Bridging the Implementation Gap: Designing a Course of Action with Michigan Public Advisory Councils

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) enlisted the help of three past master’s capstones through the University of Michigan, School for Environment and Sustainability between 2019 and 2020 to research how Michigan Public Advisory Councils (PAC) can maximize their effectiveness and stewardship impact within the Michigan Areas of Concern (AOC) program. While these recommendations are valuable, it is challenging to turn research into usable solutions for decision-makers and practitioners. Unique PAC attributes create advantages and challenges when working to implement beneficial organizational changes. To address this implementation gap, we worked alongside the PACs and EGLE to translate these recommendations into implementation plans. We synthesized the 24 cumulative recommendations from the previous three capstones into a shortlist of eight, which we used throughout the interview process. We divided this process into individual Phase I interviews and PAC-wide Phase II community conversations to identify the priority objectives for 10 Michigan PACs and outline how to implement them. Using this information, we created an implementation plan for each PAC that documented organizational structures and action items to achieve within the next five years. We conducted a formal qualitative analysis for our Phase I interviews with PAC members, consisting of two parts: hand-coding and auto-coding. We created a codebook to hand-code each interview transcript to confirm the priority objectives of each PAC; we then used the auto-coding program to provide an unbiased perspective of each transcript. We coded each PAC individually and all together as a state-wide analysis. These codes showed that while PAC members varied in their interview responses, a majority of PACs expressed their interest in implementing recommendations related to community education, life after delisting, and PAC recruitment. We also found that PAC members felt they had made the most progress toward recommendations related to PAC structure, community education, and partner organizations. Finally, we developed four recommendations for the AOC program given our work over the last year and a half that we feel will strengthen PACs' organization structures, capacity and, durability: (1) include underrepresented communities; (2) build external funding sources; (3) assist PACs in preparing for stewardship after delisting; and (4) design collaborative state PAC meetings.Master of ScienceSchool for Environment and SustainabilityUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167214/1/375-AOCDesigningACourseOfAction- FinalReport.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167214/2/375_AOCDesigningACourseOfAction_Implementation Plans.pdfDescription of 375-AOCDesigningACourseOfAction- FinalReport.pdf : Final ReportDescription of 375_AOCDesigningACourseOfAction_Implementation Plans.pdf : Implementation Pla

Clinical spectrum of females with HCCS mutation: from no clinical signs to a neonatal lethal form of the microphthalmia with linear skin defects (MLS) syndrome

Background: Segmental Xp22.2 monosomy or a heterozygous HCCS mutation is associated with the microphthalmia with linear skin defects (MLS) or MIDAS (microphthalmia, dermal aplasia, and sclerocornea) syndrome, an X-linked disorder with male lethality. HCCS encodes the holocytochrome c-type synthase involved in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and programmed cell death. Methods: We characterized the X-chromosomal abnormality encompassing HCCS or an intragenic mutation in this gene in six new female patients with an MLS phenotype by cytogenetic analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization, sequencing, and quantitative real-time PCR. The X chromosome inactivation (XCI) pattern was determined and clinical data of the patients were reviewed. Results: Two terminal Xp deletions of ≥11.2 Mb, two submicroscopic copy number losses, one of ~850 kb and one of ≥3 Mb, all covering HCCS, 1 nonsense, and one mosaic 2-bp deletion in HCCS are reported. All females had a completely (>98:2) or slightly skewed (82:18) XCI pattern. The most consistent clinical features were microphthalmia/anophthalmia and sclerocornea/corneal opacity in all patients and congenital linear skin defects in 4/6. Additional manifestations included various ocular anomalies, cardiac defects, brain imaging abnormalities, microcephaly, postnatal growth retardation, and facial dysmorphism. However, no obvious clinical sign was observed in three female carriers who were relatives of one patient. Conclusion: Our findings showed a wide phenotypic spectrum ranging from asymptomatic females with an HCCS mutation to patients with a neonatal lethal MLS form. Somatic mosaicism and the different ability of embryonic cells to cope with an OXPHOS defect and/or enhanced cell death upon HCCS deficiency likely underlie the great variability in phenotypes

A PESQUISA EXPLORATÓRIA E DESCRITIVA NA DEFINIÇÃO DOS REQUISITOS DE PROJETO PARA A REUTILIZAÇÃO DE ESTRUTURAS METÁLICAS DE MÓVEIS ESCOLARES INATIVOS EM BICICLETÁRIOS

O presente trabalho descreve as pesquisas efetuadas para a definição dos requisitos de projeto para o bicicletário a ser desenvolvido por meio da reutilização do mobiliário inativo de uma instituição de ensino superior. Foram executadas duas fases de pesquisa: uma descritiva, onde foram efetuados o inventário, para identificar e quantificar o mobiliário inativo disponível; a busca de similares, para catalogar os projetos e soluções existentes de paraciclos e estruturas de apoio; e a Revisão Bibliográfica Sistemática, para identificar e classificar os elementos de segurança, conforto e os comportamentos promovidos pelo uso de bicicletas. E outra exploratória, na qual o Levantamento foi adotado como procedimento metodológico para interrogar os usuários por meio de questionário e entrevista com formulário. Como resultado, a pesquisa descritiva gerou uma análise comparativa das soluções para bicicletários, caracterizou os serviços locais, definiu as características para a estação de reparos e a plataforma online para o compartilhamento de informações e experiências entre os ciclistas. A pesquisa exploratória reconheceu as características e preferências dos usuários e ciclistas da instituição, os impactos do uso da bicicleta em suas rotinas, os grupos de ciclistas locais e os seus meios preferidos de busca e compartilhamento de informações. Pela análise dos dados obtidos, foi definido um conjunto de critérios de qualidade e requisitos funcionais para guiar a posterior etapa de projeto do bicicletário e das suas estruturas complementares.

Oligosymptomatic adrenomyeloneuropathy due to a novel mutation in the ABCD1 start codon

Letter to the Edito

Data associated with 'Comparison of time-lapse ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography surveys for detecting pig (Sus spp.) cadaver graves in an Australian environment’'

Locating clandestine graves presents significant challenges to law enforcement agencies, necessitating the testing of grave detection techniques. This experimental study assesses the effectiveness of time-lapse ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in detecting pig burials as simulated forensic cases. The research addresses three key questions: 1) observability of graves using GPR and ERT, 2) changes in geophysical responses over time, and 3) suitability of GPR and ERT as search techniques for covert graves. The results reveal that both GPR and ERT can detect graves; however, ERT demonstrates greater suitability in homogeneous soil and anomalously wet climate conditions, with detectability affected by grave depth. Additionally, resistivity values are influenced by soil moisture and decomposition fluids. The findings underscore the significance of site-specific factors when employing GPR and/or ERT for grave detection, including soil homogeneity, climate conditions, water percolation, and body decomposition state. These findings offer practical insights for law enforcement agencies dealing with homicide cases involving covert graves

A PESQUISA EXPLORATÓRIA E DESCRITIVA NA DEFINIÇÃO DOS REQUISITOS DE PROJETO PARA A REUTILIZAÇÃO DE ESTRUTURAS METÁLICAS DE MÓVEIS ESCOLARES INATIVOS EM BICICLETÁRIOS

O presente trabalho descreve as pesquisas efetuadas para a definição dos requisitos de projeto para o bicicletário a ser desenvolvido por meio da reutilização do mobiliário inativo de uma instituição de ensino superior. Foram executadas duas fases de pesquisa: uma descritiva, onde foram efetuados o inventário, para identificar e quantificar o mobiliário inativo disponível; a busca de similares, para catalogar os projetos e soluções existentes de paraciclos e estruturas de apoio; e a Revisão Bibliográfica Sistemática, para identificar e classificar os elementos de segurança, conforto e os comportamentos promovidos pelo uso de bicicletas. E outra exploratória, na qual o Levantamento foi adotado como procedimento metodológico para interrogar os usuários por meio de questionário e entrevista com formulário. Como resultado, a pesquisa descritiva gerou uma análise comparativa das soluções para bicicletários, caracterizou os serviços locais, definiu as características para a estação de reparos e a plataforma online para o compartilhamento de informações e experiências entre os ciclistas. A pesquisa exploratória reconheceu as características e preferências dos usuários e ciclistas da instituição, os impactos do uso da bicicleta em suas rotinas, os grupos de ciclistas locais e os seus meios preferidos de busca e compartilhamento de informações. Pela análise dos dados obtidos, foi definido um conjunto de critérios de qualidade e requisitos funcionais para guiar a posterior etapa de projeto do bicicletário e das suas estruturas complementares.

Evaluation of procalcitonin for predicting septic multiorgan failure and overall prognosis in secondary peritonitis: a prospective, international multicenter study.

HYPOTHESIS: Infections and sepsis are major complications in secondary peritonitis and still represent a diagnostic challenge. We hypothesized that the laboratory marker procalcitonin would provide an early and reliable assessment of septic complications. DESIGN: Prospective, international, multicenter inception cohort study. SETTING: Five European surgical referral centers. PATIENTS: Eighty-two patients with intraoperatively proven secondary peritonitis were enrolled within 96 hours of symptom onset. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Procalcitonin and the laboratory routine marker C-reactive protein (CRP) were prospectively assessed and monitored for a maximum of 21 consecutive days. RESULTS: Procalcitonin concentrations were most closely correlated with the development of septic multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS), with peak levels occurring early after symptom onset or during the immediate postoperative course. No such correlation was observed for CRP. According to receiver operating characteristic analysis, a procalcitonin value of 10.0 ng/mL or greater on 2 consecutive days was superior to a CRP level of 210 mg/L or greater for predicting septic MODS, with sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 65\%, 92\%, 83\%, and 81\% for procalcitonin and 67\%, 58\%, 49\%, and 74\% for CRP, respectively (P<.001). Assessment of septic MODS was already possible on the first 2 postoperative days, with similar sensitivity and specificity. Persisting procalcitonin levels greater than 1.0 ng/mL beyond the first week after disease onset strongly indicated nonsurvival and were significantly better than CRP in assessing overall prognosis (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Procalcitonin monitoring is a fast and reliable approach to assessing septic MODS and overall prognosis in secondary peritonitis. This single-test marker improves stratification of patients who will develop clinically relevant complications

Neural correlates of episodic and semantic memory retrieval in borderline personality disorder: An fMRI study

Mensebach C, Beblo T, Driessen M, et al. Neural correlates of episodic and semantic memory retrieval in borderline personality disorder: An fMRI study. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging. 2009;171(2):94-105.Verbal memory impairment in borderline personality disorder (BPD) is still a matter of debate. In this study we combine investigations of both, memory retrieval as well as underlying neural circuits in BPD. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to study regional brain activation in 18 right-handed female patients with BPD and 18 matched controls during the retrieval of an episodic memory retrieval (EMR) task (free recall of a word list) and a semantic memory retrieval (SMR) task (verbal fluency). Despite unaffected performance in EMR and SMR, patients with BPD showed task-specific increased activation compared with controls. During EMR, the increased activation encompassed the posterior cingulate cortex bilaterally, the left middle and superior temporal gyrus, the right inferior frontal gyros, and the right angular gyrus. SMR was associated with increased activation of the posterior cingulate cortex, of the right fusiform gyros, of the left anterior cingulate cortex, and of the left postcentral gyros. Our findings suggest that BPD patients may need to engage larger brain areas to reach a level of performance in episodic and semantic retrieval tasks that is comparable to that of healthy controls. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved