Microspora Competition for Sunlight

The focus of this project was to study the primary production of the filamentous green algae, Microspora, and its potential to inhibit its own photosynthesis as well as the potential for rooted aquatic plants to inhibit its photosynthesis. The spatial distribution of Microspora could be explained by this competition between organisms. To test this, I set up buoys in areas of rooted aquatic plants, Microspora mats, and direct sunlight. The buoys held Biological Oxygen Demand bottles in which Microspora was held in-situ for net primary production measurements. Net primary production was defined as the difference between the final and the initial oxygen concentration in each bottle, and then expressed as a rate by dividing by the bottle volume and incubation time. The results showed statistically significant differences in net primary production of Microspora under mats of itself and beds of Potamogeton crispus. Net primary production was negative in both habitats, suggesting that Microspora net primary production is inhibited in both locations. Furthermore, the statistically significant results indicate that microhabitats within the pond favor different species

An Analysis of Racial, Socioeconomic, and Age Disparities Within Sulfur Dioxide Nonattainment Areas in EPA Region 5

The rates of asthma in the United States are increasing annually. This rise can be attributed to air pollution exposure. Under the Clean Air Act’s NAAQS, regions with sulfur dioxide levels in excess of 75 ppb averaged over 3 years are considered “nonattainment areas” and the state is required to draft and implement a plan to reduce the pollution levels. In EPA Region 5 there are 14 nonattainment areas. Vulnerable populations residing in these areas are at an increased risk of developing respiratory and cardiac diseases. Children and infants are at a high risk of low birth weights, asthma, and mortality. In this study, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, women of childbearing age, children under the age of 18, individuals 65 years of age and older, and households living below the poverty line are evaluated at the block group level and the likelihood of each population to live within a nonattainment area in eight states in the Midwestern United States. The results indicate that as the proportion of individuals living below the poverty line and proportion of racial minorities increases, the likelihood of living within a sulfur dioxide nonattainment area also increases, confirming the environmental justice hypothesis. Additionally, the most vulnerable members of society to sulfur dioxide exposure, i.e. women of childbearing age, children under the age of 18, and adults aged 65 and older, are found to be at the greatest risk of living within nonattainment areas when examining the percentage of individuals in nonattainment block groups based on poverty and race information. Policy recommendations are discussed along with recommendations for future research.Master of ScienceNatural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/123036/1/Sauer_Thesis_Final_Aug2016.pd

How to Simulate Realistic Survival Data? A Simulation Study to Compare Realistic Simulation Models

In statistics, it is important to have realistic data sets available for a particular context to allow an appropriate and objective method comparison. For many use cases, benchmark data sets for method comparison are already available online. However, in most medical applications and especially for clinical trials in oncology, there is a lack of adequate benchmark data sets, as patient data can be sensitive and therefore cannot be published. A potential solution for this are simulation studies. However, it is sometimes not clear, which simulation models are suitable for generating realistic data. A challenge is that potentially unrealistic assumptions have to be made about the distributions. Our approach is to use reconstructed benchmark data sets %can be used as a basis for the simulations, which has the following advantages: the actual properties are known and more realistic data can be simulated. There are several possibilities to simulate realistic data from benchmark data sets. We investigate simulation models based upon kernel density estimation, fitted distributions, case resampling and conditional bootstrapping. In order to make recommendations on which models are best suited for a specific survival setting, we conducted a comparative simulation study. Since it is not possible to provide recommendations for all possible survival settings in a single paper, we focus on providing realistic simulation models for two-armed phase III lung cancer studies. To this end we reconstructed benchmark data sets from recent studies. We used the runtime and different accuracy measures (effect sizes and p-values) as criteria for comparison

Patterns in contacts with primary health care centres in Greenland

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to evaluate the activity within the primary health care (PHC) in Greenland by identifying the patterns of all registered contacts made by patients in 2021, and to compare the most frequently used types of contacts and diagnostic codes in Nuuk to the rest of Greenland. The study was designed as a cross-sectional register study using data from the national electronic medical records (EMR) and diagnostic codes from the ICPC-2-system. In 2021, 83.7% (46,522) of the Greenlandic population were in contact with the PHC, resulting in 335,494 registered contacts. The majority of the contacts with PHC was made by females (61.3%). On average, females were in contact with PHC 8.4 times per patient per year, while males were in contact with PHC 5.9 times per patient per year. The most frequently used diagnostic group was “General and unspecified”, followed by “Musculoskeletal” and “Skin”. The results are in line with studies from other northern countries and indicate an easily accessible PHC system, with a predominance of female contacts

As Estratégias de Internacionalização da Indústria Brasileira de Papel e Celulose sob a Ótica do Paradigma Eclético: Estudo de Caso da Empresa Suzano Papel e Celulose

This article aims to analyze the process of internationalization of the Brazilian pulp and paper. This analysis has an economic bias, basing on the model of internationalization of Eclectic Paradigm of Dunning (1980) in order to identify the internationalization strategies, as well as the key drivers that have enabled reach new markets. We adopted a qualitative methodology, developed through a case study in the company Suzano, a Brazilian company, a global leader in the pulp and paper industry, with a strong presence in the international market. The data were obtained from literature searches, statistics, press releases and official documents of the company. For the treatment of these was used to pattern matching techniques, which enabled contrast them with the theory selected. The results revealed that Suzano differentiated adopted guidelines for the marketing of paper and pulp. The paper is intended primarily for the domestic market, whereas most of the pulp produced is intended to international trade. The company went international for having, according to the Eclectic Paradigm, the advantages of ownership and internalization over their competitors. The strategies used consists in finding markets (market seeking), search efficiency (efficiency seeking) and search for strategic assets (strategic asset seeking). We conclude that the theory is Eclectic Paradigm in an appropriate tool for analyzing the internationalization process of the pulp and paper industries.Este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar el proceso de internacionalización de la pulpa y el papel de Brasil. Este análisis tiene un sesgo económico, basándose en el modelo de internacionalización de Paradigma Ecléctico de Dunning (1980) con el fin de identificar las estrategias de internacionalización, así como los factores clave que han permitido llegar a nuevos mercados. Adoptamos una metodología cualitativa, desarrollada a través de un estudio de caso en la empresa Suzano, una empresa brasileña, líder mundial en la industria de la pulpa y el papel, con una fuerte presencia en el mercado internacional. Los datos se obtuvieron a partir de búsquedas bibliográficas, estadísticas, comunicados de prensa y documentos oficiales de la compañía. Para el tratamiento de estas se utilizó para técnicas de coincidencia de patrones, lo que permitió contraste con la teoría seleccionada. Los resultados revelaron que Suzano diferenciados adoptó directrices para la comercialización de papel y pulpa. El documento está destinado principalmente para el mercado interno, mientras que la mayor parte de la pulpa producida se destina al comercio internacional. La compañía fue internacional por haber, según el Paradigma Ecléctico, las ventajas de la propiedad y la internalización de sus competidores. Las estrategias utilizadas consiste en la búsqueda de mercados (market seeking), la eficiencia de búsqueda (búsqueda de eficiencia) y la búsqueda de activos estratégicos (activo estratégico que busque). Llegamos a la conclusión de que la teoría es Paradigma Ecléctico en una herramienta adecuada para analizar el proceso de internacionalización de las industrias de la celulosa y el papel.Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar o processo de internacionalização da indústria brasileira de papel e celulose. Esta análise possui um viés econômico, fundamentando-se no modelo de internacionalização do Paradigma Eclético de Dunning (1980) com vistas a identificar as estratégias de internacionalização, bem como os principais motivadores que possibilitaram atingir novos mercados. Foi adotada metodologia qualitativa, desenvolvida por meio de um estudo de caso na empresa Suzano Papel e Celulose, uma empresa brasileira, líder global do setor de papel e celulose, com forte presença no mercado internacional. Os dados foram obtidos em pesquisas bibliográficas, dados estatísticos, press-releases e documentos oficiais da empresa. Para o tratamento dos mesmos utilizou-se a técnica de adequação ao padrão, a qual possibilitou contrastá-los com a teoria selecionada. Os resultados revelaram que a Suzano adotou diretrizes diferenciadas para a comercialização de papel e de celulose. O papel destina-se prioritariamente ao mercado interno, enquanto que a maior parte da celulose produzida destina-se ao comércio internacional. A empresa se internacionalizou por possuir, de acordo com o Paradigma Eclético, as vantagens de propriedade e de internalização sobre seus competidores. As estratégias utilizadas consistem na busca por mercados (market seeking), busca de eficiência (efficiency seeking) e busca de ativos estratégicos (strategic asset seeking). Conclui-se que a Teoria do Paradigma Eclético constitui-se em um instrumento adequado para análise do processo de internacionalização das indústrias de papel e celulose.DOI:10.5585/riae.v11i3.189

Leveraging Online Learning to Promote Systems Thinking for Sustainable Food Systems Training in Dietetics Education

Educating and training a multisectoral food systems workforce is a critical part of developing sustainable, resilient, and healthy food and water systems. This paper shares perspectives from a working group of educators, learners, and food systems subject matter experts that collaborated over the course of a year to develop, pilot test, and evaluate two interactive webinar series with a multi-site cohort of dietetics interns and graduate students. The three-part webinar series format included a training webinar, a practice activity, and a synthesis webinar. In reflecting on the effectiveness of this format, we provide direct assessments of student learning from subject matter experts alongside indirect assessments from pre- and post-surveys fielded with learners. Learners who participated in an interactive webinar series demonstrated skills in several dimensions of systems thinking and gained confidence in food systems learning outcomes. Learners also shared valuable feedback on the opportunities and challenges of using online platforms for this experience. As online learning opportunities become more common, it will become increasingly important for educators to prioritize strategies that effectively equip students with the higher-order thinking skills, such as systems thinking, needed to address the complexities of sustainable food systems. The interactive webinar series format described here provides an opportunity to leverage didactic webinars in combination with interactive experiences that enable learners to deepen their knowledge through practice with peers and subject matter experts. Though this format was piloted within dietetics education programs, many of the lessons learned are transferable to other food systems educational contexts

ESTRATEGIAS DE INTERNACIONALIZACIÓN DE LA INDUSTRIA DE LA PASTA Y EL PAPEL DE BRASIL LA PERSPECTIVA DE PARADIGMA ECLÉCTICO: UN ESTUDIO DE CASO DE LA PASTA Y EL PAPEL DE LA EMPRESA SUZANO

Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar o processo de internacionalização da indústria brasileira de papel e celulose. Esta análise possui um viés econômico, fundamentando-se no modelo de internacionalização do Paradigma Eclético de Dunning (1980) com vistas a identificar as estratégias de internacionalização, bem como os principais motivadores que possibilitaram atingir novos mercados. Foi adotada metodologia qualitativa, desenvolvida por meio de um estudo de caso na empresa Suzano Papel e Celulose, uma empresa brasileira, líder global do setor de papel e celulose, com forte presença no mercado internacional. Os dados foram obtidos em pesquisas bibliográficas, dados estatísticos, press-releases e documentos oficiais da empresa. Para o tratamento dos mesmos utilizou-se a técnica de adequação ao padrão, a qual possibilitou contrastá-los com a teoria selecionada. Os resultados revelaram que a Suzano adotou diretrizes diferenciadas para a comercialização de papel e de celulose. O papel destina-se prioritariamente ao mercado interno, enquanto que a maior parte da celulose produzida destina-se ao comércio internacional. A empresa se internacionalizou por possuir, de acordo com o Paradigma Eclético, as vantagens de propriedade e de internalização sobre seus competidores. As estratégias utilizadas consistem na busca por mercados (market seeking), busca de eficiência (efficiency seeking) e busca de ativos estratégicos (strategic asset seeking). Conclui-se que a Teoria do Paradigma Eclético constitui-se em um instrumento adequado para análise do processo de internacionalização das indústrias de papel e celulose.DOI:10.5585/riae.v11i3.1896This article aims to analyze the process of internationalization of the Brazilian pulp and paper. This analysis has an economic bias, basing on the model of internationalization of Eclectic Paradigm of Dunning (1980) in order to identify the internationalization strategies, as well as the key drivers that have enabled reach new markets. We adopted a qualitative methodology, developed through a case study in the company Suzano, a Brazilian company, a global leader in the pulp and paper industry, with a strong presence in the international market. The data were obtained from literature searches, statistics, press releases and official documents of the company. For the treatment of these was used to pattern matching techniques, which enabled contrast them with the theory selected. The results revealed that Suzano differentiated adopted guidelines for the marketing of paper and pulp. The paper is intended primarily for the domestic market, whereas most of the pulp produced is intended to international trade. The company went international for having, according to the Eclectic Paradigm, the advantages of ownership and internalization over their competitors. The strategies used consists in finding markets (market seeking), search efficiency (efficiency seeking) and search for strategic assets (strategic asset seeking). We conclude that the theory is Eclectic Paradigm in an appropriate tool for analyzing the internationalization process of the pulp and paper industries.Este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar el proceso de internacionalización de la pulpa y el papel de Brasil. Este análisis tiene un sesgo económico, basándose en el modelo de internacionalización de Paradigma Ecléctico de Dunning (1980) con el fin de identificar las estrategias de internacionalización, así como los factores clave que han permitido llegar a nuevos mercados. Adoptamos una metodología cualitativa, desarrollada a través de un estudio de caso en la empresa Suzano, una empresa brasileña, líder mundial en la industria de la pulpa y el papel, con una fuerte presencia en el mercado internacional. Los datos se obtuvieron a partir de búsquedas bibliográficas, estadísticas, comunicados de prensa y documentos oficiales de la compañía. Para el tratamiento de estas se utilizó para técnicas de coincidencia de patrones, lo que permitió contraste con la teoría seleccionada. Los resultados revelaron que Suzano diferenciados adoptó directrices para la comercialización de papel y pulpa. El documento está destinado principalmente para el mercado interno, mientras que la mayor parte de la pulpa producida se destina al comercio internacional. La compañía fue internacional por haber, según el Paradigma Ecléctico, las ventajas de la propiedad y la internalización de sus competidores. Las estrategias utilizadas consiste en la búsqueda de mercados (market seeking), la eficiencia de búsqueda (búsqueda de eficiencia) y la búsqueda de activos estratégicos (activo estratégico que busque). Llegamos a la conclusión de que la teoría es Paradigma Ecléctico en una herramienta adecuada para analizar el proceso de internacionalización de las industrias de la celulosa y el papel

Killer-like receptors and GPR56 progressive expression defines cytokine production of human CD4+ memory T cells

All memory T cells mount an accelerated response on antigen reencounter, but significant functional heterogeneity is present within the respective memory T-cell subsets as defined by CCR7 and CD45RA expression, thereby warranting further stratification. Here we show that several surface markers, including KLRB1, KLRG1, GPR56, and KLRF1, help define low, high, or exhausted cytokine producers within human peripheral and intrahepatic CD4+ memory T-cell populations. Highest simultaneous production of TNF and IFN-γ is observed in KLRB1+KLRG1+GPR56+ CD4 T cells. By contrast, KLRF1 expression is associated with T-cell exhaustion and reduced TNF/IFN-γ production. Lastly, TCRβ repertoire analysis and in vitro differentiation support a regulated, progressive expression for these markers during CD4+ memory T-cell differentiation. Our results thus help refine the classification of human memory T cells to provide insights on inflammatory disease progression and immunotherapy development

Siglec-6 is a novel target for CAR T-cell therapy in acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an attractive entity for the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy because AML blasts are susceptible to T-cell–mediated elimination. Here, we introduce sialic acid–binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 6 (Siglec-6) as a novel target for CAR T cells in AML. We designed a Siglec-6–specific CAR with a targeting domain derived from the human monoclonal antibody JML-1. We found that Siglec-6 is commonly expressed on AML cell lines and primary AML blasts, including the subpopulation of AML stem cells. Treatment with Siglec-6 CAR T cells confers specific antileukemia reactivity that correlates with Siglec-6 expression in preclinical models, including induction of complete remission in a xenograft AML model in immunodeficient mice (NSG/U937). In addition, we confirmed Siglec-6 expression on transformed B cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and specific anti-CLL reactivity of Siglec-6 CAR T cells in vitro. Of particular interest, we found that Siglec-6 is not detectable on normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and that treatment with Siglec-6 CAR T cells does not affect their viability and lineage differentiation in colony-formation assays. These data suggest that Siglec-6 CAR T-cell therapy may be used to effectively treat AML without the need for subsequent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In mature normal hematopoietic cells, we detected Siglec-6 in a proportion of memory (and naïve) B cells and basophilic granulocytes, suggesting the potential for limited on-target/off-tumor reactivity. The lack of expression of Siglec-6 on normal HSPCs is a key to differentiating it from other Siglec family members (eg, Siglec-3 [CD33]) and other CAR target antigens (eg, CD123) that are under investigation in AML, and it warrants the clinical investigation of Siglec-6 CAR T-cell therapy