Exporting Expertise? Rotterdam’s Planners and the Flood Adaptation Industry

The effects of climate change and its implications for flood-vulnerable cities have incentivized systematic knowledge exchanges among urban planning professionals globally. Rotterdam, a delta city with an extensive water-management background and an innovative urban design culture, has emerged as a leader in water-related planning and has shared its strategies with cities such as New Orleans and New York. This research investigates the ways in which the City of Rotterdam has positioned itself as a leader in climate adaptation planning and a center of knowledge exchange. The research seeks to identify whether and to what extent Rotterdam benefits from its enhanced international profile. Upon review of existing theory and interviews with Dutch and American planners, this research concludes that the City of Rotterdam's brand is strengthened by Dutch planners' international activities, but that any direct economic impact on the city has been negligible. Finally, it suggests that further investment into Rotterdam's local knowledge institutions and adaptation infrastructure could more efficiently serve the city's economy while maintaining its international profile

Subungual Osteocartilaginous Exostosis

Subungual exostosis arises underneath the nail plate, originating from the underlying bone. The characteristic appearance of this disorder may occasionally mimic a wide variety of tumors, including subungual verrucae, endochondroma, fibroma, or amelanotic melanoma. With such a wide variety of similar-appearing tumors, optimal treatment of this disorder clearly lies in proper recognition and treatment.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73189/1/j.1524-4725.1985.tb01415.x.pd

FRK cancer-related mutations: Effect on enzymatic activity and cellular processes

Cancer-associated FRK mutations have not been thoroughly studied however, a previous study analyzed six cancer related mutations of BRK L16F, R131L, V253M, N317S, L343F, P450L; and it was found that there are similar residues in FRK. We identified R64P, K87N, S145R, K265R, N359I, del V378-F379 (VF) found in breast cancer, large intestine cancer, ovarian cancer, and liver cancer. This study analyzes the effect of the mutation of these similar residues in the BRK study, as well as uncharacterized cancer related mutations of FRK. Mutating two of the similar residues maintained the same effects in BRK and FRK whereas the remaining mutants in FRK had no effect on activity. The uncharacterized cancer related mutations of FRK produced interesting results where the mutations in kinase domain (K265R, N359I, del VF) reduced, inactivated and increased kinase activity respectively. Proliferation, migration and invasion assays were also performed with the R64P, K265R, N358I and VF mutations. The proliferation data revealed that the cell line expressing wild type FRK reduced cell growth which is consistent with past findings. The other mutations also resulted in reduced cell growth in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells but were not significantly different to wild type FRK. The invasion assay results show that the wild type FRK significantly reduced invasion compared to the MDA-MB-231 cells compared to parental controls. Differing from the proliferation assay, the mutations R64P, K265R, N359I, and VF showed no reduction in cell invasiveness compared to the parental. The mutations expressed transiently in HEK293 were found to only impact STAT3 phosphorylation where all FRK constructs induced STAT3 phosphorylation except for N359I. Binding experiments were performed using rotational anisotropy and four peptides derived from FRK C terminus (ETDSS(pY)SDANN), SH2 consensus binding sequence (HF(pY)ENI), PTEN (PNVEEPSNPEASSS), and BRCA1 (DTYLIPQIPHSHY). The wild type SH2 domain was able of binding to both peptides from the FRK C terminus and the SH2 consensus binding sequence with a Kd of 2.5 M and 0.4 M respectively. The S145R SH2 domain was also capable of interacting with both peptides with a Kd of 1.4 M with the FRK C terminus and 0.8 M with the SH2 consensus binding sequence. Unfortunately, the SH3 domain was unable to bind to the sequences selected

The Beneficence of Gayface

In 2009, veteran funny man Jim Carrey, best known for his zany and nearly cartoonish live-action performances—perhaps none more literally than in the 1994 film the Mask (Russell, 1994)—stretched his comedic boundaries with his portrayal of real- life con artist Steven Jay Russell in the film I Love You Phillip Morris (Requa, Ficarra, 2009). Despite earning critical success and some of Carrey’s highest praises of his career, it made many filmgoers who saw it turn their heads in wonder, though not for Carrey’s distinct yet animated leading performance. What gained the attention of many critics were his scenes with co-star Ewan McGregor, who played the eponymous character and the target of Russell’s affections (Requa, Ficarra, 2009). Audiences were not caught off guard by the fact that the characters were gay; homosexuality had already broken through to the mainstream within the previous decade with films like American Beauty and Rent. It was, rather, that the actors themselves were not gay. However, they never let it show or undermine the believability of the roles they played. As expected, the stars received much of the acclaim, but the film does represent a peculiar quandary in the ethical value of straight actors in gay roles. This practice is known as gayface, which, though commonly used to encompass all queer identities, also has counterparts that are more specific in transsexuality. Nonetheless, despite the apprehension they elicit, performances like these exemplify the need to tolerate and encourage gayface for the prospect of sexual equality

The significance of the Van Nuys prognostic index in the management of ductal carcinoma in situ

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Debate regarding the benefit of radiotherapy after local excision of ductal carcinoma <it>in situ </it>(DCIS) continues. The Van Nuys Prognostic Index (VNPI) is thought to be a useful aid in deciding which patients are at increased risk of local recurrence and who may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Recently published interim data from the Sloane project has showed that the VNPI score did significantly affect the chances of getting planned radiotherapy in the UK, suggesting that British clinicians may already be using this scoring system to assist in decision making. This paper independently assesses the prognostic validity of the VNPI in a British population.</p> <p>Patients and methods</p> <p>A retrospective review was conducted of all patients (n = 215) who underwent breast conserving surgery for DCIS at a single institution between 1997 – 2006. No patients included in the study received additional radiotherapy or hormonal treatment. Kaplan Meier survival curves were calculated, to determine disease free survival, for the total sample and a series of univariate analyses were performed to examine the value of various prognostic factors including the VNPI. The log-rank test was used to determine statistical significance of differential survival rates. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to analyze the significance of the individual components of the VNPI. All analyses were conducted using SPSS software, version 14.5.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean follow-up period was 53 months (range 12–97, SD19.9). Ninety five tumours were high grade (44%) and 84 tumours exhibited comedo necrosis (39%). The closest mean initial excision margin was 2.4 mm (range 0–22 mm, standard deviation 2.8) and a total of 72 tumours (33%) underwent further re-excision. The observed and the actuarial 8 year disease-free survival rates in this study were 91% and 83% respectively. The VNPI score and the presence of comedo necrosis were the only statistically significant prognostic indicators (P < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This follow-up study of 215 patients with DCIS treated with local excision and observation alone is one of the largest series in which rates of recurrence are unaffected by radiation therapy, hormone manipulation or chemotherapy. It has afforded us the opportunity to assess the prognostic impact of patient and tumour characteristics free of any potentially confounding treatment related influences. The results suggest that the VNPI can be used to identify a subset of patients who are at risk of local recurrence and who may potentially benefit from RT.</p

Treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures by ligamentotaxis: current concepts’ review

Introduction: A large variety of therapeutic modalities for calcaneal fractures have been described in the literature. No single treatment modality for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures has proven superior over the other. This review describes and compares the different percutaneous distractional approaches for intra-articular calcaneal fractures. The history, technique, anatomical and fracture considerations, limitations and the results of different distractional approaches reported in the literature are reviewed. Method: Literature review on different percutaneous distractional approaches for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Results: Eight studies in which application of a distraction technique was used for the treatment of calcaneal fractures were identified. Because of the use of different classification, techniques, and outcome scoring systems, a meta-analysis was not possible. A literature review reveals overall fair to poor result in 10-29% of patients. Ten up to 26% of patients are unable to return to work after percutaneous treatment of their fracture. A secondary arthrodesis has to be performed in 2-15% of the cases. Infectious complications occur in 2-15%. Some loss of reduction is reported in 4-67%. Conclusion: Percutaneous distractional reduction and fixation appears to be a safe technique with overall good results and an acceptable complication rate, compared with other treatment modalities for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. A meta-analysis, based on Cochrane Library criteria is not possible, because of a lack of level 1 and 2 trials on this subject

Biographical Sketch: William Russell MacAusland, MD 1882–1965

This biographical sketch on William Russell MacAusland corresponds to the historic text, The Classic: Total Replacement of the Knee Joint by a Prosthesis, available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-010-1305-9