Biomarker and Translational Prostate Cancer Research

The existing clinical biomarkers for prostate cancer (PCa) are not ideal, since they cannot specifically differentiate between those patients who should be treated immediately and those who should avoid overtreatment. Current screening techniques lack specificity, and a decisive diagnosis of PCa is based on prostate biopsy. Although PCa screening is widely utilized nowadays, two-thirds of the biopsies performed are still unnecessary. Thus, the discovery of noninvasive PCa biomarkers remains an urgent unmet medical need. Once metastasized, there is still no curative therapy. A better understanding of sustained androgen receptor signalling in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) has now led to the development of more effective therapies. We need a better understanding of the molecular and cellular aspects of prostate carcinogenesis and progression. Identification of cancer initiating cells and therapies against these populations is a promising way forward to fight this disease

Collecting Data on Charismatic Mini-Fauna: Public Participation and the Dragonfly Mercury Project

The Dragonfly Mercury Project (DMP) engages citizen scientists in collection of drag­onfly larvae for mercury analysis in national parks, allowing for national-scale assess­ment of this neurotoxic pollutant. DMP goals for citizen scientist engagement are to (1) provide opportunity for biodiversity discovery; (2) connect people to parks; and (3) provide a vehicle for mercury education and outreach. Over 90 parks and 3,000 citizen scientists have participated in the project. Here we summarize information about citizen groups who participated in 2014–2016. High school students (20%), interns and youth groups (24%), and local community groups (15%) comprised the majority of partici­pants. Park liaisons reported that the project achieved internal and external communica­tion that otherwise would not have occurred. Opportunities for improvement included further curriculum and workforce development. Ultimately, citizen scientists gained new perspectives and practiced civic skills while project scientists and resource managers gained data and insights on mercury in foodwebs

Solar-Electrochemical Power System for a Mars Mission

This report documents a sizing study of a variety of solar electrochemical power systems for the intercenter NASA study known as 'Mars Exploration Reference Mission'. Power systems are characterized for a variety of rovers, habitation modules, and space transport vehicles based on requirements derived from the reference mission. The mission features a six-person crew living on Mars for 500 days. Mission power requirements range from 4 kWe to 120 kWe. Primary hydrogen and oxygen fuel cells, regenerative hydrogen and oxygen fuel cells, sodium sulfur batteries advanced photovoltaic solar arrays of gallium arsenide on germanium with tracking and nontracking mechanisms, and tent solar arrays of gallium arsenide on germanium are evaluated and compared

School librarians are teachers too!: University of Northern Iowa teacher education majors and their perceptions of the role of the school librarian

The problem identified by this research is students in the University of Northern Iowa’s teacher education preparatory programs may not understand the role of the school librarian as a teacher and instructional partner. This research was a quantitative investigation into the perceptions of undergraduate students enrolled in the Teacher Education Program at the University of Northern Iowa regarding the role of the school librarian

Analysis of detergent-free lipid rafts isolated from CD4+ T cell line: interaction with antigen presenting cells promotes coalescing of lipid rafts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lipid rafts present on the plasma membrane play an important role in spatiotemporal regulation of cell signaling. Physical and chemical characterization of lipid raft size and assessment of their composition before, and after cell stimulation will aid in developing a clear understanding of their regulatory role in cell signaling. We have used visual and biochemical methods and approaches for examining individual and lipid raft sub-populations isolated from a mouse CD4⁺T cell line in the absence of detergents.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Detergent-free rafts were analyzed before and after their interaction with antigen presenting cells. We provide evidence that the average diameter of lipid rafts isolated from un-stimulated T cells, in the absence of detergents, is less than 100 nm. Lipid rafts on CD4⁺T cell membranes coalesce to form larger structures, after interacting with antigen presenting cells even in the absence of a foreign antigen.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Findings presented here indicate that lipid raft coalescence occurs during cellular interactions prior to sensing a foreign antigen.</p

The Importance of Being Uncomfortable and Unfinished

Our initial intention was to outline the structure of an entity, the Bear Healing Lodge, within the Faculty of Nursing at MacEwan. This structure was created out of the Truth and Reconciliation’s Calls to Action. However, as we engaged in critical discussions we realized that who we were becoming as persons, as we unpacked out privilege and power, was invaluable and informative to prepare us for authentic allyship and partnership. We realized that outcomes and endings were not the end goals, but being uncomfortable and unfinished were necessary for the creation of an ethical space for members to engage in decolonization of self. Authentic allyship and partnership must fundamentally be relational, create a brave space for vulnerability, and stimulate a shift in paradigms for multiple perspectives. We have humbly offered learning intentions, as solution-oriented perspectives, for others to learn which may lead to positive change. Résumé Notre intention première était de présenter la structure d’une entité, le Bear Healing Lodge, au sein de la Faculty of Nursing de MacEwan. Cette structure a été créée en suivi aux appels à l’action de la Commission de vérité et réconciliation. Cependant, alors que nous entamions des discussions critiques, nous avons réalisé que ce que nous devenions comme personnes, au fur et à mesure que nous remettions en question nos privilèges et notre pouvoir, nous préparait de manière inestimable et instructive à une alliance authentique et à un partenariat. Nous avons réalisé que les objectifs ultimes ne se résument pas aux résultats et aux conclusions, mais que le sentiment d’inconfort et d’incomplétude étaient nécessaires à la création d’un espace éthique permettant aux membres de s’engager dans la décolonisation de soi. Une alliance authentique et un partenariat sont fondamentalement relationnels, créant un espace sûr qui permet la vulnérabilité et stimulant un changement de paradigmes pour une ouverture à de nombreuses perspectives. Nous avons humblement offert des intentions d’apprentissage en tant que perspectives axées sur les solutions dans l’espoir d’un changement positif

Reporting and Assessing the Quality of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies for Cervical Cancer Screening and Management.

ObjectiveWe adapted the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) tool for studies of cervical cancer screening and management and used the adapted tool to evaluate the quality of studies included in a systematic review supporting the 2019 Risk-Based Management Consensus Guidelines.MethodsWe evaluated the quality of all studies included in our systematic review for postcolposcopy (n = 5) and posttreatment (n = 23) surveillance using QUADAS-2 criteria. Subsequently, we adapted signaling questions to indications of cervical cancer screening and management. An iterative process was carried out to evaluate interrater agreement between 2 study authors (M.A.C. and N.W.). Discrepant ratings were discussed, and criteria were adapted accordingly. We also evaluated the influence of study quality on risk estimates and between study variation using stratified subgroup meta-analyses.ResultsTwelve signaling questions for bias assessment that were adapted to or newly developed for cervical cancer screening and management are described here. Interrater agreement on bias assessment increased from 70% to 83% during the adaptation process. Detailed assessment of bias and applicability showed that all studies on postcolposcopy management and 90% of studies on posttreatment management had high risk of bias in at least 1 domain. Most commonly, high risk of bias was observed for the patient selection domain, indicating the heterogeneity of study designs and clinical practice in reported studies.ConclusionsThe adapted QUADAS-2 will have broad application for researchers, evidence evaluators, and journals who are interested in designing, conducting, evaluating, and publishing studies for cervical cancer screening and management

A Longitudinal Study of Hospitalization Rates for Patients with Chronic Disease: Results from the Medical Outcomes Study.

To prospectively compare inpatient and outpatient utilization rates between prepaid (PPD) and fee-for-service (FFS) insurance coverage for patients with chronic disease. Data from the Medical Outcomes Study, a longitudinal observational study of chronic disease patients conducted in Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles.A four-year prospective study of resource utilization among 1,681 patients under treatment for hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure in the practices of 367 clinicians

Aftermath of an Officer Involved Shooting: Formal Education, Continuing Education, and Responsibility

This is a policy review presentation that shows there are areas for improvement and recommendations to implement in the professional and academic sides of law enforcement using the lens of a current officer involved shooting that generated a lot of publicity. The recommendations would require a partnership between formal education providers, continuing education providers and practitioners

Evidence to impact: A community knowledge mobilisation evaluation framework

Many strategies guide knowledge-sharing to enhance uptake of evidence-based programs in practice, though few have been designed specifically for community settings. We highlight the importance of understanding and evaluating knowledge mobilisation in community settings and present a framework for evaluating knowledge mobilisation that captures short-term knowledge use as it relates to community stakeholders’ goals. To examine the utility of this framework, we applied it to the Pan-Canadian knowledge mobilisation activities of Better Beginnings, Better Futures, a community, university and government collaboration to support child development to its full capabilities. Participants included 31 community stakeholders who had attended a Better Beginnings workshop in one of six Canadian provinces and territories. Qualitative phone interviews were conducted to examine the extent to which knowledge mobilisation activities met participants’ learning needs, and how participants had applied the knowledge gained. Findings demonstrate that most participants had used the information, although the ways information was used varied greatly based on the community context. This application of the knowledge mobilisation framework shows it is useful for capturing diverse forms of short-term knowledge use in community settings. Lessons learned through the evaluation were used to refine the framework. The implications of this framework for academic researchers engaged in undertaking and evaluating community knowledge mobilisation are discussed