Role of CD56 in Normal Kidney Development and Wilms Tumorigenesis

The cell-surface glycoprotein CD56 has three major isoforms that play important roles in cell adhesion and signaling, which may promote cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, or migration. It is an important molecule in normal kidney development and acts as a key marker in Wilms tumor stem and progenitor cells. Here, we review the structural and genetic features of the CD56 glycoprotein, and summarize its roles in the normal versus diseased metanephric blastema. We discuss areas of CD56-related research that may complement or improve existing Wilms tumor treatment strategies, including the antibody-drug conjugate lorvotuzumab mertansine that binds to CD56

Effect of Single vs. Pulsing Doses of Estradiol 17-β and Trenbolone Acetate in Finishing Steers Fed a High Concentrate Diet

The effect of implant dosing pattern on anabolic response was evaluated in predominately Angus steers (n=192). Steers, except the control, were implanted with 1 of 3 different implant strategies. Cumulatively all implant treatments received a dose of 24 mg estradiol 17-β (E2) and 120 mg trenbolone acetate (TBA). Dosing patterns were 8 mg E2 and 40 mg TBA given 3 times; 12 mg E2 and 60 mg TBA given 2 times or 24 mg E2 and 120 mg TBA given 1 time. Implanted cattle had heavier body weights, increased average daily gain, and lower feed conversion compared to non-implanted controls. There were no differences among the implant treatments for cumulative 133 d body weight gain or average daily gain. Carcass quality was not affected by implant or implant dosing pattern. Dosing pattern did have an affect on growth patterns

Bragg Scattering as a Probe of Atomic Wavefunctions and Quantum Phase Transitions in Optical Lattices

We have observed Bragg scattering of photons from quantum degenerate $^{87}$Rb atoms in a three-dimensional optical lattice. Bragg scattered light directly probes the microscopic crystal structure and atomic wavefunction whose position and momentum width is Heisenberg-limited. The spatial coherence of the wavefunction leads to revivals in the Bragg scattered light due to the atomic Talbot effect. The decay of revivals across the superfluid to Mott insulator transition indicates the loss of superfluid coherence.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Neutrinos and Future Concordance Cosmologies

We review the free parameters in the concordance cosmology, and those which might be added to this set as the quality of astrophysical data improves. Most concordance parameters encode information about otherwise unexplored aspects of high energy physics, up to the GUT scale via the "inflationary sector," and possibly even the Planck scale in the case of dark energy. We explain how neutrino properties may be constrained by future astrophysical measurements. Conversely, future neutrino physics experiments which directly measure these parameters will remove uncertainty from fits to astrophysical data, and improve our ability to determine the global properties of our universe.Comment: Proceedings of paper given at Neutrino 2008 meeting (by RE

Clinical assessment of the MOD-MEM cancer test in controls with non-malignant diseases.

A control series of 105 patients in hospital with non-malignant diseases was used in a limited clinical assessment of the MOD-MEM test. Twenty-seven positive results could be explained on the basis of destruction of nervous parenchyma, tissue necrosis, tuberculosis, malignant disease, etc. The remaining 13 unexplained positives showed a sex and age distribution in agreement with that predicted from cancer registration statistics if the MOD-MEM test detects cancer about 16 years before the clinical appearance of the disease