Pleural mesothelioma side populations have a precursor phenotype

DyeCycleViolet was used to set up the side population (SP) functional assay aimed at identifying subpopulations of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) tumor cells with chemoresistance phenotype associated with ABCG2 transporter activity. Self-renewal, chemoresistance and tumorigenicity were tested for SP and non-side population (NSP) cells. Tumors were characterized by mesothelin, calretinin, N-cadherin, D2-40 and Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) immunohistochemistry. Surface expression of mesenchymal stem cell markers CD90, CD73 and CD105 was investigated in SP and NSP cells. We identified SP cells with self-renewal properties and increased chemoresistance in MPM cell lines and tumor-derived primary cell cultures. Compared with the non-SP fraction (NSP), the SP fraction led to the development of tumors including cells with mesothelium precursor phenotype characterized by mesenchymal morphology, being WT1 negative but cytoplasmic D2-40 positive and having a tendency of increased tumorigenicity. The same phenotypic shift was observed in patients with relapsing tumors after chemotherapy. Furthermore, the SP cells were enriched in CD105−/low expressing cells, which were small sized and had increased tumorigenicity compared with CD105high cells. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that MPM CD105−/low, chemoresistant small sized SP cells may constitute the cellular pool out of which recurrence develops. Further characterization of mechanisms of chemoresistance and self-renewal should lead to targets specific for this subpopulation in MPM patient

Sanierung Stauanlagen im Zürcher Oberland

Aufsatz veröffentlicht in: "Wasserbau-Symposium 2021: Wasserbau in Zeiten von Energiewende, Gewässerschutz und Klimawandel, Zurich, Switzerland, September 15-17, 2021, Band 1" veröffentlicht unter: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-00049975

Plant traits poorly predict winner and loser shrub species in a warming tundra biome

Climate change is leading to species redistributions. In the tundra biome, shrubs are generally expanding, but not all tundra shrub species will benefit from warming. Winner and loser species, and the characteristics that may determine success or failure, have not yet been fully identified. Here, we investigate whether past abundance changes, current range sizes and projected range shifts derived from species distribution models are related to plant trait values and intraspecific trait variation. We combined 17,921 trait records with observed past and modelled future distributions from 62 tundra shrub species across three continents. We found that species with greater variation in seed mass and specific leaf area had larger projected range shifts, and projected winner species had greater seed mass values. However, trait values and variation were not consistently related to current and projected ranges, nor to past abundance change. Overall, our findings indicate that abundance change and range shifts will not lead to directional modifications in shrub trait composition, since winner and loser species share relatively similar trait spaces

Evaluation der Berufseinstiegsbegleitung nach § 421s SGB III: Zwischenbericht 2011

Die Anforderungen an Schülerinnen und Schüler zwei Jahre vor ihrem Schulabschluss sind hoch. Schulisch sind sie mit vielen Prüfungen gefordert. Daneben müssen sie Bewerbungen für Ausbildungsplätze schreiben. Wenn es zum Bewerbungsgespräch kommt, stehen sie vor einer unbekannten Situation. Viele sind unsicher darüber, wie es nach der Schule weitergeht. Das Berufsleben - später meist selbstverständlich - ist die große Unbekannte. In dieser Phase hilft die Berufseinstiegsbegleitung nach dem Arbeitsförderungsrecht derzeit in einer modellhaften Erprobung an rund 1.000 Schulen denjenigen, die besondere Schwierigkeiten beim Schulabschluss und beim Übergang in die berufliche Zukunft haben. Bisher wurden dabei rund 37.000 Schülerinnen und Schülern durch die Bundesagentur für Arbeit gefördert. Die begleitende Wirkungsforschung (Evaluation) zeigt nun, dass sich bei den Teilnehmenden leichte Verbesserungen der Noten in Mathematik, Deutsch und Englisch zeigen. Von denjenigen, die die Schule „in Begleitung“ verlassen haben, haben 22,8 % eine betriebliche und 5,1 % eine schulische Berufsausbildung begonnen. Vergleichszahlen zu Übergängen von der Schule in den Beruf von jungen Menschen "ohne entsprechende Begleitung" liegen noch nicht vor. Nach der Schule verteilen sich die Schülerinnen und Schüler auf verschiedene Betriebe, Berufsschulen und andere Einrichtungen. Für die Tätigkeit der Berufseinstiegsbegleiterinnen und -begleiter stellt dies eine räumliche und eine organisatorische Herausforderung dar. Denn die Berufseinstiegsbegleitung endet in der Berufsausbildung normalerweise erst nach sechs Monaten. Damit soll die kritische Anfangsphase, in der die meisten Abbrüche stattfinden, stabilisiert werden. Die bisherigen positiven Erfahrungen mit der Berufseinstiegsbegleitung haben die Bundesregierung dazu veranlasst, im Entwurf eines Gesetzes zur Verbesserung der Eingliederungschancen am Arbeitsmarkt die Entfristung der Berufseinstiegsbegleitung vorzuschlagen. Der Deutsche Bundestag hat dieses Gesetz am 23. September 2011 verabschiedet

A study of CP violation in B-+/- -> DK +/- and B-+/- -> D pi(+/-) decays with D -> (KSK +/-)-K-0 pi(-/+) final states

A first study of CP violation in the decay modes $B^\pm\to [K^0_{\rm S} K^\pm \pi^\mp]_D h^\pm$ and $B^\pm\to [K^0_{\rm S} K^\mp \pi^\pm]_D h^\pm$, where $h$ labels a $K$ or $\pi$ meson and $D$ labels a $D^0$ or $\overline{D}^0$ meson, is performed. The analysis uses the LHCb data set collected in $pp$ collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis is sensitive to the CP-violating CKM phase $\gamma$ through seven observables: one charge asymmetry in each of the four modes and three ratios of the charge-integrated yields. The results are consistent with measurements of $\gamma$ using other decay modes

Measurement of Upsilon production in collisions at root s=2.76 TeV

The production of $\Upsilon(1S)$, $\Upsilon(2S)$ and $\Upsilon(3S)$ mesons decaying into the dimuon final state is studied with the LHCb detector using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.3 $pb^{-1}$ collected in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=2.76$ TeV. The differential production cross-sections times dimuon branching fractions are measured as functions of the $\Upsilon$ transverse momentum and rapidity, over the ranges $p_{\rm T} Upsilon(1S) X) x B(Upsilon(1S) -> mu+mu-) = 1.111 +/- 0.043 +/- 0.044 nb, sigma(pp -> Upsilon(2S) X) x B(Upsilon(2S) -> mu+mu-) = 0.264 +/- 0.023 +/- 0.011 nb, sigma(pp -> Upsilon(3S) X) x B(Upsilon(3S) -> mu+mu-) = 0.159 +/- 0.020 +/- 0.007 nb, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic

Study of forward Z + jet production in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

A measurement of the $Z(\rightarrow\mu^+\mu^-)$+jet production cross-section in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV is presented. The analysis is based on an integrated luminosity of $1.0\,\text{fb}^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment. Results are shown with two jet transverse momentum thresholds, 10 and 20 GeV, for both the overall cross-section within the fiducial volume, and for six differential cross-section measurements. The fiducial volume requires that both the jet and the muons from the Z boson decay are produced in the forward direction ($2.0<\eta<4.5$). The results show good agreement with theoretical predictions at the second-order expansion in the coupling of the strong interaction.A measurement of the $Z(\rightarrow\mu^+\mu^-)$+jet production cross-section in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV is presented. The analysis is based on an integrated luminosity of $1.0\,\text{fb}^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment. Results are shown with two jet transverse momentum thresholds, 10 and 20 GeV, for both the overall cross-section within the fiducial volume, and for six differential cross-section measurements. The fiducial volume requires that both the jet and the muons from the Z boson decay are produced in the forward direction ($2.0<\eta<4.5$). The results show good agreement with theoretical predictions at the second-order expansion in the coupling of the strong interaction