A Characterization of Colorectal Carcinoma In Patients From The Upper Peninsula of Michigan

As the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and second leading cause of cancer-related death, colorectal cancer remains a major global healthcare concern. Despite numerous studies to elucidate the mutations involved in tumorigenesis and assist with the prognostic stratification of patients, individual outcomes and therapeutic responses remain unpredictable. In this study, we performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical and pathological features of colorectal cancers diagnosed in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We then characterized the frequency and diversity of six molecular markers (MMR, BRAF, NRAS, KRAS, PIK3CA, PD-L1) in matched samples belonging to 120 patients in our cohort and correlated the findings with cancer registry data. PCR-based assays were performed to identify point mutations in the RAS, RAF and PIK3CA pathways using zinc formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks belonging to the patients in our cohort. Additionally, immunohistochemical stains were prepared to assess DNA mismatch repair protein expression and PD-L1 status in the tumor cells. Individual mutations were correlated with the clinical -pathological features of CRC in patients. We noted a higher frequency of primary tumors arising in the proximal colon, as well as a potential prognostic value in KRAS and PIK3CA mutation testing. We believe this is the first population-based study to characterize and correlate mutations with clinicopathological variables in colorectal cancer patients from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The findings presented here provide additional insight regarding the tumor microenvironment at various stages of disease and may lead to more effective patient management strategies as well as the development of new companion diagnostics

Dumbbell diffusion in a spatially periodic potential

We present a numerical investigation of the Brownian motion and diffusion of a dumbbell in a two-dimensional periodic potential. Its dynamics is described by a Langevin model including the hydrodynamic interaction. With increasing values of the amplitude of the potential we find along the modulated spatial directions a reduction of the diffusion constant and of the impact of the hydrodynamic interaction. For modulation amplitudes of the potential in the range of the thermal energy the dumbbell diffusion exhibits a pronounced local maximum at a wavelength of about 3/2 of the dumbbell extension. This is especially emphasized for stiff springs connecting the two beads.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures, published in Phys. Rev. E (2008

The probability distribution of a trapped Brownian particle in plane shear flows

We investigate the statistical properties of an over-damped Brownian particle that is trapped by a harmonic potential and simultaneously exposed to a linear shear flow or to a plane Poiseuille flow. Its probability distribution is determined via the corresponding Smoluchowski equation, which is solved analytically for a linear shear flow. In the case of a plane Poiseuille flow, analytical approximations for the distribution are obtained by a perturbation analysis and they are substantiated by numerical results. There is a good agreement between the two approaches for a wide range of parameters.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figur

Zirkulationsverteilung in mehrstufigen Axialturbinen

In den mehrstufigen Axialturbinen mit geraden Schaufeln stellt sich hinter der ersten Stufe eine Strömungsform ein, die dann praktisch hinter allen weiteren homogenen Stufen wiederkehrt. Dadurch verlaufen die Schaufelzirkulationen sowohl der Leit- als auch der Laufräder - ausgenommen die der ersten Stufe - annähernd über die Schaufelhöhe konstant. Vom Standpunkt der Schaufelzirkulation besteht jedenfalls keine Veranlassung, der kostspieligeren drallverwundenen Schaufel, die konstante Zirkulation über die Schaufelhöhe liefert, den Vorrang vor der meist wesentlich einfacheren geraden Schaufel zu geben. Unter geraden Schaufeln werden alle Schaufeln verstanden, die einen über die Schaufelhöhe konstanten Austrittswinkel haben.Behind the first stage of multistage axial turbines with untwisted blades a certain flow pattern occurs which practically is repeated behind each of the following homogeneously built stages. Consequently the blade circulations of the stator rows and the rotor rows as well are approximately constant over the whole blade length except for the first stage. With regard to blade circulation there is, therefore, no need to consider the more expensive free vortex blading with constant circulation over the blade length as being of any advantage compared with the essentially simpler untwisted blading. Under untwisted blading all blade forms may be understood with a constant outlet angle over the whole blade length

Dumbbell transport and deflection in a spatially periodic potential

We present theoretical results on the deterministic and stochastic motion of a dumbbell carried by a uniform flow through a three-dimensional spatially periodic potential. Depending on parameters like the flow velocity, there are two different kinds of movement: transport along a potential valley and stair-like motion oblique to the potential trenches. The crossover between these two regimes, as well as the deflection angle, depends on the size of the dumbbell. Moreover, thermal fluctuations cause a resonance-like variation in the deflection angle as a function of the dumbbell extension.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figure

Vom Anbieterwachstum zum Qualitätsfortschritt?

Nachhaltige Kapitalanlagen verzeichnen trotz des schwachen Marktumfeldes weiterhin Zuwächse. Damit rückt auch das Nachhaltigkeits-Research stärker in den Vordergrund. Denn die Analysen und Bewertungen von Wertpapieren nach ökologischen und sozialen Kriterien bestimmen maßgeblich über die Ausgestal­tung der nachhaltigen Investmentprodukte. Welche Anforderungen sollte eine Research-Agentur erfüllen und wer sind die wichtigsten Akteure im europäischen Raum

Direct measurement of shear-induced cross-correlations of Brownian motion

Shear-induced cross-correlations of particle fluctuations perpendicular and along stream-lines are investigated experimentally and theoretically. Direct measurements of the Brownian motion of micron-sized beads, held by optical tweezers in a shear-flow cell, show a strong time-asymmetry in the cross-correlation, which is caused by the non-normal amplification of fluctuations. Complementary measurements on the single particle probability distribution substantiate this behavior and both results are consistent with a Langevin model. In addition, a shear-induced anti-correlation between orthogonal random-displacements of two trapped and hydrodynamically interacting particles is detected, having one or two extrema in time, depending on the positions of the particles.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure