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The CDKN2A (p16) gene plays a key role in pancreatic cancer etiology. It is one of the most commonly somatically mutated genes in pancreatic cancer, rare germline mutations have been found to be associated with increased risk of developing familiar pancreatic cancer and CDKN2A promoter hyper-methylation has been suggested to play a critical role both in pancreatic cancer onset and prognosis. In addition several unrelated SNPs in the 9p21.3 region, that includes the CDNK2A, CDNK2B and the CDNK2B-AS1 genes, are associated with the development of cancer in various organs. However, association between the common genetic variability in this region and pancreatic cancer risk is not clearly understood. We sought to fill this gap in a case-control study genotyping 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2,857 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients and 6,111 controls in the context of the Pancreatic Disease Research (PANDoRA) consortium. We found that the A allele of the rs3217992 SNP was associated with an increased pancreatic cancer risk (ORhet=1.14, 95% CI 1.01-1.27, p=0.026, ORhom=1.30, 95% CI 1.12-1.51, p=0.00049). This pleiotropic variant is reported to be a mir-SNP that, by changing the binding site of one or more miRNAs, could influence the normal cell cycle progression and in turn increase PDAC risk. In conclusion, we observed a novel association in a pleiotropic region that has been found to be of key relevance in the susceptibility to various types of cancer and diabetes suggesting that the CDKN2A/B locus could represent a genetic link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer risk.

Total cross sections, differential cross sections and asymmetries for the reaction p( p ,π 0 )pp from threshold to 1 GeV have been measured. The outgoing π0 was detected by a 4π neutral meson spectrometer. Our data are compared with the corresponding np→NNπ± reactions. The isoscalar partial cross sections are extracted from the relevant total cross sections. They are significant throughout the whole energy range. Below the Δ-region, energy-integrated differential cross sections show a large anisotropy difference between the neutral and charged pion channels, respectively. A partial-wave fit shows that the initial T = 0 state is dominated by the 3D1 wave in this energy region. Finally, predictions of phenomenological models give reasonable good account of the measured observables but cannot reproduce the sign of the asymmetries.

The total cross section for {gamma}{ital p}{r_arrow}{eta}{ital p} near threshold has been measured using the PHOENICS tagging system at the ELSA electron facility of the Physikalisches Institut der Universitaet Bonn. The photons are created by bremsstrahlung, and are tagged by measuring the momentum of each electron after the photon has been emitted. The recoil proton from {gamma}{ital p}{r_arrow}{eta}{ital p} is detected by the AMADEUS counter setup in coincidence with the tagging system. Data were taken with AMADEUS at 3.3{degree} in the laboratory, where the large Jacobian increases our event rate so that we obtain the cross section from threshold ({ital E}{sub {gamma}}=707.2 MeV) to {ital E}{sub {gamma}}{congruent}720 MeV with adequate statistics. The {gamma}{ital p}{r_arrow}{eta}{ital p} events are identified by kinematics, {ital dE}/{ital dx}, and timing information. We find that in our energy region the production cross section is consistent with {ital S}-wave production.

The differential cross section of the reaction γ p→ π + n has been measured with the PHOENICS detector at ELSA in Bonn. For the first time this cross section has been determined simultaneously over a large range of photon energies ( E γ = 220−900 MeV) and pion angles ( Θ c . m . pi = 35°−135°) with a tagged photon facility. The experimental set-up allowed a considerable kinematic overdetermination of the investigated reaction. Accordingly, the background contributions have been suppressed to below 1%. The measured differential cross section is in good agreement with existing data. The comparison with different model calculations is presented.

This paper describes the setup and the first test of the tagging system of the PHOENICS experiment at the electron stretcher ELSA in Bonn. The system covers the energy range k = 200–950 MeV simultaneously with an energy resolution of 5–10 MeV (FWHM). The tagging system is in operation since early 1990 and has been successfully used in first measurements of γ p → π + n and for η-production from proton and deuterium targets.

Hemocyanins are blue copper proteins that transport oxygen in the hemolymph of many arthropods and molluscs. Molluscan hemocyanins are decamers, didecamers or multidecamers of a 350–400 kDa polypeptide subunit that is subdivided into seven or eight different functional units (FUs, each with a single copper active site). The quaternary structure is a semi-hollow cylinder consisting of a wall and a collar. Recently, we published a 9 A cryo-EM structure and molecular model of a cephalopod hemocyanin decamer (NpH, from Nautilus pompilius) that answered many hitherto unsolved questions concerning the quaternary structure of molluscan hemocyanin. Notably, it revealed the twisted pathway of the 10 subunit copies (each with seven FUs) and the various molecular interfaces between the 70 FUs [1]. Six FU types (termed NpH-a through NpH-f) constitute the cylinder wall, whereas the seventh type (NpH-g) forms the internal collar.

The question of what effect role obliterative vessel disease has on postoperative outcome was analysed with the help of uni- and multivariate analysis. The univariate analysis showed significantly more preoperative risk factors in patients with obliterative vessel disease. Our multivariate analysis found three independent factors: ASA class, age, duration of surgery. Obliterative vessel disease seems to be a disadvantageous factor, but may be influenced by preoperative existing risk factor.

The question of what effect role obliterative vessel disease has on postoperative outcome was analysed with the help of uni- and multivariate analysis. The univariate analysis showed significantly more preoperative risk factors in patients with obliterative vessel disease. Our multivariate analysis found three independent factors: ASA class, age, duration of surgery. Obliterative vessel disease seems to be a disadvantageous factor, but may be influenced by preoperative existing risk factor.

We have developed an on-line LED monitoring system for the scintillation counters of the experiment PHOENICS at the 3.5 GeV electron stretcher ring ELSA in Bonn. The LED light output proved to be stable within 0.3% concerning pulse height and within 15 ps concerning deviation in time measurement. Usually discussed disadvantages of LEDs like temperature dependence, ageing and the bad spectral match with the photomultiplier sensitivity were checked and are well under control.

A novel analyzing instrument, the Gas Ion Probe (GIP), has been developed. It extends the applicability of the established SIMS method to the measurement of rare gases. The GIP technique allows determination of gas concentration profiles in solids on surfaces with ∼100 μm lateral dimensions and depth resolution of ∼100 A. The principles and the technical realization of the GIP as well as measurements on lunar and artificially implanted samples are described.

Mass spectra of cometary dust particles measured by the PIA dust particle analyzer aboard the Giotto spacecraft show some unexpected and striking features. First, small particles below 10 to the -14th g are much more abundant than anticipated by models. Second, most of the particles are rich in light elements such as H, C, N, and O, suggesting the validity of models that describe the cometary dust as including organic material. Third, the light elements specifically seem to have a low ratio of mass to volume. Three examples of original mass spectra showing typical compositions are given; these have been measured, and are compared with a computer-simulated mass spectrum.