Identification of cancer stem cells in Ewing's sarcoma.

Cancer stem cells that display tumor-initiating properties have recently been identified in several distinct types of malignancies, holding promise for more effective therapeutic strategies. However, evidence of such cells in sarcomas, which include some of the most aggressive and therapy-resistant tumors, has not been shown to date. Here, we identify and characterize cancer stem cells in Ewing's sarcoma family tumors (ESFT), a highly aggressive pediatric malignancy believed to be of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) origin. Using magnetic bead cell separation of primary ESFT, we have isolated a subpopulation of CD133+ tumor cells that display the capacity to initiate and sustain tumor growth through serial transplantation in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice, re-establishing at each in vivo passage the parental tumor phenotype and hierarchical cell organization. Consistent with the plasticity of MSCs, in vitro differentiation assays showed that the CD133+ cell population retained the ability to differentiate along adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of genes implicated in stem cell maintenance revealed that CD133+ ESFT cells express significantly higher levels of OCT4 and NANOG than their CD133- counterparts. Taken together, our observations provide the first identification of ESFT cancer stem cells and demonstration of their MSC properties, a critical step towards a better biological understanding and rational therapeutic targeting of these tumors.

The Carboniferous Baralacha La basaltic dykes (Upper Lahul, Ladakh): remnants of an early rifting event along the Indian northern plate

The Lower Carboniferous Baralacha La basaltic dykes were emplaced along transtensional faults. The basalts exhibit tholeiitic and alkaline affinities. The tholeiites are TiO2-poor, moderately enriched in light rare earth (LREE), and display Nb and Ta negative and Th positive anomalies. The alkali basalts, compared to the tholeiites, have higher TiO2, rare earth and highly incompatible trace element contents and greater LREE enrichments. The Nd and Pb isotope compositions of the Baralacha La basalts suggest that they derive from the partial melting of an enriched OIB mantle source. characterized by a HIMU component, and contaminated by the lower continental crust. The Baralacha La dyke swarm represent the remnants of an early rifting event on the northern Indian passive margin.

Análisis y diseño de una pantalla informativa para fomentar la interacción social

En la actualidad, a lo largo del día, una persona es capaz de visualizar diversos displays informativos. Dichos displays generalmente son únicamente para mostrar algún tipo de información, sin ningún tipo de incitación a la interacción social, y es por esa razón que en este proyecto de fin de carrera se ha decidido realizar un display que intentase realizar esta función. La ubicación de este display es en un espacio público, como lo sería la fachada de un edificio o la plaza Catalunya, pero por razones que se detallarán en el contenido de la memoria, se ha decidido realizar en la plaza Gutenberg del campus de la comunicación de la Pompeu Fabra.Para poder conseguir esta interacción a diferencia de lo actual, el proyecto se ha realizado en varias fases, cada una de las cuales ha sido necesaria para la realización de la siguiente. Estas etapas son las de la observación, estudio, análisis, diseño, implementación y evaluación, siendo útiles para todo análisis y diseño de un display informativo. En la observación se ha visto el comportamiento de los usuarios, mientras que en el estudio se ha obtenido los gustos en común. Para el análisis se ha comparado todos los lugares posibles para situar el display y posteriormente se ha procedido a diseñarlo según el lugar de posicionamiento. Finalmente en la implementación se ha realizado dos programas, uno para la obtención de la información y otro para la visualización. En la evaluación se observa si se han cumplido los objetivos o no.

CNOT3 is a modifier of PRPF31 mutations in retinitis pigmentosa with incomplete penetrance.

Heterozygous mutations in the PRPF31 gene cause autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP), a hereditary disorder leading to progressive blindness. In some cases, such mutations display incomplete penetrance, implying that certain carriers develop retinal degeneration while others have no symptoms at all. Asymptomatic carriers are protected from the disease by a higher than average expression of the PRPF31 allele that is not mutated, mainly through the action of an unknown modifier gene mapping to chromosome 19q13.4. We investigated a large family with adRP segregating an 11-bp deletion in PRPF31. The analysis of cell lines derived from asymptomatic and affected individuals revealed that the expression of only one gene among a number of candidates within the 19q13.4 interval significantly correlated with that of PRPF31, both at the mRNA and protein levels, and according to an inverse relationship. This gene was CNOT3, encoding a subunit of the Ccr4-not transcription complex. In cultured cells, siRNA-mediated silencing of CNOT3 provoked an increase in PRPF31 expression, confirming a repressive nature of CNOT3 on PRPF31. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that CNOT3 directly binds to a specific PRPF31 promoter sequence, while next-generation sequencing of the CNOT3 genomic region indicated that its variable expression is associated with a common intronic SNP. In conclusion, we identify CNOT3 as the main modifier gene determining penetrance of PRPF31 mutations, via a mechanism of transcriptional repression. In asymptomatic carriers CNOT3 is expressed at low levels, allowing higher amounts of wild-type PRPF31 transcripts to be produced and preventing manifestation of retinal degeneration.

Tapiola-ryhmän Yhtiökokousjärjestelmä-ohjelmiston määrittely ja suunnittelu

Tässä insinöörityössä selvitettiin mahdollisuuksia parantaa Tapiola-ryhmän Yhtiökokousjärjestelmä-ohjelmiston ominaisuuksia ja tietoturvallisuutta. Järjestelmää käytetään Tapiola-ryhmän vakuutusyhtiöiden yhtiökokouksiin osallistuvien osakkaiden kirjaamiseen ja heidän äänten laskentaan. Tutkimuksen perusteella tehtiin järjestelmän määrittely ja suunnittelu, joiden tuloksena syntyivät toiminnallinen ja tekninen määrittelydokumentaatio, jotka toimivat pohjana uuden Yhtiökokousjärjestelmän toteutukselle. Työ tehtiin Tapiola-ryhmälle Tieto-Tapiola Oy:n tilauksesta. Työn alussa tutkittiin erilaisia mahdollisuuksia toteuttaa järjestelmän ohjelmisto- ja tietokanta-arkkitehtuuri, joiden perusteella määrittelyä ja suunnittelua alettiin toteuttaa. Tutkimuksen perusteella päädyttiin käyttämään Java SE -arkkitehtuuria sovelluksen toteutukseen ja SQL Server -tietokantaa järjestelmän tietovarastona. Valittuihin ratkaisuihin päädyttiin niiden hyvien tietoturvallisuus- ja kertakirjausominaisuuksien takia. Toiminnallisessa määrittelydokumentissa käydään läpi järjestelmälle asetettuja vaatimuksia ja kuvataan sen toiminnot, liiketoimintaluokkamalli, käyttöliittymä ja tulosteet. Lisäksi siinä otetaan kantaa järjestelmän käyttöympäristöön, ulkoisiin tietokantaliittymiin, käyttäjän tunnistautumiseen ja tietoturvallisuuteen sekä käydään läpi sen toiminta käyttäjien näkökulmasta. Toiminnallisen määrittelydokumentin pohjalta luotiin tekninen määrittelydokumentti. Siinä kuvataan järjestelmän ympäristö ja ohjelmisto- sekä tietokanta-arkkitehtuuri yleisellä tasolla. Tämän lisäksi järjestelmän arkkitehtuuria käydään myös tarkemmin läpi sekä kuvataan moduulit ja toiminnot niin tarkasti, että niiden perusteella voidaan toteuttaa koko järjestelmä. Työn tuloksena syntyivät kattava toiminnallinen ja tekninen määrittelydokumentaatio, joissa käydään läpi kaikki järjestelmän toteuttamiseen tarvittavat elementit sillä tarkkuudella, että järjestelmän toteuttaminen voidaan aloittaa.

Helsingin ammattikorkeakoulu Stadian kulttuurituottamisen suuntautumisvaihtoehto : ensimmäisen opintonsa aloittaneen vuosikurssin seuranta

This thesis is based on a questionnaire presented to pilot students on the Degree Programme in Media, at Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia, of 1999. The initial aim was to discover whether the school was of use in the transition process into a field of work. Based on this, the questions for a questionnaire were formulated. The research thus aimed at answering questions concerning a) whether the education answered the need of working life b) the work situation of respondents and c) how respondents saw the future of Arts Management as well as themselves. The questionnaire was prepared using Stadia's Elomake software on the Internet. There was also a project specific contract for this final project, allowing information gathered during the project to be used in regional curriculum work. The thesis deals with Arts Management curriculum work within the framework provided by polytechnic law as well as Stadia's curriculum work processes. Research and education in Arts Management in Finland generally is also studied, and specifically in Stadia itself. The essence of this final project is derived from the analysis of the answers to the questionnaire. All responses were analysed, with the answers being divided into three subheadings according to the research questions. Questions and answers were also examined through a correlation matrix in an attempt to discover the dependency between things and conclusions were made in the light of relevant source literature. The questionnaire is meant to be used for the follow-up of every graduating Arts Management group. Information obtained through this questionnaire will of benefit in preliminary curriculum work.

Viikon albumi -haastattelu osana YleX-kanavan ohjelmatarjontaa

Nuorille suunnatut lähetysvirtaradioasemat käyvät Suomessa koko ajan tiukempaa taistelua kuuntelijoidensa huomiosta. Kuuntelijalukuja tarkastellaan miltei viikoittain ja kuuntelijoille tarjottavaa tuotetta pyritään kilpailun koventuessa koko ajan kehittämään. Yleisradiossa tapahtui viimeksi kanavauudistus vuonna 2003, jonka seurauksena Radiomafia -kanava sai uuden nimen YleX. Uudistuksessa radiokanavan kohdeyleisö tarkennettiin uudelleen ja kanavalla siirryttiin soittolistapohjaiseen radion tekemiseen, jossa kanavan musiikkia soitetaan etukäteen laaditulta soittolistalta. Kanavauudistusta kritisoitiin mediassa ja arkipuheessa, vaikka YleX -kanavan viikkokuulijamäärät lähtivät nousuun. Vieläkin YleX:n musiikkitarjontaa arvostellaan yksipuoliseksi ja samalla myös kanavan ohjelmat ovat joutuneet kritiikin kohteeksi. Opinnäytetyöni käsittelee viihdeartistihaastattelun tekemistä YleX-radiokanavalla. Työssäni YleX-kanavalla olen tehnyt viikoittaista viihdeartistihaastattelua, joka tunnetaan nimellä Viikon Albumi -haastattelu. Tämä haastattelu on osa arkipäiväistä YleX Tänään-ohjelmaa, missä sitä lähetetään maanantaisin kello 11.10. Omia haastatteluja reflektoimalla selvitin haastattelijan näkökulmasta, minkälaisin menetelmin nykyaikaisessa nopeatempoisessa lähetysvirtaradiossa syntyy mielenkiintoinen ja syvällinen viihdeartisti-haastattelu. Kuinka lähelle laadukkaan viihdehaastattelun tavoitteita on mahdollista päästä 15 minuutin Viikon Albumi -haastattelun aikana? Työssäni keskityn etenkin YleX:n haastatteluiden viihteelliseen luonteeseen ja nimenomaan viihdeartistin haastattelemiseen, jota on alan kirjallisuudessa käsitelty melko vähän. Viihdyttävän ja hauskan viihdeartistihaastattelun tekeminen on vaikea haastattelumuoto, jonka tekemistä pyrin valottamaan omien töideni avulla. Toivon, että työstäni on jatkossa hyötyä myös muille samankaltaisissa haastattelutilanteissa.

Silta yksilöstä yhteisöön : ryhmätyö teatterin tekemisen välineenä

This final thesis focused on experimental knowledge of working in the group. The topic was approached from the perspective of the theatre group director. The thesis itself contains two practical theatre group examples. One is a youngsters' theatre group called La Drama, directed by the author during 2004/2005. The other one is the author's own final artistic production, named Protasio - Kohtaamisia Afrikassa (Protasio - Meeting in Africa), which opened in January 2006. The group leader's role is presented as an important personal tool in theatre, and one that it is important to develop in a professional way. The director's role is to be the promoter of the process, the inspirer and a strong group leader. A person who is in this role will lead the group through the creative process using the community. The thesis identifies and advocates good practice, and ideas of how to create theatre with a group-based method. These analyses can offer useful ideas and knowledge to the beginner in the field of theatre direction.

Matka serkamolaiseen teatteriin : kohti sanatonta kerrontaa

A travelogue to serkamoan theater deals, just like its name implies, with the molding process of one theater opinion. It has been influenced by both Aristotle's poetry and Bertold Brecht's epic theater. Side by side with theater goes dance, whose development the thesis also considers briefly. Of today's theater makers, Päivi Ketonen (playback theater), Juha Hurme and Nigel Charnock (dance theater) have had a definitive impact on the Serkamoan theater view. Their relation to theater and dance is clarified in the interviews conducted by the writer, which can be found in their entirety among the appendices of this thesis. Serkamoan theater has also been influenced by the writer's studies in Portuguese theater school in 2004. In Portugal the writer had a chance to work a theater piece in a new cultural environment where, for example, a novel and paintings were used as inspiration. The strongest legacy from Portugal however was the desire to do theater that can be understood without words. Serkamoan theater considers the combinations of theater and dance in performing arts, agreeing with, among others, Pina Bausch's footsteps. Serkamoan theater ladles its inspiration from theater, dance, human being, human body and movement. It is theater that cannot be understood through intellect but through the heart.

Elokuvien levittäminen Internetissä

Movie distribution on the Internet has become more common in recent years along with fast broadband internet connections. The problem so far has been that the greatest part of movie distribution on the Internet has been illegal. This is about to change because the major film distributors are finally starting to rent and sell movies more and more on the Internet due to their growing confidence in new copy protection methods. The importance of movie online distribution to the movie industry is still tiny but it is increasing rapidly as is investing in new business models and distribution methods in the USA and Europe. This thesis examines the basic concepts of online movie distribution, such as distribution techniques and copy protection, the main companies that rent and sell movies on the internet and their business models, the effects of movie piracy and non-commercial distribution channels. The intention was to provide the reader with an overview of different aspects of movie distribution on the Internet and its future. The conclusion was that movie distribution on the Internet will play a bigger financial part in the future although it was still too early to say just how significant that will be. We will probably see many corresponding distribution techniques, like peer-to-peer networks and streaming servers distributing and broadcasting movies to different end-user platforms like television, PC and portable media players. Internet distribution of movies will not revolutionize movie distribution in the next couple of years but it will make possible new efficient and inexpensive ways to distribute movies globally which will in turn increase the possibilities for revenue, especially for small independent movie producers and distributors.

Evakkolapsi : ennakkosuunnittelun tuotannollisten ratkaisujen vaikutus dokumentin sisältöön

This thesis contains two parts: documentary Refugee Child (Evakkolapsi) and written thesis. The written thesis screens how pre-productional decisions made by producer and director can influence the content of the documentary. The documentary film is first approached from the historical and theoretical point of view. The documentary Refugee Child is evaluated, especially from the producers point of view. The effect of the productional decisions to the content in the Refugee Child are evaluated. The word documentary film has multiple different meanings and it is beeing used in various contexts. There is numerous opinions about what is the difference between a documentary film and a television documentary. The people in the audiovisual field and the channel networks seem to use the word documentary about very different kinds of films. In order to understand the difficulty of this definition the history of the documentary film and the devicion of Bill Nichols' six modes is shortly viewed. Focusing on the pre-production of documentary is rewarding. There is various altering factors in the production of the documentary. The producer and director should be prepared both technically and substancially.

Nuorten mielikuvat Suomen Kansallisteatterista

This thesis is about young people's views and mental images of the Finnish National Theatre (FNT). Research was needed into the views of young people about the FNT. The results would also be useful for FNT's marketing operations. The research was executed as a qualitative interview (based on a structured questionnaire) among 16 young people in January and February 2006. Four different high schools were involved: Ressun Lukio, Mäkelänrinteen Lukio, Kallion Lukio and Helsingin Kaupungin Kuvataidelukio (which together represented art-oriented high schools) and Vuosaaren Lukio. From each high school two boys and two girls were selected for interview. FNT's marketing director was also interviewed. The questions for the interview were formulated in co-operation with the FNT. The structural questionnaire was basically broken down into three different sections. The first section concentrated on the interviewee's hobbies and his/her past and present relationship to theatre. The second section consisted of questions about his/her views on the FNT. There were different sets of questions regarding whether or not the interviewee had visited the FNT. The last section was about the interviewee's use of media. This thesis focuses on the second section of questions. The answers revealed that, out of the group of sixteen, all but one had visited the FNT. Most of them saw the FNT as a traditional and valuable institution which is easier to approach than Finnish National Opera. Eleven of the interviewees reported that the main reason for their visit was a school project, and that without it they probably wouldn't have gone to the FNT at all. The thesis contemplates co-operation between the FNT and schools, and the meaning of art education for children's and young people's positive cultural development.

Katepillarista kauppakassiin : product placement suomalaisessa tv-ohjelmatuotannossa

Product placement has become more and more common in Finnish television programmes lately. Product placement, as with the whole of the television industry, is strictly regulated and monitored by law. Surreptitious advertising, sponsorship, cooperative partnerships and product placement are often confused with each other. Partially these activities are interpenetrative. Present legislation doesn't recognise product placement, therefore it doesn't have any specific position in law, thus causing problems. Product placement in domestic tv-programmes is still relatively modest. More extensive activity is perceivable at the movies where the restrictions are considerably more liberal. In the United States, product placement is a part of a production's budget. Pressure to increase financing has grouwn in both Finland and Europe. There has been considerable preparation in advance of a new television directive in the European Union which would allow more liberal advertising and product placement as a part of financing tv-programmes. The proposal for a new directive is currently only on its first round so product placement probably won't become better defined in law in the near future. Finnish television producers were interviewed as part of the research for this thesis, in order to clarify product placement position and usage in domestic televion programmes. Surreptitious advertising, sponsorship, different kinds of cooperative partnerships and the need for guidance were also discussed in the course of the themed interviews. Even though product placement does not currently play a significant part in the financing of a production, there are certainly pressures in that direktion. In the field of television, the legal boundaries of product placement are presently being explored in order to assess its position as a part of budgeting and covering expenses.