Three Strikes & You\u27re Out: The Supreme Court\u27s Reaffirmation of the Scope of Judicial Review of Arbitrators\u27 Decisions

In Major League Baseball Players Association v. Garvey, the United States Supreme Court affirmed an arbitrator’s decision to deny a former major league baseball player recovery from a settlement fund established to compensate players who were damaged by collusion amongst team owners in the market for free agent baseball players. In so doing, the Supreme Court reversed the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and reaffirmed the principle the Court announced in United Steelworkers v. Enterprise Wheel & Car Corp., that judicial review of an arbitrator’s decision in the labor context is extremely limited. The Supreme Court’s holding was correct and logical application of the United Steelworkers principle to the facts of the Garvey case

Comprehensive Assessment of GPR68 Expression in Normal and Neoplastic Human Tissues Using a Novel Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody

GPR68 (OGR1) belongs to the proton-sensing G protein-coupled receptors that are involved in cellular adaptations to pH changes during tumour development. Although expression of GPR68 has been described in many tumour cell lines, little is known about its presence in human tumour entities. We characterised the novel rabbit monoclonal anti-human GPR68 antibody 16H23L16 using various cell lines and tissue specimens. The antibody was then applied to a large series of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded normal and neoplastic human tissue samples. Antibody specificity was demonstrated in a Western blot analysis of GPR68-expressing cells using specific siRNAs. Immunocytochemical experiments revealed pH-dependent changes in subcellular localisation of the receptor and internalisation after stimulation with lorazepam. In normal tissue, GPR68 was present in glucagon-producing islet cells, neuroendocrine cells of the intestinal tract, gastric glands, granulocytes, macrophages, muscle layers of arteries and arterioles, and capillaries. GPR68 was also expressed in neuroendocrine tumours, where it may be a positive prognostic factor, in pheochromocytomas, cervical adenocarcinomas, and endometrial cancer, as well as in paragangliomas, medullary thyroid carcinomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, and pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Often, tumour capillaries were also strongly GPR68-positive. The novel antibody 16H23L16 will be a valuable tool for basic research and for identifying GPR68-expressing tumours during histopathological examinations

Comparaison des méthodes d'extraction chimique et biologique pour la détermination du phosphore assimilable

L'étude comparative, en fonction du temps, des quantités de phosphore assimilable extraites du sol par divers réactifs chimiques (Truog, Olsen, Joret-Hébert et Dyer) et biologique (ray-grass d'Italie) a montré que le phosphore soluble incorporé au sol est en grande partie immobilisé et adsorbé par la phase solide du sol. Ces phosphates insolubles partiellement extractibles par certains réactifs chimiques ne présentent généralement pas d'intérêt pour la plante. Le recour!! à l'extraction biologique par la plante permet de surmonter ces difficultés.Comparative study of chemical and biological extraction of assimilated phosphorus quantitesThe comparative study of assimilated phosphorus quantites which are extracted from soil using various chemical extractants (Truog, Olsen, J oret-Hébert and Dyer) and one biological extarctant Otalian rye-grass) has shown that the large proportion ofsoluble phosphorus incorporated in soil was adsorbed and immobilized by the soil's solide phase su ch insoluble phosphorus that are partially extracted using chemical extractant do not generally present an interest for plants. The biological extarction carried out by plant allow to overcome these difficulties

Assisted Self-Assembly to Target Heterometallic Mn-Nd and Mn-Sm SMMs: Synthesis and Magnetic Characterisation of [Mn7_{7}Ln3_{3}(O)4_{4}(OH)4_{4}(mdea)3_{3}(piv)9_{9}(NO3_{3})3_{3}] (Ln=Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd)**

Assisted self-assembly by using a preformed [Mn$_{6}$O$_{2}$(piv)$_{10}$(4-Me-py)$_{2}$(pivH)$_{2}$] (1) (pivH=pivalic acid) cluster leads to 3 different outcomes of the reaction with Ln(NO$_{3}$)$_{3}$ ⋅ xH$_{2}$O (Ln=Pr−Ho and Y): Mn$_{7}$Ln$_{3}$ and in some cases the inverse butterfly Mn$_{2}$Ln$_{2}$ for Ln=Pr−Eu, Mn$_{5}$Ln$_{4}$ for Ln=Tb-Ho and in the special case of Gd all three possibilities can form. Whilst the magnetic properties for the Mn$_{5}$Ln$_{4}$ systems show the expected known SMM properties, for Mn$_{7}$Ln$_{3}$ two new examples of Nd- and Sm-containing SMMs have been discovered. in an assisted self-assembly approach starting from the [Mn$_{6}$O$_{2}$(piv)$_{10}$(4-Me-py)$_{2}$(pivH)$_{2}$] cluster a family of Mn−Ln compounds (Ln=Pr−Yb) was synthesised. The reaction of [Mn$_{6}$O$_{2}$(piv)$_{10}$(4-Me-py)$_{2}$(pivH)$_{2}$] (1) with N-methyldiethanolamine (mdeaH$_{2}$) and Ln(NO$_{3}$)$_{3}$ ⋅ 6H$_{2}$O in MeCN generally yields two main structure types: for Ln=Tb−Yb a previously reported Mn$_{5}$Ln$_{4}$ motif is obtained, whereas for Ln=Pr−Eu a series of Mn$_{7}$Ln$_{3}$ clusters is obtained. Within this series the Gd$^{III}$ analogue represents a special case because it shows both structural types as well as a third Mn$_{2}$Ln$_{2}$ inverse butterfly motif. Variation in reaction conditions allows access to different structure types across the whole series. This prompts further studies into the reaction mechanism of this cluster assisted self-assembly approach. For the Mn$_{7}$Ln$_{3}$ analogues reported here variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements suggest that antiferromagnetic interactions between the spin carriers are dominant. Compounds incorporating Ln=Nd$^{III}$(2), Sm$^{III}$(3) and Gd$^{III}$ (5) display SMM behaviour. The slow relaxation of the magnetisation for these compounds was confirmed by ac measurements above 1.8 K

Inorganic Approach to Stabilizing Nanoscale Toroidicity in a Tetraicosanuclear Fe18_{18}Dy6_{6} Single Molecule Magnet

Cyclic coordination clusters (CCCs) are proving to provide an extra dimension in terms of exotic magnetic behavior as a result of their finite but cyclized chain structures. The Fe$_{18}$Dy$_{6}$ CCC is a Single Molecule Magnet with the highest nuclearity among Ln containing clusters. The three isostructural compounds [Fe$_{18}$Ln$_{6}$(μ-OH)$_{6}$(ampd)$_{12}$(Hampd)$_{12}$(PhCO$_{2}$)$_{24}$](NO$_{3}$)$_{6}$·38MeCN for Ln = Dy$^{III}$ (1), Lu$^{III}$ (2), or Y$^{III}$ (3), where H$_{2}^{-}$ampd = 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, are reported. These can be described in terms of the cyclization of six {Fe$_{3}$Ln(μOH)(ampd)$_{2}$(Hampd)$_{2}$(PhCO$_{2}$)$_{4}$}$^{+}$ units with six nitrate counterions to give the neutral cluster. The overall structure consists of two giant Dy$_{3}$ triangles sandwiching a strongly antiferromagnetically coupled Fe$_{18}$ ring, leading to a toroidal arrangement of the anisotropy axis of the Dy ions, making this the biggest toroidal arrangement on a molecular level known so far

A combination of surgery, theranostics, and liquid biopsy - a personalised oncologic approach to treatment of patients with advanced metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Rationale: Neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN) of small bowel (SBNEN) frequently present with metastatic disease. Theranostics (molecular imaging followed by targeting therapy) allow for personalised medicine. Liquid biopsies enable precise identification of residual disease and real-time monitoring of therapeutic response. Our aim was to determine the clinical utility of a combination of surgery, theranostics, and a multigene blood measurement in metastasised SBNEN. Methods: Inclusion criteria were SBNEN, G1/G2 NEN, initial tumour diagnosis, stage IV NEN, positivity on 68Ga somatostatin analogue PET/CT, eligible for surgery, and 177Lu peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). Blood samples for NETest were collected longitudinally. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. NETest results were assessed prior to surgery and during clinical follow-up. Results: A surgical cohort of 39 SBNEN patients met eligibility criteria. Thirty-two patients underwent ileal resection and 7 right hemicolectomy. The mean number of 177Lu PRRT cycles was 4. Mortality was nil. Surgical morbidity was 10.3%. Transient grade 1/2 toxicity occurred in 41% (PRRT). NETest scores (n=9 patients) decreased in 100% following treatment and correlated with diminished tumour volume and disease stabilization following surgery and PRRT. Median follow-up: 78 months. Median PFS and OS: 42.7 and 110 months, respectively. Progression-free survival at 1-, 3-, and 5-years was 79.4%, 57.1% and 40.5%, respectively. Overall survival at 1-, 3-, and 5-years was 97.4%, 97.4%, and 94.1%, respectively. Conclusions: Surgery combined with 177Lu PRRT is safe and provides favourable PFS and OS in selected patients with advanced SBNEN. Liquid biopsy (NETest) has the potential to accurately delineate disease status

Evaluation of contraceptive methods in women with congenital heart disease in Germany, Hungary and Japan

Aims For women with congenital heart defects (CHD), pregnancy may pose a health risk. Sexually active women with CHD without the desire for own children or for whom pregnancy would imply considerable health risks require adequate counselling regarding appropriate contraception. This study gathers data on the contraceptive behaviour of women with CHD from three different cultural regions. Methods and results 634 women with CHD from Germany, Hungary and Japan were surveyed regarding contraception and contraceptive methods (CM) used. The patients were divided into groups according to different criteria such as pregnancy associated cardiovascular risk or "safety" of the contraceptive methods used. 59% of the study participants had already gained experience with CM. The average age at the first time of use was 18.4 years; the German patients were significantly younger at the first time of using a CM than those from Hungary and Japan. Overall the condom was the method used the most (38%), followed by oral contraceptives (30%) and coitus interruptus (11%). The range of CM used in Japan was much smaller than that in Germany or Hungary. Unsafe contraceptives were currently, or had previously been used, by 29% of the surveyed patients (Germany: 25%, Hungary: 37%, Japan: 32%). Conclusion Most women with CHD use CM. There are differences between the participating countries. Adequate contraceptive counselling of women with CHD requires considering the individual characteristics of each patient, including potential contraindications. For choosing an appropriate CM, both the methods' "safety", as well as the maternal cardiovascular risk, are important. © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

The search for the primary tumor in metastasized gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) often present as liver metastasis from a carcinoma of unknown primary. We recently showed that primary NETs from the pancreas, small intestine and stomach as well as their respective liver metastases differ from each other by the expression profile of the three genes CD302, PPWD1 and ABHB14B. The gene and protein expression of CD302, PPWD1, and ABHB14B was studied in abdominal NET metastases to identify the site of the respective primary tumors. Cryopreserved tissue from NET metastases collected in different institutions (group A: 29, group B: 50, group C: 132 specimens) were examined by comparative genomic hybridization (Agilent 105 K), gene expression analysis (Agilent 44 K) (groups A and B) and immunohistochemistry (group C). The data were blindly evaluated, i.e. without knowing the site of the primary. Gene expression analysis correctly revealed the primary in the ileum in 94 % of the cases of group A and in 58 % of group B. A pancreatic primary was predicted in 83 % (group A) and 20 % (group B), respectively. The combined sensitivity of group A and B was 75 % for ileal NETs and 38 % for pancreatic NETs. Immunohistochemical analysis of group C revealed an overall sensitivity of 80 %. Gene and protein expression analysis of CD302 and PPWD1 in NET metastases correctly identifies the primary in the pancreas or the ileum in 80 % of the cases, provided that the tissue is well preserved. Immunohistochemical profiling revealed CD302 as the best marker for ileal and PPWD1 for pancreatic detection

Long-term field metal extraction by pelargonium:phytoextraction efficiency in relation to plant maturity

The long length of periods required for effective soil remediation via phytoextraction constitutes a weak point that reduces its industrial use. However, these calculated periods are mainly based on short-term and/or hydroponic controlled experiments. Moreover, only a few studies concern more than one metal, although soils are scarcely polluted by only one element.In this scientific context, the phytoextraction of metals and metalloids (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu,and As) by Pelargonium was measured after a long-term field experiment. Both bulk and rhizosphere soils were analyzed in order to determine the mechanisms involved in soil-root transfer. First, a strong increase in lead phytoextraction was observed with plant maturity, significantly reducing the length of the period required for remediation. Rhizosphere Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and As accumulation was observed (compared to bulk soil), indicating metal mobilization by the plant, perhaps in relation to root activity. Moreover, metal phytoextraction and translocation were found to be a function of the metals’ nature. These results, taken altogether, suggest that Pelargonium could be used as a multi-metal hyperaccumulator under multi-metal soil contamination conditions, and they also provide an interesting insight for improving field phytoextraction remediation in terms of the length of time required, promoting this biological technique