Solvable Set/Hyperset Contexts: III. A Tableau System for a Fragment of Hyperset Theory

We propose a decision procedure for a fragment of the hyperset theory, HMLSS, which takes inspiration from a tableau saturation strategy presented in [3] for the fragment MLSS of well-founded set theory. The procedure alternates deduction and model checking steps, driving the correct application of otherwise very liberal rules, thus significantly speeding up the process of discovering a satisfying assignment of a given HMLSS-formula or proving that no such assignment exists

Saturn's open‐closed field line boundary:a Cassini electron survey at Saturn's magnetosphere

We investigate the average configuration and structure of Saturn's magnetosphere in the nightside equatorial and high‐latitude regions. Electron data from the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer's Electron Spectrometer (CAPS‐ELS) is processed to produce a signal‐to‐noise ratio for the entire CAPS‐ELS time of operation at Saturn's magnetosphere. We investigate where the signal‐to‐noise ratio falls below 1, to identify regions in the magnetosphere where there is a significant depletion in the electron content. In the nightside equatorial region we use this to find that the most planetward reconnection x‐line location is at 20 – 25 RS downtail from the planet in the midnight to dawn sector. We also find an equatorial dawn‐dusk asymmetry at a radial distance of >20 RS which may indicate the presence of plasma depleted flux tubes returning to the dayside after reconnection in the tail. Furthermore, we find that the high‐latitude magnetosphere is predominantly in a state of constant plasma depletion and located on open field lines. We map the region of high‐latitude magnetosphere that is depleted of electrons to the polar cap to estimate the size and open flux content within the polar caps. The mean open flux content for the northern and southern polar caps are found to be 25±5 and 32±5 GWb, respectively. The average location of the open‐closed field boundary is found at invariant colatitudes of 12.7±0.6° and 14.5±0.6°. The northern boundary is modulated by planetary period oscillations more than the southern boundary

The changes of lipid metabolism in advanced renal cell carcinoma patients treated with everolimus: a new pharmacodynamic marker?

Everolimus is a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We aimed to assess the association between the baseline values and treatmentrelated modifications of total serum cholesterol (C), triglycerides (T), body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose level (FBG) and blood pressure (BP) levels and the outcome of patients treated with everolimus for mRCC.177 patients were included in this retrospective analysis. Time to progression (TTP), clinical benefit (CB) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.Basal BMI was significantly higher in patients who experienced a CB (p=0,0145). C,T and C+T raises were significantly associated with baseline BMI (p=0.0412, 0.0283 and 0.0001). Median TTP was significantly longer in patients with T raise compared to patients without T (10 vs 6, p=0.030), C (8 vs 5, p=0.042) and C+T raise (10.9 vs 5.0, p=0.003). At the multivariate analysis, only C+T increase was associated with improved TTP (p=0.005). T raise (21.0 vs 14.0, p=0.002) and C+T increase (21.0 vs 14.0, p=0.006) were correlated with improved OS but were not significant at multivariate analysis.C+T raise is an early predictor for everolimus efficacy for patients with mRCC

High platelet count at diagnosis is a protective factor for thrombosis in patients with essential thrombocythemia

To assess the role of platelet (PLT) count for thrombotic complications in Essential Thrombocythemia (ET), 1201 patients followed in 11 Hematological centers in the Latium region were retrospectively evaluated. At multivariate analysis, the following factors at diagnosis were predictive for a worse Thrombosis-free Survival (TFS): the occurrence of previous thrombotic events (p=0.0004), age>60years (p=0.0044), spleen enlargement (p=0.042) and a lower PLT count (p=0.03). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses based on thrombotic events during follow-up identified a baseline platelet count of 944×109/l as the best predictive threshold: thrombotic events were 40/384 (10.4%) in patients with PLT count >944×109/l and 109/817 (13.3%) in patients with PLT count <944×109/l, respectively (p=0.04). Patients with PLT count <944×109/l were older (median age 60.4years. vs 57.1years., p=0.016), had a lower median WBC count (8.8×109/l vs 10.6×109/l, p<0.0001), a higher median Hb level (14.1g/dl vs 13.6g/dl, p<0.0001) and a higher rate of JAK-2-V617F positivity (67.2% vs 41.6%, p<0.0001); no difference was observed as to thrombotic events before diagnosis, spleen enlargement and concomitant Cardiovascular Risk Factors. In conclusion, our results confirm the protective role for thrombosis of an high PLT count at diagnosis. The older age and the higher rate of JAK-2 V617F positivity in the group of patients with a baseline lower PLT count could in part be responsible of this counterintuitive finding

STRA8 Shuttles between Nucleus and Cytoplasm and Displays Transcriptional Activity*

Stra8 (stimulated by retinoic acid 8) encodes a protein crucial for mammalian germ cells entering into premeiotic stages. Here, to elucidate the still unknown STRA8 molecular functions, we studied the cellular localization of the protein in several cell types, including premeiotic mouse germ cells and stem cell lines. We reported distinct STRA8 localization in germ and stem cell types and a heterogeneous protein distribution in the cytoplasm and nucleus of such cells suggesting that the protein can shuttle between these two compartments. Moreover, we identified specific protein motifs determining its nuclear import/export. Furthermore, we demonstrated that in transfected cell lines the nuclear import of STRA8 is an active process depending on an N-terminal basic nuclear localization signal. Moreover, its nuclear export is mainly mediated by the Exportin1 (XPO1) recognition of a nuclear export signal. Significantly, we also demonstrated that STRA8 associates with DNA and possesses transcriptional activity. These observations strongly suggest that STRA8 can exert important functions in the nucleus rather than in the cytoplasm as believed previously, likely depending on the cell type and regulated by its nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling