSMC Function

Epidemiological studies have shown that advancing age is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) comprise the major arterial cell population, and changes in VSMC behavior, function, and redox status with age contribute to alterations in vascular remodeling and cell signaling. Over two decades of work on aged animal models provide support for age-related changes in VSMC and/or arterial tissues. Enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and insufficient removal by scavenging systems are hallmarks of vascular aging. VSMC proliferation and migration are core processes in vascular remodeling and influenced by growth factors and signaling networks. The intrinsic link between gene regulation and aging often relates directly to transcription factors and their regulatory actions. Modulation of growth factor signaling leads to up- or downregulation of transcription factors that control expression of genes associated with VSMC proliferation, inflammation, and ROS production. Four major signaling pathways related to the transcription factors, AP-1, NF-κB, FoxO, and Nrf2, will be reviewed. Knowledge of age-related changes in signaling pathways in VSMC that lead to alterations in cell behavior and function consistent with disease progression may help in efforts to attenuate age-related CVD, such as atherosclerosis. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 12, 641–655