Clinical integration of fast Raman spectroscopy for Mohs micrographic surgery of basal cell carcinoma

We present the first clinical integration of a prototype device based on integrated auto-fluorescence imaging and Raman spectroscopy (Fast Raman device) for intra-operative assessment of surgical margins during Mohs micrographic surgery of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Fresh skin specimens from 112 patients were used to optimise the tissue pre-processing and the Fast Raman algorithms to enable an analysis of complete Mohs layers within 30 minutes. The optimisation allowed >95% of the resection surface area to be investigated (including the deep and epidermal margins). The Fast Raman device was then used to analyse skin layers excised from the most relevant anatomical sites (nose, temple, eyelid, cheek, forehead, eyebrow and lip) and to detect the three main types of BCC (nodular, superficial and infiltrative). These results suggest that the Fast Raman technique is a promising tool to provide an objective diagnosis “tumour clear yes/no” during Mohs surgery of BCC. This clinical integration study is a key step towards a larger scale diagnosis test accuracy study to reliably determine the sensitivity and specificity in a clinical setting

Ethnic composition of the school class and interethnic attitudes : a multi-group perspective

This study investigates the relationship between the ethnic classroom composition and interethnic attitudes of adolescents of the native majority and several ethnic minorities in the Netherlands, Germany, England and Sweden. It contributes to prior research by examining the underlying theoretical features of contact opportunities and levels of threat across multiple ethnic groups more accurately, using group-specific measures. Based on Intergroup Contact Theory and Ethnic Group Conflict Theory, contrasting hypotheses on how the ethnic classroom composition affects out-group and in-group attitudes of adolescents are tested with multilevel regression analyses. Across ethnic groups and countries, we consistently find a moderate to substantial relation between ethnic classroom composition and interethnic attitudes in line with Intergroup Contact Theory: a relatively larger out-group size, compared to the in-group, relates positively to out-group attitudes. At the same time, in several cases, a relatively larger in-group size relates to more positive in-group attitudes. The findings point to the significance of balanced ethnic classroom compositions for promoting favourable attitudes between multiple ethnic groups – benefitting especially those who face high levels of prejudice from others and those who are prejudiced towards others – without compromising positive in-group attitudes

Ethnic composition of the school class and interethnic attitudes : a multi-group perspective

This study investigates the relationship between the ethnic classroom composition and interethnic attitudes of adolescents of the native majority and several ethnic minorities in the Netherlands, Germany, England and Sweden. It contributes to prior research by examining the underlying theoretical features of contact opportunities and levels of threat across multiple ethnic groups more accurately, using group-specific measures. Based on Intergroup Contact Theory and Ethnic Group Conflict Theory, contrasting hypotheses on how the ethnic classroom composition affects out-group and in-group attitudes of adolescents are tested with multilevel regression analyses. Across ethnic groups and countries, we consistently find a moderate to substantial relation between ethnic classroom composition and interethnic attitudes in line with Intergroup Contact Theory: a relatively larger out-group size, compared to the in-group, relates positively to out-group attitudes. At the same time, in several cases, a relatively larger in-group size relates to more positive in-group attitudes. The findings point to the significance of balanced ethnic classroom compositions for promoting favourable attitudes between multiple ethnic groups – benefitting especially those who face high levels of prejudice from others and those who are prejudiced towards others – without compromising positive in-group attitudes

Ethnic composition of the school class and interethnic attitudes: a multi-group perspective

This study investigates the relationship between the ethnic classroom composition and interethnic attitudes of adolescents of the native majority and several ethnic minorities in the Netherlands, Germany, England and Sweden. It contributes to prior research by examining the underlying theoretical features of contact opportunities and levels of threat across multiple ethnic groups more accurately, using group-specific measures. Based on Intergroup Contact Theory and Ethnic Group Conflict Theory, contrasting hypotheses on how the ethnic classroom composition affects out-group and in-group attitudes of adolescents are tested with multilevel regression analyses. Across ethnic groups and countries, we consistently find a moderate to substantial relation between ethnic classroom composition and interethnic attitudes in line with Intergroup Contact Theory: a relatively larger out-group size, compared to the in-group, relates positively to out-group attitudes. At the same time, in several cases, a relatively larger in-group size relates to more positive in-group attitudes. The findings point to the significance of balanced ethnic classroom compositions for promoting favourable attitudes between multiple ethnic groups – benefitting especially those who face high levels of prejudice from others and those who are prejudiced towards others – without compromising positive in-group attitudes

Gains from switching and evolutionary stability in multi-player matrix games

In this paper we unify, simplify, and extend previous work on the evolutionary dynamics of symmetric N-player matrix games with two pure strategies. In such games, gains from switching strategies depend - in general - on how many other individuals in the group play a given strategy. As a consequence, the gain function determining the gradient of selection can be a polynomial of degree N-1. In order to deal with the intricacy of the resulting evolutionary dynamics, we make use of the theory of polynomials in Bernstein form. This theory implies a tight link between the sign pattern of the gains from switching on the one hand and the number and stability properties of the rest points of the replicator dynamics on the other hand. While this relationship is a general one, it is most informative if gains from switching have at most two sign changes, as it is the case for most multi-player matrix games considered in the literature. We demonstrate that previous results for public goods games are easily recovered and extended using this observation. Further examples illustrate how focusing on the sign pattern of the gains from switching obviates the need for a more involved analysis

Characterisation, degradation and regeneration of luminescent Ag29 clusters in solution

Luminescent Ag clusters are prepared with lipoic acid (LA) as the ligand. Using a combination of mass spectrometry, optical spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation, the clusters are found to be highly monodisperse with mass 5.6 kDa. We assign the chemical composition [Ag29(LA)12](3-) to the clusters, where LA likely binds in a bidentate fashion. The Ag29 clusters show slow degradation, retaining their deep red emission for at least 18 months if stored in the dark. Purification or exposure to light results in faster degradation. No other cluster species are observed during the degradation process. Once degraded, the clusters could easily be regenerated using NaBH4, which is not usually observed for thiolate-capped Ag clusters

KLF2 suppresses TGF-β signaling in endothelium through induction of Smad7 and inhibition of AP-1

OBJECTIVE - The flow-responsive Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is crucial for maintaining endothelial cell quiescence. Here, we describe its detailed effects on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling, which normally has proatherogenic effects on endothelium. METHODS AND RESULTS - In-depth analysis of genome-wide expression data shows that prolonged lentiviral-mediated overexpression of KLF2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) diminishes the expression of a large panel of established TGF-β-inducible genes. Both baseline and TGF-β-induced expression levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and thrombospondin-1 are greatly diminished by KLF2. Using a combination of ectopic expression, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown, and promoter activity assays, we show that KLF2 partly inhibits the phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear accumulation of Smad2, thereby suppressing the TGF-β-induced Smad4-mediated transcriptional activity. This is achieved through TGF-β-independent induction of inhibitory Smad7. Additionally, a full inhibition of TGF-β signaling is functionally achieved through a simultaneous suppression of activator protein 1 (AP-1), which is an essential cofactor for TGF-β-dependent transcription of many genes. CONCLUSIONS - The concerted mechanism by which KLF2 inhibits TGF-β signaling through induction of inhibitory Smad7 and attenuation of AP-1 activity provides a novel mechanism by which KLF2 contributes to sustaining a quiescent, atheroprotective status of vascular endothelium