Town Center Vision

In December 2010, City Council passed Resolution 2261 which directed the City’s Committee for Citizen Involvement (CCI) to prepare a more formal action plan for smart growth and sustainability. Emerald Solutions, a team of Portland State Master’s students, was tasked with furthering these efforts by completing a Sustainability and Smart Growth Pilot Plan for the Town Center Pilot Area (TCPA). The plan works to develop a complete concept, structure, and community outreach process that will guide the City in the creation of a broader, citywide plan. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sumner Sharpe and Ellen Bassett

A review of therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cell secretions and induction of secretory modification by different culture methods

The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) is being broadly studied in clinical trials. Contrary to the early paradigm of cell replacement and differentiation as a therapeutic mechanism of action, evidence is mounting that the secretions of the cells are responsible for their therapeutic effects. These secretions include molecules and extracellular vesicles that have both local and distant effects. This review summarizes the up- and down-regulation of MSC anti-inflammatory, immune modulating, anti-tumor, and regenerative secretions resulting from different stimuli including: a) hypoxia, which increases the production of growth factors and anti-inflammatory molecules; b) pro-inflammatory stimuli that induce the secretion of immune modulating and anti-inflammatory factors; and c) 3 dimensional growth which up regulates the production of anti-cancer factors and anti-inflammatory molecules compared to monolayer culture. Finally we review in detail the most important factors present in conditioned medium of MSC that can be considered protagonists of MSC physiological effects including HGF, TGF-b, VEGF, TSG-6, PGE2 and galectins 1, and 9. We conclude that there is potential for the development of acellular therapeutic interventions for autoimmune, inflammatory, and malignant diseases and tissue regeneration from cellular secretions derived from MSCs cultured under the appropriate conditions.The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) is being broadly studied in clinical trials. Contrary to the early paradigm of cell replacement and differentiation as a therapeutic mechanism of action, evidence is mounting that the secretions of the cells are responsible for their therapeutic effects. These secretions include molecules and extracellular vesicles that have both local and distant effects. This review summarizes the up- and down-regulation of MSC anti-inflammatory, immune modulating, anti-tumor, and regenerative secretions resulting from different stimuli including: a) hypoxia, which increases the production of growth factors and anti-inflammatory molecules; b) pro-inflammatory stimuli that induce the secretion of immune modulating and anti-inflammatory factors; and c) 3 dimensional growth which up regulates the production of anti-cancer factors and anti-inflammatory molecules compared to monolayer culture. Finally we review in detail the most important factors present in conditioned medium of MSC that can be considered protagonists of MSC physiological effects including HGF, TGF-b, VEGF, TSG-6, PGE2 and galectins 1, and 9. We conclude that there is potential for the development of acellular therapeutic interventions for autoimmune, inflammatory, and malignant diseases and tissue regeneration from cellular secretions derived from MSCs cultured under the appropriate conditions

The King is Dead, Long Live the King: Entering A New Era of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Development

In mid November the biopharma industry was shocked by the announcement from Geron that they were ending work on embryonic stem cell research and therapy. For more than 10 years the public image of all stem cell research has been equated with embryonic stem cells. Unfortunately, a fundamentally important medical and financial fact was being ignored: embryonic stem cell therapy is extremely immature. In parallel to efforts in embryonic stem cell research and development, scientists and physicians in the field of adult stem cells realized that the natural role of adult stem cells in the body is to promote healing and to act like endogenous "repair cells" and, as a result, numerous companies have entered the field of adult stem cell therapy with the goal of expanding numbers of adult stem cells for administration to patients with various conditions. In contrast to embryonic stem cells, which are extremely expensive and potentially dangerous, adult cell cells are inexpensive and have an excellent safety record when used in humans. Many studies are now showing that adult stem cells are practical, patient-applicable, therapeutics that are very close to being available for incorporation into the practice of medicine. These events signal the entrance of the field of stem cells into a new era: an era where hype and misinformation no longer triumph over economic and medical realities

Development of a drainage and flood control management program for urbanizing communities. Part I

Submitted to Office of Water Research and Technology, U.S. Dept. of Interior.Bibliography: pages [29]-41.September 1978.Urbanization causes an alteration of the stormwater runoff response of the urbanizing watershed which, in turn, increases stormwater damages downstream. Few communities have successfully implemented programs for managing these development induced drainage impacts due in part to the uncertainties associated with any drainage management program. Which rainfall-runoff model should be used, how sensitive is project analysis to poor discharge prediction, how should project cost be allocated, and so on. The objective of this research is to clarify these uncertainties and develop a readily implementable drainage and flood control management program for the mitigation of development-induced drainage impacts. These objectives are realized through a detailed examination of and recommendation on the three major elements of a drainage management program: the Technical element which establishes the method of flood hydrology calculation, the Financial element which establishes the methods for drainage and flood control cost calculation and cost allocation, and the Regulatory element which establishes the enforcement mechanism of the drainage management program. The recommended Technical element is based on the sensitivity of project analysis to poor runoff prediction, and on the predictive capability of various rainfall-runoff models. This predictive capability was evaluated for some of the more popular rainfall-runoff models through a statistical analysis of published results from those models. The recommended Financial element is based on a thorough review of the legal issues regarding: 1) municipal and developer liability with respect to development-induced drainage impacts, 2) project cost calculation, and 3) project cost apportionment. A new approach for apportioning drainage and flood control facility costs between developers and the municipal government is presented. The approach utilizes existing engineering analysis techniques to divide project costs in proportion to the reduced liability attributable to the developers and to the municipal government. Two Regulatory elements are proposed for the drainage management program. The changes to existing legislation that are necessary to enforce the drainage management program under the proposed regulatory component are discussed and sample legislation is included for each. The report is divided into two parts. Part II is the complete project report with detailed discussions of the methods and data used, and of the research findings. Part I is written as a user publication. It summarizes the research methods and results, and discusses the recommended drainage management program.OWRT Project no. B-161-COLO; supported in part by funds provided by the United States Department of the Interior, Office of Water Research and Technology, as authorized by the Water Resources Research Act of 1964, and pursuant to Grant Agreement No.(s) 14-34-0001-7112; and in part by funds provided by the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, Denver, Colorado; and in part by the City of Lakewood, Colorado

Cord blood in regenerative medicine: do we need immune suppression?

Cord blood is currently used as an alternative to bone marrow as a source of stem cells for hematopoietic reconstitution after ablation. It is also under intense preclinical investigation for a variety of indications ranging from stroke, to limb ischemia, to myocardial regeneration. A major drawback in the current use of cord blood is that substantial morbidity and mortality are associated with pre-transplant ablation of the recipient hematopoietic system. Here we raise the possibility that due to unique immunological properties of both the stem cell and non-stem cell components of cord blood, it may be possible to utilize allogeneic cells for regenerative applications without needing to fully compromise the recipient immune system. Issues raised will include: graft versus host potential, the immunogeneicity of the cord blood graft, and the parallels between cord blood transplantation and fetal to maternal trafficking. The previous use of unmatched cord blood in absence of any immune ablation, as well as potential steps for widespread clinical implementation of allogeneic cord blood grafts will also be discussed

Therapeutic use of Aldara™ in chronic myeloid leukemia

The potent clinical responses seen in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) after administration of donor-specific lymphocytes, as well as the correlation between the presence of antigen specific T cells and prolonged remission in these patients, suggests a role for the immunological control of CML. Here we propose Aldara™, a clinically used formulation of imiquimod, as an agent for augmenting immune responses to CML antigens. Our proposition is based upon 3 tenets: 1) Endogenous dendritic cells (DC) of CML patients, which are known to be derived from the malignant clone, express and present various leukemic antigens; 2) CML-antigen reactive T cell clones exist in the patient but in many situations are ineffectively stimulated to cause significant hematological responses; and 3) Antigen presentation by mature, activated DC, which endogenously express CML-antigens may endow the pre-existing ineffective T cell responses with ability to control CML progression. The practical use of Aldara™ as a localized activator of DC in the context of present day leukemic therapeutics, as well as various properties of this unique immune modulator will be discussed

Brucellosis in Montana Elk: Factors that Influence Disease Prevalence and the Social And Political Influences and Issues Associated with Managing a Disease of Concern for Livestock in a Free-Ranging Elk Population

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that affects elk (Cervus elaphus), bison (Bison bison) and domestic cattle. Transmitted primarily through contact with birth tissues, the disease is a significant livestock disease resulting in significant costs to producers and is a USDA eradication program disease. Brucellosis was first documented in wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) in the early 1900s and was brought into the region by livestock producers. The disease has since been eradicated in livestock, but persists in elk and bison populations of the GYA. Recently the seroprevalence of brucellosis in free-ranging elk populations of Montana has increased and its range has likely expanded resulting in increased pressure on Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) to manage the disease in elk. We evaluated factors that potentially influence elk aggregation behaviors and the consequences of these factors on seroprevalence. We used a Bayesian spatial model to estimate seroprevalence across the designated surveillance area. This research approach allowed seroprevalence to be estimated for the first time in areas with limited surveillance data. The socio-political influences associated with managing wildlife potentially infected with a disease that threatens the cattle industry of Montana, the available tools for managing the disease in elk, and MFWP’s current strategy for managing brucellosis in one of Montana greatest public trusts is discussed

A review of therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cell secretions and induction of secretory modification by different culture methods

The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) is being broadly studied in clinical trials. Contrary to the early paradigm of cell replacement and differentiation as a therapeutic mechanism of action, evidence is mounting that the secretions of the cells are responsible for their therapeutic effects. These secretions include molecules and extracellular vesicles that have both local and distant effects. This review summarizes the up- and down-regulation of MSC anti-inflammatory, immune modulating, anti-tumor, and regenerative secretions resulting from different stimuli including: a) hypoxia, which increases the production of growth factors and anti-inflammatory molecules; b) pro-inflammatory stimuli that induce the secretion of immune modulating and anti-inflammatory factors; and c) 3 dimensional growth which up regulates the production of anti-cancer factors and anti-inflammatory molecules compared to monolayer culture. Finally we review in detail the most important factors present in conditioned medium of MSC that can be considered protagonists of MSC physiological effects including HGF, TGF-b, VEGF, TSG-6, PGE2 and galectins 1, and 9. We conclude that there is potential for the development of acellular therapeutic interventions for autoimmune, inflammatory, and malignant diseases and tissue regeneration from cellular secretions derived from MSCs cultured under the appropriate conditions.The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) is being broadly studied in clinical trials. Contrary to the early paradigm of cell replacement and differentiation as a therapeutic mechanism of action, evidence is mounting that the secretions of the cells are responsible for their therapeutic effects. These secretions include molecules and extracellular vesicles that have both local and distant effects. This review summarizes the up- and down-regulation of MSC anti-inflammatory, immune modulating, anti-tumor, and regenerative secretions resulting from different stimuli including: a) hypoxia, which increases the production of growth factors and anti-inflammatory molecules; b) pro-inflammatory stimuli that induce the secretion of immune modulating and anti-inflammatory factors; and c) 3 dimensional growth which up regulates the production of anti-cancer factors and anti-inflammatory molecules compared to monolayer culture. Finally we review in detail the most important factors present in conditioned medium of MSC that can be considered protagonists of MSC physiological effects including HGF, TGF-b, VEGF, TSG-6, PGE2 and galectins 1, and 9. We conclude that there is potential for the development of acellular therapeutic interventions for autoimmune, inflammatory, and malignant diseases and tissue regeneration from cellular secretions derived from MSCs cultured under the appropriate conditions