Using The Cancer Genome Atlas as a Tool to Improve Undergraduate Student Understanding of Cancer Genetics and the Hallmarks of Cancer Progression.

Undergraduate students harbor a number of misconceptions about the complexity of cancer. Though educational interventions have been shown to promote student learning of various aspects of this ubiquitous disease, to date no studies have evaluated undergraduate student understanding of the Hallmarks of Cancer, a set of core properties that have emerged as the defining characteristics that drive cancer development and progression. This study documents poor baseline knowledge of many fundamental aspects of cancer biology and genetics by 2nd- and 3rd-year undergraduate students, and it evaluates the efficacy of a student-centered project as a pedagogical strategy for improving student understanding of both the hallmarks of cancer and the genetic influences that drive their acquisition by cancer cells.

Facilitating Long-Term Mentoring To Effectively Implement Active Learning Instruction: Formation of the Promoting Active Learning and Mentoring (PALM) Network.

A large body of data suggests that implementing active learning practices in a STEM classroom contributes to increased success in both achievement of student learning outcomes and retention of students. Despite these findings, significant barriers exist for instructors implementing active learning strategies in their undergraduate classrooms. These barriers can be effectively addressed by providing sustained support to instructors and postdoctoral trainees interested in implementing active learning strategies in their teaching practice.

Bioinspired antibacterial surface for orthopedic and dental implants.

Bacterial infections still present a significant concern in orthopedic and dental implant failure. Previous investigations have focused on modifying the surface texture, roughness, or coating implants with antibiotics to provide enhanced anti-bacterial properties. However, they have demonstrated limited success.

Genomic and transcriptional changes in IFNγ pathway genes are putative biomarkers of response to ipilimumab immunotherapy in melanoma patients.

: Gao J, Shi LZ, Zhao H . Loss of IFN-γ pathway genes in tumor cells as a mechanism of resistance to anti-CTLA-4 therapy. 167(2), 397-404 (2016).

Probing Molecular Interactions between Surface-Immobilized Antimicrobial Peptides and Lipopolysaccharides .

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Recently, a label-free immobilized antimicrobial peptide (AMP) surface plasmon resonance platform was developed to successfully distinguish LPS from multiple bacterial strains. Among the tested AMPs, SMAP29 exhibited excellent affinity with LPS and has two independent LPS-binding sites located at two termini of the peptide.

Structure and properties of baleen in the Southern right (Eubalaena australis) and Pygmy right whales (Caperea marginata).

Baleen is a resilient and keratinised filter-feeding structure attached to the maxilla of mysticete whales. It is strong and tough, yet a pliant and resilient material, that withstands extreme pressures in the oral cavity during feeding. We investigated the structure, water content, wettability and mechanical properties of baleen of the Southern right (SRW) and Pygmy right whales (PRW), to understand the effects of hydration on the physical and mechanical properties of baleen.

New views of humpback whale flow dynamics and oral morphology during prey engulfment.

The rise of inexpensive, user-friendly cameras and editing software promises to revolutionize data collection with minimal disturbance to marine mammals. Video sequences recorded by aerial drones and GoPro cameras provided close-up views and unique perspectives of humpback whales engulfing juvenile salmon at or just below the water surface in Southeast Alaska and Prince William Sound. Although humpback feeding is famous for its flexibility, several stereotyped events were noted in the 47 lunges we analyzed.

Lunge filter feeding biomechanics constrain rorqual foraging ecology across scale.

Fundamental scaling relationships influence the physiology of vital rates, which in turn shape the ecology and evolution of organisms. For diving mammals, benefits conferred by large body size include reduced transport costs and enhanced breath-holding capacity, thereby increasing overall foraging efficiency. Rorqual whales feed by engulfing a large mass of prey-laden water at high speed and filtering it through baleen plates.

Tumor microenvironmental influences on dendritic cell and T cell function: A focus on clinically relevant immunologic and metabolic checkpoints.

Cancer immunotherapy is fast becoming one of the most promising means of treating malignant disease. Cancer vaccines, adoptive cell transfer therapies, and immune checkpoint blockade have all shown varying levels of success in the clinical management of several cancer types in recent years. However, despite the clinical benefits often achieved by these regimens, an ongoing problem for many patients is the inherent or acquired resistance of their cancer to immunotherapy.

The millipede family Conotylidae in northwestern North America, with a complete bibliography of the family (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Heterochordeumatidea, Conotyloidea).

The center of diversity for the chordeumatidan millipede family Conotylidae is northwestern North America, where five of six subfamilies and ten of fourteen previously described genera occur; in this paper, seven additional new genera and 33 new species from the region are described. New species in the genus Taiyutyla Chamberlin, 1952 are: Taiyutyla tillamook, Taiyutyla acuphora, and Taiyutyla amicitia; in the genus Bollmanella Chamberlin, 1941: Bollmanella bombus, Bollmanella washingtonensis and Bollmanella leonardi; in the genus Brunsonia Loomis Schmitt, 1971: Brunsonia pulchra, Brunsonia digitata, Brunsonia wenatchee, Brunsonia chelanoparva, Brunsonia chelanomagna, Brunsonia selwayana and Brunsonia benewah. Vancouvereuma n.

The millipede family Striariidae Bollman, 1893: I. Introduction to the family, synonymy of Vaferaria Causey with Amplaria Chamberlin, the new subfamily Trisariinae, the new genus Trisaria, and three new species (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Striarioidea).

The significant taxonomic characters of the millipede family Striariidae Bollman, 1888 are discussed. The monotypic genus Vaferaria Causey, 1958 is synonymized under Amplaria Chamberlin, 1941, giving the new combination Amplaria imberbis (Loomis, 1936). The genera Striaria Bollman, 1888 and Amplaria are assigned to the subfamily Striariinae.

Validation of Teleconference-based Goniometry for Measuring Elbow Joint Range of Motion.

Background  Range of motion (ROM) is a critical component of a physician's evaluation for many consultations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if teleconference goniometry could be as accurate as clinical goniometry. Methods  Forty-eight volunteers participated in the study.

Whale breaching says it loud and clear.

A whale leaping above the surface expends an enormous amount of energy, displaying its health and strength to peers and potential mates.

Whale jaw joint is a shock absorber.

The non-synovial temporomandibular jaw joint of rorqual whales is presumed to withstand intense stresses when huge volumes of water are engulfed during lunge feeding. Examination and manipulation of temporomandibular joints (TMJs) in fresh carcasses, plus CT scans and field/lab mechanical testing of excised tissue blocks, reveals that the TMJ's fibrocartilage pad fully and quickly rebounds after shrinking by 68-88% in compression (by axis) and stretching 176-230%. It is more extensible along the mediolateral axis and less extensible dorsoventrally, but mostly isotropic, with collagen and elastin fibers running in all directions.

Multiaxial movements at the minke whale temporomandibular joint.

Mandibular mobility accompanying gape change in Northern and Antarctic minke whales was investigated by manipulating jaws of carcasses, recording jaw movements via digital instruments (inclinometers, accelerometers, and goniometers), and examining osteological and soft tissue movements via computed tomography (CT)-scans. We investigated longitudinal (α) rotation of the mandible and mediolateral displacement at the symphysis (Ω ) and temporomandibular joint (Ω ) as the mouth opened (Δ). Results indicated three phases of jaw opening.

Pectoral herding: an innovative tactic for humpback whale foraging.

Humpback whales () have exceptionally long pectorals (i.e. flippers) that aid in shallow water navigation, rapid acceleration and increased manoeuvrability.

Urochordeumatidae Silvestri, 1909, a millipede family endemic to Washington State, USA (Chordeumatida, Striariidea, Striarioidea).

Urochordeumatidae Silvestri, 1909 includes a single species, Urochordeuma bumpusi Silvestri, 1909, with U. porona Chamberlin, 1941 as a new junior subjective synonym. The family Urochordeumatidae is removed from the superfamily Caseyoidea and transferred to the superfamily Striarioidea.

Cave millipedes of the United States. XVI. Two new species from Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon (Chordeumatida, Conotylidae and Caseyidae).

Two new species of millipedes are described from Oregon Caves National Monument, Josephine County, Oregon, USA: Taiyutyla caseophila, n. sp. (Conotylidae), a troglophile; and Opiona catorycha, n.

The FOXC2 Transcription Factor Promotes Melanoma Outgrowth and Regulates Expression of Genes Associated With Drug Resistance and Interferon Responsiveness.

Background/aim: The FOXC2 transcription factor promotes the progression of several cancer types, but has not been investigated in the context of melanoma cells. To study FOXC2's influence on melanoma progression, we generated a FOXC2-deficient murine melanoma cell line and evaluated The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) patient datasets.

Materials And Methods: We compared tumor growth kinetics and RNA-seq/qRT-PCR gene expression profiles from wild-type versus FOXC2-deficient murine melanomas.

The inferred determination of the phase speed of a bubbly liquid of less than 2 m/s by using a transfer function technique.

The phase speed of a bubbly liquid has been inferred at the single bubble resonance. The difficulty in this measurement is the fact that acoustic absorption is very strong at the single bubble resonance making it impossible to measure with standard techniques, e.g.

An Undergraduate Research Project Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Technology to Study Gene Function in .

The CRISPR-Cas9 system functions in microbial viral pathogen recognition pathways by identifying and targeting foreign DNA for degradation. Recently, biotechnological advances have allowed scientists to use CRISPR-Cas9-based elements as a molecular tool to selectively modify DNA in a wide variety of other living systems. Given the emerging need to bring engaging CRISPR-Cas9 laboratory experiences to an undergraduate audience, we incorporated a CRISPR-based research project into our class laboratories, emphasizing its use in plants.

Undergraduates Phenotyping Knockouts in a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience: Exploring Plant Fitness and Vigor Using Quantitative Phenotyping Methods.

We present a curriculum description, an initial student outcome investigation, and sample scientific results for a representative Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) that is part of the "Undergraduates Phenotyping Knockouts" (unPAK) network. CUREs in the unPAK network characterize quantitative phenotypes of the model plant from across environments to uncover connections between genotype and phenotype. Students in unPAK CUREs grow plants in a replicated block design and make quantitative measurements throughout the semester.

Oil adsorption does not structurally or functionally alter whale baleen.

Mysticete whales filter small prey from seawater using baleen, a unique keratinous oral tissue that grows from the palate, from which it hangs in hundreds of serial plates. Laboratory experiments testing effects of oils on material strength and flexibility, particle capture and tissue architecture of baleen from four mysticete species (bowhead, ; North Atlantic right, ; fin, ; humpback, ) indicate that baleen is hydrophilic and oleophobic, shedding rather than adsorbing oil. Oils of different weights and viscosities were tested, including six petroleum-based oils and two fish or plankton oils of common whale prey.

Integrating CRISPR-Cas9 Technology into Undergraduate Courses: Perspectives from a National Science Foundation (NSF) Workshop for Undergraduate Faculty, June 2018.

As CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas9 technology becomes more mainstream in life science research, it becomes critical for undergraduate instructors to devise engaging ways to bring the technology into their classrooms. To help meet this challenge, the National Science Foundation sponsored a workshop for undergraduate instructors in June 2018 at The Ohio State University in conjunction with the annual Association of Biology Laboratory Educators meeting based on a workflow developed by the workshop's facilitators. Over the course of two and a half days, participants worked through a modular workflow for the use of CRISPR-Cas9 in a course-based (undergraduate) research experience (CURE) setting while discussing the barriers each of their institutions had to implementing such work, and how such barriers could be overcome.