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A genomic understanding of the oncogenic processes and individual variability of human cancer has steadily fueled improvement in patient outcomes over the past 20 years. Mutations within tumour tissues are routinely assessed through clinical genomic diagnostic assays by academic and commercial laboratories to facilitate diagnosis, prognosis and effective treatment stratification. The application of genomics has unveiled a wealth of mutation‐based biomarkers in canine cancers, suggesting that the transformative principles that have revolutionized human cancer medicine can be brought to bear in veterinary oncology. To advance clinical genomics and genomics‐guided medicine in canine oncology, we have developed and validated a canine cancer next‐generation sequencing gene panel for the identification of multiple mutation types in clinical specimens. With this panel, we examined the genomic landscapes of 828 tumours from 813 dogs, spanning 53 cancer types. We identified 7856 alterations, encompassing copy number variants, single nucleotide variants, indels and internal tandem duplications. Additionally, we evaluated the clinical utility of these alterations by incorporating a biomarker framework from comprehensive curation of primary canine literature and inferences from human cancer genomic biomarker literature and clinical diagnostics. Remarkably, nearly 90% of the cases exhibited mutations with diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic implications. Our work represents a thorough assessment of genomic landscapes in a large cohort of canine cancers, the first of its kind for its comprehensive inclusion of multiple mutation types and structured annotation of biomarkers, demonstrating the clinical potential of leveraging mutation‐based biomarkers in veterinary oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual worlds have become an invaluable space for online learning and the exploration of digital cultures. Communication departments can benefit from using these spaces to educate their students in the logistics of virtual worlds and as a way to better understand how the process of interpersonal and global communication functions in both online and face-to-face environments. These case studies offer details on how the communication departments of four universities implemented Second Life into their curriculum. The discussion includes how to introduce virtual worlds to students and create environments for collaborative work and artistic creation, along with addressing issues of identity and conducting interpersonal communication in a virtual space. (Contains 2 footnotes.)

The author has focused on the problem of repetition in material in international business confounding the course contents. This admixing of material to a large extent comes from the influences of the same cultural and environmental considerations being the source of much information across these courses. The author suggests a way to deal with this admixing through a judicious choice of examples to those impacting the issues in the course. There are many instances where the same cultural or environmental consideration influences some of the main issues in more than one course. The paper suggests the use of an example of that influencer impacting issues that are central to the content of the course being taught. This same strategy involving this same influencer in another course would suggest the use of an example relating to issues pertinent to that course. The use of an influence impacting different issues in different courses forcing a different explanation would help differentiate the courses and also give the student a much fuller and more sophisticated understanding of different cultures. Doing this would increase the cogency of each course and lay a better foundation for the student in understanding the multifaceted nature of the influences of culture and the environments.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.01.006 Byline: Kenneth Day (a), Gabi Shefer (a)(b), Andrew Shearer (a), Zipora Yablonka-Reuveni (a) Keywords: Stem cells; Satellite cells; Reserve cells; Aging; Myogenesis; Skeletal muscle; Nestin-GFP; Myf5.sup.nLacZ/+; MLC3F-nLacZ, Myostatin; Pax7, [alpha]7 integrin, Myf5 Abstract: Satellite cells are myogenic progenitors that reside on the myofiber surface and support skeletal muscle repair. We used mice in which satellite cells were detected by GFP expression driven by nestin gene regulatory elements to define age-related changes in both numbers of satellite cells that occupy hindlimb myofibers and their individual performance. We demonstrate a reduction in satellite cells per myofiber with age that is more prominent in females compared to males. Satellite cell loss also persists with age in myostatin-null mice regardless of increased muscle mass. Immunofluorescent analysis of isolated myofibers from nestin-GFP/Myf5.sup.nLacZ/+ mice reveals a decline with age in the number of satellite cells that express detectable levels of [beta]gal. Nestin-GFP expression typically diminishes in primary cultures of satellite cells as myogenic progeny proliferate and differentiate, but GFP subsequently reappears in the Pax7.sup.+ reserve population. Clonal analysis of sorted GFP.sup.+ satellite cells from hindlimb muscles shows heterogeneity in the extent of cell density and myotube formation among colonies. Reserve cells emerge primarily within high-density colonies, and the number of clones that produce reserve cells is reduced with age. Thus, satellite cell depletion with age could be attributed to a reduced capacity to generate a reserve population. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Biological Structure, Box 357420, Warren B. Magneson Health Sciences Building, 1959 NE Pacific Street, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA (b) Department of Cell and Development Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel Article History: Received 28 August 2009; Revised 6 January 2010; Accepted 7 January 2010

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.12.026 Byline: Kenneth Day (a), Gabi Shefer (a), Joshua B. Richardson (a), Grigori Enikolopov (c), Zipora Yablonka-Reuveni (a)(b) Keywords: Satellite cells; Self-renewal; Stem cells; Endothelial cells; Nestin; Desmin; Myf5; Pax3; Pax7; Sca1; CD31; GFP; Sca1-GFP; Nestin-GFP Abstract: Repair of adult skeletal muscle depends on satellite cells, quiescent myogenic stem cells located beneath the myofiber basal lamina. Satellite cell numbers and performance decline with age and disease, yet the intrinsic molecular changes accompanying these conditions are unknown. We identified expression of GFP driven by regulatory elements of the nestin (NES) gene within mouse satellite cells, which permitted characterization of these cells in their niche. Sorted NES-GFP.sup.+ cells exclusively acquired a myogenic fate, even when supplemented with media supporting non-myogenic development. Mutual and unique gene expression by NES-GFP.sup.+ cells from hindlimb and diaphragm muscles demonstrated intra- and inter-muscular heterogeneity of satellite cells. NES-GFP expression declined following satellite cell activation and was reacquired in late stage myogenic cultures by non-proliferating Pax7.sup.+ progeny. The dynamics of this expression pattern reflect the cycle of satellite cell self-renewal. The NES-GFP model reveals unique transcriptional activity within quiescent satellite cells and permits novel insight into the heterogeneity of their molecular signatures. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA (b) Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA (c) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA Article History: Received 25 August 2006; Revised 7 November 2006; Accepted 12 December 2006

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2004.03.009 Byline: John Todman, Kenneth Day Keywords: Computer anxiety; Computerphobia; Gender; Psychological gender; University students Abstract: A relationship between computer anxiety (CA) and gender has been found in a number of studies, with females generally scoring higher than males. Findings are variable, however, and biological gender does not adequately account for this variability. It is possible that psychological gender, in conjunction with the concept of masculinisation, may provide a more satisfactory account. Measures of CA and psychological gender were obtained for 138 first year undergraduate students in two departments, one in the Arts and Social Sciences faculty and one in the Science and Engineering faculty. Partial correlations revealed that psychological gender predicted CA with biological gender and faculty controlled, whereas biological gender failed to predict CA with psychological gender and faculty controlled. Results were discussed in relation to Bem's theory of psychological gender. Author Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK

Zinc and phytate intakes of Gambian infants were measured from records of breastmilk, food intake and measured contents in foods. Marginal zinc deficiency occurred to infants between 3 and 12 months. This would indicate the maximum probable benefit from public health nutrition intervention programs., Zinc and phytate intakes of 183 rural Gambian infants were obtained from weighed records of breastmilk and food intake and measured contents in foods. Total zinc intake of 2.7mg/d in [...]

Cerebral cortical size and organization are critical features of neurodevelopment and human evolution, for which genetic investigation in model organisms can provide insight into developmental mechanisms and the causes of cerebral malformations. However, some abnormalities in cerebral cortical proliferation and folding are challenging to study in laboratory mice due to the absence of gyri and sulci in rodents. We report an autosomal recessive allele in domestic cats associated with impaired cerebral cortical expansion and folding, giving rise to a smooth, lissencephalic brain, and that appears to be caused by homozygosity for a frameshift in PEA15 (phosphoprotein expressed in astrocytes-15). Notably, previous studies of a Pea15 targeted mutation in mice did not reveal structural brain abnormalities. Affected cats, however, present with a non-progressive hypermetric gait and tremors, develop dissociative behavioral defects and aggression with age, and exhibit profound malformation of the cerebrum, with a 45% average decrease in overall brain weight, and reduction or absence of the ectosylvian, sylvian and anterior cingulate gyrus. Histologically, the cerebral cortical layers are disorganized, there is substantial loss of white matter in tracts such as the corona radiata and internal capsule, but the cerebellum is relatively spared. RNA-seq and immunohistochemical analysis reveal astrocytosis. Fibroblasts cultured from affected cats exhibit increased TNFα-mediated apoptosis, and increased FGFb-induced proliferation, consistent with previous studies implicating PEA15 as an intracellular adapter protein, and suggesting an underlying pathophysiology in which increased death of neurons accompanied by increased proliferation of astrocytes gives rise to abnormal organization of neuronal layers and loss of white matter. Taken together, our work points to a new role for PEA15 in development of a complex cerebral cortex that is only apparent in gyrencephalic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The average age of humans at their first infection with Plasmodium falciparum is typically less than 1 year in most endemic areas. This has been interpreted as evidence of the high transmissibility of the parasite, with the implication that control of malaria will require high levels of coverage with a potential vaccine. This interpretation is challenged by mathematical models that demonstrate that the long period required to develop immunity to malaria permits a high risk (or low average age) of infection even when parasite transmissibility is low. Patterns of seroconversion to five antigenically distinct isolates of P. falciparum in a highly malarious area of Papua New Guinea indicate that each is only mildly transmissible and that malaria, as a construct of several such independently transmitted strains, has a basic reproductive rate (or transmissibility) that is an order of magnitude lower than other estimates., The transmission success of a parasite may be measured by reference to the basic reproductive rate of infection, [R.sub.o], which records the average number of secondary cases of infection generated [...]

A diasetreoselective [4 + 2]-annulation of vinyl carbodiimides with chiral N-alkyl imines was developed to access the stereochemically rich polycyclic guanidine cores of the batzelladine alkaloids. Application of this strategy, together with additional steps like long-range directed hydrogenation and diastereoselective intramolecular iodo-amination, led to highly convergent total syntheses of (-)-batzelladine D and (+)-batzelladine A excellent stereocontrol.