Search

The article presents short essays about faith, grace and experiencing God. One respondent tells about the power of prayer to bring inner peace. Another expresses gratitude to God for a sudden grace of connection and awareness. A third respondents attributes her peace of mind to the abandonment prayer of St. Charles de Foucauld as she struggles to bring in money while caring for her husband who is a stroke survivor.

In this Forum, four anthropologists have chosen an “ancestral” figure to give voice to. Anthropologists’ ancestors are generally teachers, mentors, or, less proximally, canonized scholars of prior generations. Anthropologists draw on their ancestors for theoretical wisdom and practical guidance. Yet ancestors are not always shared broadly across our discipline, and they can easily fall into oblivion. Giving voice to them, publicly, allows each contributor to comment on an important scholar and invites readers to renew their acquaintance with disciplinary ghosts who still have much to teach us.

Cell lines are often regarded as clonal, even though this simplifies what is known about mutagenesis, transformation and other processes that destabilize them over time. Monitoring these clonal dynamics is important for multiple areas of biomedical research, including stem cell and cancer biology. Tracking the contributions of individual cells to large populations, however, has been constrained by limitations in sensitivity and complexity. We utilize cellular barcoding methods to simultaneously track the clonal contributions of tens of thousands of cells. We demonstrate that even with optimal culturing conditions, common cell lines including HeLa, K562 and HEK-293 T exhibit ongoing clonal dynamics. Starting a population with a single clone diminishes but does not eradicate this phenomenon. Next, we compare lentiviral and zinc-finger nuclease barcode insertion approaches, finding that the zinc-finger nuclease protocol surprisingly results in reduced clonal diversity. We also document the expected reduction in clonal complexity when cells are challenged with genotoxic stress. Finally, we demonstrate that xenografts maintain clonal diversity to a greater extent than in vitroculturing of the human non-small-cell lung cancer cell line HCC827. We demonstrate the feasibility of tracking and quantifying the clonal dynamics of entire cell populations within multiple cultured cell lines. Our results suggest that cell heterogeneity should be considered in the design and interpretation of in vitroculture experiments. Aside from clonal cell lines, we propose that cellular barcoding could prove valuable in modeling the clonal behavior of heterogeneous cell populations over time, including tumor populations treated with chemotherapeutic agents.

Abstract: Background: The long-term oncologic outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy compared with that of open radical nephrectomy remains unclear. A few case series with follow-up periods longer than 5 years are reported in the literature. The existing literature is focused primarily on early and intermediate outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. This study aimed to assess the outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for localized disease compared with open surgery. Methods: The search strategy was designed to identify observational and experimental studies conducted in any country that investigated the long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy compared with open surgical resection, published in any language. We searched the MEDLINE (1996 to May 2010), EMBASE (1996 to May 2010), and Cochrane databases using the OVID interrogation software. The study included 77 men from the Dundee cohort referred for clinically localized renal cell carcinoma who underwent open or laparoscopic radical nephrectomy between January 1998 and 2004, with at least 5 years of follow-up evaluation for each. These men were included in a metaanalysis of observational studies reporting on 438 patients with a mean or median follow-up period of 5 years. The data was analyzed using Minitab statistical software and Cochrane RevMan 5.4 using the random model. Results: The five studies (including the Dundee cohort) investigating the effects of the laparoscopic approach on renal cancer management showed no significant differences in 5 years survival between laparoscopic and open surgical approaches for the resection of kidney cancer. The resulting pooled odds ratio (OR) did not differ markedly between the two groups (pooled OR, 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48–1.39). Similar to overall survival, the laparoscopic and open surgical approaches for renal cancer surgery did not differ significantly (Figs. 4, 5). The pooled ORs for the two outcomes were 0.76 (955 CI, 0.36–1.56) for laparoscopic surgery and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.32–1.69) for open surgery. The quality of the studies was poor. The reported designs of the studies were prone to selection, confounding, and reporting biases. Conclusions: The current retrospective data (observational studies) comparing long-term oncologic outcomes between laparoscopic and open radical nephrectomy did not demonstrate any significant differences during a follow-up period of 5 years.

Shear wave elastography is a new method of obtaining quantitative tissue elasticity data during breast ultrasound examinations. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the reproducibility of shear wave elastography (2) to correlate the elasticity values of a series of solid breast masses with histological findings and (3) to compare shear wave elastography with greyscale ultrasound for benign/malignant classification. Using the Aixplorer®ultrasound system (SuperSonic Imagine, Aix en Provence, France), 53 solid breast lesions were identified in 52 consecutive patients. Two orthogonal elastography images were obtained of each lesion. Observers noted the mean elasticity values in regions of interest (ROI) placed over the stiffest areas on the two elastography images and a mean value was calculated for each lesion. A sub-set of 15 patients had two elastography images obtained by an additional operator. Reproducibility of observations was assessed between (1) two observers analysing the same pair of images and (2) findings from two pairs of images of the same lesion taken by two different operators. All lesions were subjected to percutaneous biopsy. Elastography measurements were correlated with histology results. After preliminary experience with 10 patients a mean elasticity cut off value of 50 kilopascals (kPa) was selected for benign/malignant differentiation. Greyscale images were classified according to the American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). BI-RADS categories 1-3 were taken as benign while BI-RADS categories 4 and 5 were classified as malignant. Twenty-three benign lesions and 30 cancers were diagnosed on histology. Measurement of mean elasticity yielded an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99 for two observers assessing the same pairs of elastography images. Analysis of images taken by two independent operators gave an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.80. Shear wave elastography versus greyscale BI-RADS performance figures were sensitivity: 97% vs 87%, specificity: 83% vs 78%, positive predictive value (PPV): 88% vs 84%, negative predictive value (NPV): 95% vs 82% and accuracy: 91% vs 83% respectively. These differences were not statistically significant. Shear wave elastography gives quantitative and reproducible information on solid breast lesions with diagnostic accuracy at least as good as greyscale ultrasound with BI-RADS classification.

A robust p53 cell based assay that exploits p53's function as a transcription factor was used to screen a small molecule library and identify bioactive small molecules with potential antitumor activity. Unexpectedly, the majority of the highest ranking hit compounds from this screen arrest cells in mitosis and most of them impair polymerisation of tubulin in cells and in vitro. One of these novel compounds, JJ78:1, was subjected to structure-activity relationship studies and optimised leading to the identification of JJ78:12. This molecule is significantly more potent than the original hit JJ78:1, as it is active in cells at two-digit nanomolar concentrations and shows clear antitumor activity in a mouse xenograft model as a single agent. The effects of nocodazole, a well established tubulin poison, and JJ78:12 on p53 levels are remarkably similar, supporting that tubulin depolymerisation is the main mechanism by which JJ78:12 treatment leads to p53 activation in cells. In summary, these results identify JJ78:12 as a potential cancer therapeutic, demonstrate that screening for activators of p53 in a cell-based assay is an effective way to identify inhibitors of mitosis progression and highlights p53's sensitivity to alterations during mitosis.

Relates the experience of a tourist in Aleppo, Syria. Description of Aleppo; Bus ride to the Syrian-Turkish border; Accomodations at the Hotel Syria.

Abstract: This study evaluated impedance cardiography (ZCG) estimates of stroke volume (SV) during exercise. Seven subjects were studied at rest and during progressive cycle exercise in supine and upright positions. SV was determined by ZCG (SVzcg) during exercise and for the first 5 cardiac cycles following exercise. SVzcg was compared with separate measurements of SV by CO2 rebreathing (SVco2). Static blood resistivity (ρ) was measured at each level of exercise. No significant differences were found between supine exercise and immediate post-exercise values for the peak of the first derivative of the impedance change (dZ/dt max), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), or SVzcg. Small differences indZ/dt max and SVzcg, but not LVET, were found in exercise to post-exercise cycling in the upright position. Intra-individual SVzcg and SVco2 were moderately correlated (upright meanr=0.64, supiner=0.42) from rest to 70% of peak $$\dot Vo_2 $$ . Similar correlations were found between Pulse-O2 ( $$\dot Vo_2 $$ /heart rate, used as an index to SV) and both SVzcg (uprightr=0.73, supiner=0.57) and SVco2 (uprightr=0.8, supiner=0.65). The ZCG parametersdZ/dt max and LVET correlated better with Pulse-O2 (dZ/dt max: uprightr=0.92, supiner=0.73; LVET: uprightr=−0.9, supiner=−0.9). SVzcg calculated with the Kubicek equation performed as well as SVco2. ZCG might be a superior method if the inversely correlated parameters,dZ/dt max and LVET, were not expressed as a product to calculate SV.

Emerson, Naturalistic Photography for Students of the Art (1891)Hicks, Words and Pictures: Introduction to Photojournalism (1952)Bunnell, Nonsilver Printing Processes, $4.50Lee R. Baker, Making Movies: From Script to Screen (New York: Harcourt Brace Javanovich, 1973—price not known, paper)Johnny Minus and William Storm Hale's Your Introduction to Film-TV Copyright, Contracts and other Law (Seven Arts Press, 6655 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Ca. 90028 1973— $10.00 paper)Noel Burch Theory of Film Practice (New York: Praeger, 1973—$8.95)Hector Currie and Donald Staples' Film: Encounter (Dayton, Ohio: Pflaum/Standard, 1973—$9.95, paper)John G. Cawelti's Focus on Bonnie and Clyde (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1973—$5.95/2.45)David Bordwell, Filmguide to La Passion de Jeanne d'ArcWarren French, Filmguide to The Grapes of WrathCarolyn Geduld, Filmguide to 2001: A Space OdysseyJames Naremore, Filmguide to PsychoE. Rubenstein, Filmguide to The GeneralJay Leyda's Kino: A History of the Russian and Soviet Film (New York: Collier Books, 1973 reissue of 1960 original —$4.95, paper)

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam each conducted a Ricardian analysis of crop net revenue (NR) in their country. The countries defined seasons slightly differently depending on their monsoon and dry periods. They also sometimes included slightly different variables in their regressions. The countries are small so that the climate results are often insignificant. However, the Ricardian model does predict near term damage in Bangladesh in the CanESM climate scenario and near and far term damage in Thailand in the CMCC climate scenario.

The article discusses the author's view on the use of the English language as a form of expression, verbiage, or peculiar sense of humor. He wonders if failure to speak the English language is a sign of lesser intelligence. However, the author believes that the vernacular of the English language has been changed and incorporated in high-technology terms and phrases.

The article discusses the situation of the residents in Abu Dis after the Israelis constructed a concrete wall that was described as a security barrier. It notes how the residents who still had access to jobs and courses in the center of Jerusalem had to line up and their passports checked by an Israeli soldier. It cites the stoic resourcefulness of the Palestinians as they endure the hardships brought about by the wall such as the proposed regeneration projects by local authorities.

The article reports that Toyota's lean manufacturing model has inspired Eric Ries' book "Lean Startup," an entire movement in the U.S. and across the globe. Ries' book is aimed at companies facing uncertainty', needing to innovate, and create new products. In many ways lean is about taking agile and making it user-centric and business-centric.