Identification of alpha-enolase as an autoantigen in lung cancer: Its overexpression is associated with clinical outcomes

Purpose: Although existence of humoral immunity has been previously shown in malignant pleural effusions, only a limited number of immunogenic tumor-associated antigens (TAA) have been identified and associated with lung cancer. In this study, we intended to identify more TAAs in pleural effusion-derived tumor cells. Experimental Design: Using morphologically normal lung tissues as a control lysate in Western blotting analyses, 54 tumor samples were screened with autologous effusion antibodies. Biochemical purification and mass spectrometric identification of TAAs were done using established effusion tumor cell lines as antigen sources. We identified a p48 antigen as of-enolase (ENO1). Semiquantitative immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate expression status of ENO1 in the tissue samples of 80 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and then correlated with clinical variables. Results: Using ENO1-specifc antiserum, up-regulation of ENO1 expression in effusion tumor cells from 11 of 17 patients was clearly observed compared with human normal lung primary epithelial and non-cancer-associated effusion cells. Immunohistochemical studies consistently showed high level of ENO1 expression in all the tumors we have examined thus far. Log-rank and Cox's analyses of ENO1 expression status revealed that its expression level in primary tumors was a key factor contributing to overall- and progression-free survivals of patients (P < 0.05). The same result was also obtained in the early stage of NSCLC patients, showing that tumors expressing relatively higher ENO1 level were tightly correlated with poorer survival outcomes. Conclusions: Our data strongly support a prognostic role of ENO1 in determining tumor malignancy of patients with NSCLC

Reduced transient model of a group of induction motors

10.1109/60.260993IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion84769-775ITCN

Biosorption performace of two brown marine algae for removal of chromium and cadmium

10.1081/DIS-200027327Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology255679-68

A Virtual Workshop Navigation Based on a Multi-Agent Technology

No abstrac

Hysteresis of soft joints embedded with fluid-filled microchannels

Many arthropods are known to achieve dynamic stability during rapid locomotion on rough terrains despite the absence of an elaborate nervous system. While muscle viscoelasticity and its inherent friction have been thought to cause this passive absorption of energy, the role of embedded microstructures in muscles and muscle joints has not yet been investigated. Inspired by the soft and flexible hinge joints present in many of these animals, we have carried out displacement-controlled bending of thin elastic slabs embedded with fluid-filled microchannels. During loading, the slab bends uniformly to a critical curvature, beyond which the skin covering the channel buckles with a catastrophic decrease in load. In the reverse cycle, the buckled skin straightens out but at a significantly lower load. In such a loading–unloading cycle, this localized buckling phenomenon results in a dynamic change in the geometry of the joint, which leads to a significant hysteresis in elastic energy. The hysteresis varies nonlinearly with channel diameters and thicknesses of the slab, which is captured by a simple scaling analysis of the phenomenon

Costly sexual dimorphism in Cyclommatus metallifer stag beetles

In many animal species, male armature has evolved through sexual selection. This male weaponry can increase reproductive success, but only if the owner overcomes the associated costs. Male stag beetles bear one of the most extreme examples of male weaponry: their mandibles can be almost as long as their own body. We question whether the armature of male Cyclommatus metallifer negatively affects terrestrial locomotion (stability and cost). If so, we investigate whether these effects are potentially compensated by morphological and/or behavioural features, as seen in other specialized insect species. Conspecific females are used to represent the non-dimorphed condition. The presence of the huge male mandibular apparatus shifts the body centre of mass (bCOM) anteriorly. Concomitantly, the male fore limbs are 28% longer and are systematically positioned in a more anterior angular sector than in females. Thus, the rostral border of the support area of the leg tripod also moves forward. This suggests a stability enhancing mechanism. However, in contrast to load-carrying ants, the anteriorly placed bCOM still creates two pronounced statically instable periods each locomotor cycle. Due to the static instability, males must adjust their locomotor behaviour: they walk at higher cycle frequencies when compared to females of the same size, to ensure they proceed to the next stance before bumping to the ground with their heavy heads. Contrary to other specialized load-carrying insect species, the (muscle) mass specific mechanical cost of transport of males exceeds that of females by 40%. Since neither stability nor cost of transport benefit from the male forelimb size and positioning, their role in guaranteeing adequate terrestrial locomotion while carrying an enlarged mandibular apparatus seems doubtful. Instead, the long limbs are themselves functional in fights, by pitching the body upwards in order to throw opponents backwards. The oversized male stag beetle armature comes at high ecological costs: locomotion economics as well as stability clearly suffer from the large mandibles. The observed limb length dimorphism does not prevent this, but should probably be considered part of sexual selection, rather than a compensation for its consequences