Friendship Village : Exploring the Critical Economic Development and Urban Design Link for Sustainable Development

Presented on December 3, 2008 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development 2nd floor classroom.Full report: Friendship Village Exploring the Critical Economic Development and Urban Design Link for Sustainable Development, January 2009Runtime: 77:11 minutes (Presentation)Runtime: 23:27 minutes (Q & A)The Friendship Village group had the charge of advising a large-scale land developer on directions for promoting sustainability in the plans for a 210 acre multi-use project in south Fulton County, Georgia. Their work included site design recommendations modeled after traditional town centers in ten case studies but also included innovative open space and stormwater management proposals and ideas about educational and health care facilities. The diverse professional audience expressed admiration and the developer’s lead representative indicated that results exceeded her expectations.Faculty Advisors: Nancey Green Leigh, Professor of City and Regional Planning ; Richard Dagenhart, Associate Professor of Architecture ; John Skach, Adjunct Professor; Senior Associate, Urban Collag

CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES AND Y CHROMOSOME MICRODELETIONS IN BULGARIAN MALE WITH AZOOSPERMIA OR SEVERE OLIGOSPERMIA

Male infertility is a complex disease, and genetic abnormalities are among the main causal factors for the disorder. Aim: In order to evaluate the proportion of the most common genetic factors in etiology of male infertility, examination for chromosomal abnormalities and microdeletions of Yq chromosome (delYq) was carried out in Bulgarian males with severe infertility. Materials and methods: The study was retrospective and involved a total of 142 infertile Bulgarian males (63 patients with azoospermia and 79 patients with severe oligozoospermia /sperm count < 5×106/ml), referred (2007-2016) for genetic testing, after preliminary examinations to exclude some more frequent causes for male infertility. Cytogenetic analysis by GTG-banding was carried out in 137 men, and molecular testing for AZF region microdeletions of Y chromosome by multiplex PCR was carried out in 109 men. Results: Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 16.8% of all investigated infertile men and the frequencies in patient subgroups with azoospermia and oligozoospermia were 20.7% (12/58) and 13.9% (11/79) respectively. The established frequency of delYq was 5.5% (6/109) in the overall group of infertile male and higher - 9.5% (6/63) in a subgroup of patients with azoospermia.The overall proportion of the two genetic factors was 30.2% in patients with azoospermia and 14% in men with oligozoospermia. In conclusion, chromosomal abnormalities and delYq account for about 22% of cases with severe infertility in Bulgarian men. Genetic testing should be a routine part of examinations in infertile males and along with genetic counseling; they provide an opportunity for the best choice of an appropriate technique for assisted reproduction of the couples

Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists differ in chemical structure, duration of action, and in their effects on clinical outcomes. The cardiovascular effects of once-weekly albiglutide in type 2 diabetes are unknown. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of albiglutide in preventing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Methods: We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 610 sites across 28 countries. We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years and older with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (at a 1:1 ratio) to groups that either received a subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg, based on glycaemic response and tolerability) or of a matched volume of placebo once a week, in addition to their standard care. Investigators used an interactive voice or web response system to obtain treatment assignment, and patients and all study investigators were masked to their treatment allocation. We hypothesised that albiglutide would be non-inferior to placebo for the primary outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. If non-inferiority was confirmed by an upper limit of the 95% CI for a hazard ratio of less than 1·30, closed testing for superiority was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02465515. Findings: Patients were screened between July 1, 2015, and Nov 24, 2016. 10 793 patients were screened and 9463 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to groups: 4731 patients were assigned to receive albiglutide and 4732 patients to receive placebo. On Nov 8, 2017, it was determined that 611 primary endpoints and a median follow-up of at least 1·5 years had accrued, and participants returned for a final visit and discontinuation from study treatment; the last patient visit was on March 12, 2018. These 9463 patients, the intention-to-treat population, were evaluated for a median duration of 1·6 years and were assessed for the primary outcome. The primary composite outcome occurred in 338 (7%) of 4731 patients at an incidence rate of 4·6 events per 100 person-years in the albiglutide group and in 428 (9%) of 4732 patients at an incidence rate of 5·9 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·78, 95% CI 0·68–0·90), which indicated that albiglutide was superior to placebo (p&lt;0·0001 for non-inferiority; p=0·0006 for superiority). The incidence of acute pancreatitis (ten patients in the albiglutide group and seven patients in the placebo group), pancreatic cancer (six patients in the albiglutide group and five patients in the placebo group), medullary thyroid carcinoma (zero patients in both groups), and other serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups. There were three (&lt;1%) deaths in the placebo group that were assessed by investigators, who were masked to study drug assignment, to be treatment-related and two (&lt;1%) deaths in the albiglutide group. Interpretation: In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline

Изследване магнетизма на археологически структури. Практически указания при работа на терен: Study of the magnetism of archaeological structures. Fieldwork practical guidance

The application of archaeomagnetic method as a dating tool in archaeology has intensified considerably in the last few years. The successful use of archaeomagnetic methodology depends on different factors and many efforts have been made for their clarification. Sampling is the first stage of each archaeomagnetic study. The careful selection and accurate orientation of the collected materials in the field are crucial for the obtained archaeomagnetic results. That is why detailed description of the fieldwork techniques used in Palaeomagnetic laboratory in Sofia is given and the advantages and disadvantages of the different baked clay types of materials are summarized

Mast Cells in Autism Spectrum Disorder—The Enigma to Be Solved?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disturbance of neurodevelopment with a complicated pathogenesis and unidentified etiology. Many children with ASD have a history of “allergic symptoms”, often in the absence of mast cell (MC)-positive tests. Activation of MCs by various stimuli may release molecules related to inflammation and neurotoxicity, contributing to the development of ASD. The aim of the present paper is to enrich the current knowledge on the relationship between MCs and ASD by discussing key molecules and immune pathways associated with MCs in the pathogenesis of autism. Cytokines, essential marker molecules for MC degranulation and therapeutic targets, are also highlighted. Understanding the relationship between ASD and the activation of MCs, as well as the involved molecules and interactions, are the main points contributing to solving the enigma. Key molecules, associated with MCs, may provide new insights to the discovery of drug targets for modeling inflammation in ASD

Early Neolithic settlement Yabalkovo (Maritsa valley, Bulgaria) in the context of archaeomagnetic studies: Раннонеолитното селище Ябълково (долината на Марица) в контекста на археомагнитно проучване

Five fired clay structures from the Northeast sector of the Early Neolithic settlement of Yabalkovo in the Maritsa valley, Bulgaria were a subject of an archaeomagnetic investigation. The results of the detailed rock-magnetic experiments carried out show that the collected materials are suitable for archaeomagnetic study and reliable determinations for past geomagnetic field elements can be obtained. According to the mean values calculated for the ancient geomagnetic field direction and intensity, two different periods of time can be undoubtedly distinguished for the investigated structures. This coincides exactly with the two chronological horizons suggested by the excavators. The archaeological observations point that the oven in sq. K36, the hearth in sq. F16 and the hearth in sq. H31 are related to Horizon II, while the hearths in sq. I31 and sq. F18 are connected with Horizon I.Based on the Bulgarian reference curves (latest version), the following archaeomagnetic dating intervals are received: Yabalkovo – Horizon II – (5685–5489 BC) and Yabalkovo – Horizon I – (5472–5427 BC). These results agree well with the archaeological data that structures from Horizon II are older than structures from Horizon I. The existing 14C dates (for materials taken mainly from the Southwest sector of the settlement) show considerably older dating intervals but they are not able to differentiate chronologically the different structures. The obtained archaeomagnetic determinations for Yabalkovo are compared with these available for other archaeomagnetically studied Early Neolithic sites from Bulgaria and Northern Greece. This comparison indicates that Horizon II of Yabalkovo can be synchronised with the younger layers of Kovatchevo (Karanovo I), Stara Zagora (Karanovo II) and Dobriniste. Horizon I of Yabalkovo is chronologically comparable with Horizons VII+VIII of Samovodene and Avgi (Nortern Greece)