William Ackerman

Socioeconomic Correlates of Increasing Crime Rates in Smaller Communities

This research analyzes changes in crime rates by city size and determines the extent to which these changes can be explained by socioeconomic variables. More particularly it addresses rates of change in mean crime rates for violent and property crime between 1976–1984 and 1985–1994 for all U. S. cities, then compares results to Ohio cities. It provides a detailed analysis of changing crime rates in 111 Ohio cities with populations between 10,000 and 99,999 inhabitants and attempts to account for crime differentials between these cities employing linear regression and factor analysis. Results indicate that crime is significantly related to poverty and its associated conditions and processes.

GROWTH CONTROL VERSUS THE GROWTH MACHINE IN REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA: CONFLICT IN URBAN LAND USE

In the United States, we have failed to control urban sprawl. Ultimately the pattern of urban growth is dictated by a complex interaction of place-specific factors in individual communities. These factors include geography, history, lifestyle, politics, and economics. This paper documents the conflict between development and slow-growth interests in the San Bernardino-Redlands area of southern California. Research presented focuses on the history and viability of agriculture, the origin of and forces behind the slow-growth movement, and the economic and social impact of growth-limiting policies. The conflict between developers and slow-growth proponents in Redlands demonstrates the inability of current land-use planning to deal effectively with a number of serious problems, including urban sprawl, the protection of valuable agricultural resources, and the provision of adequate and reasonably priced housing.

The spread of crime to smaller Ohio cities and the spatial distribution of crime in Lima, Ohio

While a substantial body of research exists on crime in large cities, very little is known about the spread of crime to smaller cities or the morphology of crime within small cities. Research on this topic is relevant because currently, in the United States, small cities, those with less than 100,000 population, are experiencing the most rapid increases in crime, especially violent crime (Gordon, Green, Steelman, & Walker, 1992; FBI Uniform Crime Reports 1976–1993; and U.S. News, Jan. 17, 1994). Using data for selected Ohio cities and employing a case study of Lima, this paper addresses 1) the increase of crime in smaller cities in Ohio and the correlation between city size and crime, 2) the association measured by regression analysis between crime rates and socioeconomic factors found in previous research to be criminogenic in large cities, and 3) the location of violent and property crime in Lima, a small city of 45,459, and the relationship between high crime rates and socioeconomic characteristics of ...

Evidence for participation of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin/matrix metalloproteinase-9 (NGAL•MMP-9) complex in the inflammatory response to infection in pregnancies complicated by preterm birth.

Neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) is expressed in neutrophils and involved in innate immunity by sequestering iron. NGALs ability to complex with matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) and extend its gelatinolytic activity led us to investigate its role in pregnancies complicated by preterm birth (PTB) and intra‐amniotic infection/inflammation (IAI).

Abstract 2347: RNAi-mediated diminution of myoferlin reduces invasiveness of breast cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Introduction: Ferlins are an evolutionarily conserved family of proteins that play a variety of roles associated with plasma membrane dynamics in eukaryotes, including membrane repair and endocytosis. Myoferlin (MYOF) is a mammalian ferlin protein with homology to ancestral Fer-1, a C. elegans protein that regulates Ca2+-dependent spermatic membrane fusion, a key mechanism underlying the amoeboid-like movements of C. elegans sperm. Consequently, mutations in fer-1 lead to immotile C. elegans sperm and infertility. This immotility phenotype in C. elegans spermatids is of interest since metastatic cancer cells are often associated with an amoeboid appearance as they invade surrounding tissues and blood and lymphatic vessels. Given this, we hypothesized that MYOF plays a role in cancer cell biology by contributing to the stability of the plasma membrane during proliferation, migration and/or invasion. Methods and Results: We first demonstrated the expression of MYOF protein and mRNA in the malignant, invasive breast cell line MDA-MB-231 using immunoblotting and real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods, respectively. Using lentiviral-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) gene silencing technology, we then generated stable MYOF-deficient MDA-MB-231 (231) cells and confirmed MYOF reduction with immunoblotting. RNAi control cells were generated in tandem with a non-human gene targeting construct. Interestingly, when MYOF-deficient 231 cells were grown in culture, a reversion from a mesenchymal to a more epithelial morphology was observed, and sustained through subsequent passages. This suggests that MYOF may be critical for one or more events during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Using a commercial colorimetric assay for the quantification of viable cells, we did not detect any significant effect of MYOF deficiency on the proliferation of the 231 cells. Using the Boyden Chamber assay, MYOF-deficient 231 cells show a reduced invasive capacity through Matrigel compared to RNAi control cells, while no difference was observed for the migration capability of MYOF-deficient 231 cells. The invasive potential of 231 cells was further evaluated with a real-time invasion assay (xCELLigence, Roche Applied Science) that also showed a reduction in the invasive potential of the MYOF-deficient cells. These results suggest that MYOF may be important for cancer cell invasion. PCR array screening of extracellular matrix related genes (SABiosciences) in MYOF-deficient and RNAi control 231 cells indicates that matrix metalloproteinase levels may be affected by MYOF-diminution, and thereby contribute to the mechanism behind the altered invasion of MYOF-deficient cells. Conclusion: Myoferlin may play a role in cancer progression by promoting cellular invasion, and therefore be a potentially important prospective target for cancer therapy and a marker for prognosis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2347. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2347

PANC-1 Migration and Cluster Formation is Regulated by Short Range Mechanical Forces

Islet cell transplantation has already shown improved control of glucose levels and the potential to achieve insulin independence in type 1 diabetes mellitus, however there is a shortage of organ donors needed to match patient needs [1–2]. In the search for alternative sources of islets, many cell types have shown signs of β-cell differentiation by secreting c-peptide, insulin, and glucagon [3–5]. When maintained in serum-free medium, human epithelial-like pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PANC-1) cells and human-islet derived precursor cells (hIPCs) can go through a morphological transition and cluster [6]. These islet-like cell aggregates subsequently express glucagon, somatostatin, and insulin, indicating that clustering may play an important role in differentiation towards β-cells [7].Copyright