Improving Election Administration with Vote Centers: Toward a National Model

Paper prepared for delivery at the Western Political Science Association annual meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada, March 19, 2009This paper was produced as a product of the Making Voting Work: Assessment and Evaluation of Indiana Voting Centers project. This project was funded by the Make Voting Work Project of the Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C. The Indiana project was directed by Dr. Ray Scheele and focused on the three Indiana counties (Cass, Tippecanoe and Wayne) that initiated Vote Centers in 2007 and 2008 to replace traditional precinct polling places. The final report was submitted to Pew Charitable Trusts in December 2009 and the data are being analyzed for academic conference papers

Biosynthesis of Mitochondrial Porin and Insertion into the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane of Neuruspora crassa

Mitochondrial porin, the major protein of the outer mitochondrial membrane is synthesized by free cytoplasmic polysomes. The apparent molecular weight of the porin synthesized in homologous or heterologous cell-free systems is the same as that of the mature porin. Transfer in vitro of mitochondrial porin from the cytosolic fraction into the outer membrane of mitochondria could be demonstrated. Before membrane insertion, mitochondrial porin is highly sensitive to added proteinase; afterwards it is strongly protected. Binding of the precursor form to mitochondria occurs at 4°C and appears to precede insertion into the membrane. Unlike transfer of many precursor proteins into or across the inner mitochondrial membrane, assembly of the porin is not dependent on an electrical potential across the inner membrane

A randomized two arm phase III study in patients post radical resection of liver metastases of colorectal cancer to investigate bevacizumab in combination with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) vs CAPOX alone as adjuvant treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>About 50% of patients with colorectal cancer are destined to develop hepatic metastases. Radical resection is the most effective treatment for patients with colorectal liver metastases offering five year survival rates between 36-60%. Unfortunately only 20% of patients are resectable at time of presentation. Radiofrequency ablation is an alternative treatment option for irresectable colorectal liver metastases with reported 5 year survival rates of 18-30%. Most patients will develop local or distant recurrences after surgery, possibly due to the outgrowth of micrometastases present at the time of liver surgery. This study aims to achieve an improved disease free survival for patients after resection or resection combined with RFA of colorectal liver metastases by adding the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab to an adjuvant regimen of CAPOX.</p> <p>Methods/design</p> <p>The Hepatica study is a two-arm, multicenter, randomized, comparative efficacy and safety study. Patients are assessed no more than 8 weeks before surgery with CEA measurement and CT scanning of the chest and abdomen. Patients will be randomized after resection or resection combined with RFA to receive CAPOX and Bevacizumab or CAPOX alone. Adjuvant treatment will be initiated between 4 and 8 weeks after metastasectomy or resection in combination with RFA. In both arms patients will be assessed for recurrence/new occurrence of colorectal cancer by chest CT, abdominal CT and CEA measurement. Patients will be assessed after surgery but before randomization, thereafter every three months after surgery in the first two years and every 6 months until 5 years after surgery. In case of a confirmed recurrence/appearance of new colorectal cancer, patients can be treated with surgery or any subsequent line of chemotherapy and will be followed for survival until the end of study follow up period as well. The primary endpoint is disease free survival. Secondary endpoints are overall survival, safety and quality of life.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The HEPATICA study is designed to demonstrate a disease free survival benefit by adding bevacizumab to an adjuvant regime of CAPOX in patients with colorectal liver metastases undergoing a radical resection or resection in combination with RFA.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00394992</p

Quality specifications in postgraduate medical e-learning: an integrative literature review leading to a postgraduate medical e-learning model

BACKGROUND: E-learning is driving major shifts in medical education. Prioritizing learning theories and quality models improves the success of e-learning programs. Although many e-learning quality standards are available, few are focused on postgraduate medical education. METHODS: We conducted an integrative review of the current postgraduate medical e-learning literature to identify quality specifications. The literature was thematically organized into a working model. RESULTS: Unique quality specifications (n = 72) were consolidated and re-organized into a six-domain model that we called the Postgraduate Medical E-learning Model (Postgraduate ME Model). This model was partially based on the ISO-19796 standard, and drew on cognitive load multimedia principles. The domains of the model are preparation, software design and system specifications, communication, content, assessment, and maintenance. CONCLUSION: This review clarified the current state of postgraduate medical e-learning standards and specifications. It also synthesized these specifications into a single working model. To validate our findings, the next-steps include testing the Postgraduate ME Model in controlled e-learning settings

The Impact of Vote Centers on Early Voting in Indiana

Paper prepared for delivery at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association, April 1, 2010, San Francisco, CAThis paper was produced as a product of the Making Voting Work: Assessment and Evaluation of Indiana Voting Centers project. This project was funded by the Make Voting Work Project of the Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C. The Indiana project was directed by Dr. Ray Scheele and focused on the three Indiana counties (Cass, Tippecanoe and Wayne) that initiated Vote Centers in 2007 and 2008 to replace traditional precinct polling places. The final report was submitted to Pew Charitable Trusts in December 2009 and the data are being analyzed for academic conference papers

Ancient, but not recent, population declines have had a genetic impact on alpine yellow-bellied toad populations, suggesting potential for complete recovery

Reduction in population size and local extinctions have been reported for the yellow-bellied toad, Bombina variegata, but the genetic impact of this is not yet known. In this study, we genotyped 200 individuals, using mtDNA cytochrome b and 11 nuclear microsatellites. We investigated fine-scale population structure and tested for genetic signatures of historical and recent population decline, using several statistical approaches, including likelihood methods and approximate Bayesian computation. Five major genetically divergent groups were found, largely corresponding to geography but with a clear exception of high genetic isolation in a highly touristic area. The effective sizes in the last few generations, as estimated from the random association among markers, never exceeded a few dozen of individuals. Our most important result is that several analyses converge in suggesting that genetic variation was shaped in all groups by a 7- to 45-fold demographic decline, which occurred between a few hundred and a few 1000 years ago. Remarkably, only weak evidence supports recent genetic impact related to human activities. We believe that the alpine B. variegata populations should be monitored and protected to stop their recent decline and to prevent local extinctions, with highest priority given to genetically isolated populations. Nonetheless, current genetic variation pattern, being mostly shaped in earlier times, suggests that complete recovery can be achieved. In general, our study is an example of how the potential for recovery should be inferred even under the co-occurrence of population decline, low genetic variation, and genetic bottleneck signals