Expression of MAGE-1 and -3 genes and gene products in human hepatocellular carcinoma

MAGE gene family encodes peptides recognized by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I restricted fashion. In the present study, we have performed reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the genes, as well as immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting of MAGE-1 and -3 proteins in 33 surgically resected hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). MAGE-1 and -3 mRNAs were constitutively expressed exclusively in 78 and 42% of HCCs respectively. On immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies, 77B for MAGE-1 and 57B for MAGE-3, MAGE-1 and -3 proteins were recognized in cytoplasm of only six among 33 (18%) and two of 29 HCCs (7%) respectively. The distribution pattern was mostly focal in HCC nodules. By contrast, the Western blot analysis revealed that the MAGE-1 (46 kDa) and -3 proteins (48 kDa) were expressed in 80 and 60% of 15 HCCs examined respectively. The proteins of MAGE-1 and -3 were also expressed exclusively in HCCs regardless of the histological grading and clinical staging. Our results indicate that the detection of the genes by RT-PCR or the proteins by Western blotting is useful for differentiating early HCCs from non-cancerous lesions, and that the peptides derived from MAGE-1 and -3 proteins might be suitable targets for immunotherapy of human HCC. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Einsatz von Flachs in faserverstaerkten Kunststoffen/Biopolymeren. Teilprojekt 2: Untersuchungen zum Herstellen und Verarbeiten von flachsfaserverstaerkten Kunststoffen Abschlussbericht

Flax fiber reinforced plastics can be processed by techniques that are common for glass fibre reinforced materials. Flax fiber/polypropylene compounds were prepared in a co-rotating twin screw extruder using maleic acid anhydride/polypropylene copolymers as a coupling agent. The tensile strength is increased up to 170% compared to the pure matrix material. Mechanical properties of flax fiber reinforced BMC (a thermosetting Bulk Moulding Compound) processed by injection moulding are comparable to those of glass fibre reinforced BMC. Because of the high polarity of its surface the flax fiber shows a strong adhesion to polyurethanes. So flax fibers can simply be processed to reinforced foam using the structural Reaction Injection Moulding technique. (WEN)Available from TIB Hannover: F96B12+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany); Bundesministerium fuer Ernaehrung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Hardware Development for the Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G)

The Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G) is designed to make the first observations of ultra-high energy neutrinos at energies above 10 PeV, playing a unique role in multi-messenger astrophysics as the world's largest in-ice Askaryan radio detection array. The experiment will be composed of 35 autonomous stations deployed over a 5 x 6 km grid near NSF Summit Station in Greenland. The electronics chain of each station is optimized for sensitivity and low power, incorporating 150 - 600 MHz RF antennas at both the surface and in ice boreholes, low-noise amplifiers, custom RF-over-fiber systems, and an FPGA-based phased array trigger. Each station will consume 25 W of power, allowing for a live time of 70% from a solar power system. The communications system is composed of a high-bandwidth LTE network and an ultra-low power LoRaWAN network. I will also present on the calibration and DAQ systems, as well as status of the first deployment of 10 stations in Summer 2021