Reduced Claudin-12 Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer

Background: Within the claudin (CLDN) family, CLDN12 mRNA expression is altered in various types of cancer, but its clinicopathological relevance has yet to be established due to the absence of specific antibodies (Abs) with broad applications. Methods: We generated a monoclonal Ab (mAb) against human/mouse CLDN12 and verified its specificity. By performing immunohistochemical staining and semiquantification, we evaluated the relationship between CLDN12 expression and clinicopathological parameters in tissues from 138 cases of cervical cancer. Results: Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the established mAb selectively recognized the CLDN12 protein. Twenty six of the 138 cases (18.8%) showed low CLDN12 expression, and the disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly decreased compared with those in the high CLDN12 expression group. We also demonstrated, via univariable and multivariable analyses, that the low CLDN12 expression represents a significant prognostic factor for the DSS of cervical cancer patients (HR 3.412, p = 0.002 and HR 2.615, p = 0.029, respectively). Conclusions: It can be concluded that a reduced CLDN12 expression predicts a poor outcome for cervical cancer. The novel anti-CLDN12 mAb could be a valuable tool to evaluate the biological relevance of the CLDN12 expression in diverse cancer types and other diseases.     

Effects of Winding Attachment Positions on Output Characteristics of Flux‐Modulating Synchronous Machines

The flux‐modulating synchronous machine (FMSM) is a new type of multipole SM with nonoverlapping concentrated armature and field windings on the stator. This paper compares the output characteristics of two FMSMs through finite element analysis (FEA) and experiments. In both of the FMSMs, the attachment positions of the armature and field windings are swapped. To determine the reason for the discrepancies in their output characteristics, unsaturated inductances were calculated using a d‐‐q equivalent circuit. In addition, the calculated results of the inductances were confirmed through a visualization of the leakage fluxes using FEA. The results of the study show that the synchronous inductance can be reduced by attaching the armature winding to the air‐gap side of the stator teeth and that the reduction leads to an increase in output power.     

Correlation between motion of source bender element and feedback signal induced by self-monitoring

Since the introduction of bender element tests to soil testing, the reliability of the estimated travel time has been the most serious problem. The author has previously shown a potential solution whereby removing the response of the bender element subsystem from the whole response could dramatically improve the accuracy of the travel time estimation. In order to lay the foundation for estimating the response of the bender element subsystem, this paper examines the correlation between the displacements of the element and the induced feedback signals by employing a self-monitoring element. The response of the self-monitoring element is modeled as a transfer function involving two internal transfer functions that relate the input signals to the displacements and the displacements to the feedback signals, respectively. Using a laser displacement sensor, the displacements are directly measured through the entire surface and reveal the three-dimensional bending motion of the element oscillating in both longitudinal and width directions. The feedback signals are similar to, but inconsistent with, the tip displacements, and an attempt is made to correct the feedback signals. Finally, a conclusion is given on the potential for estimating the response of the bender element subsystem using the self-monitoring element.     

A comparative study of DPSK and OOK WDM transmission over transoceanic distances and their performance degradations due to nonlinear phase noise

We have compared experimentally the transmission performance of return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (RZ-DPSK) with RZ-ON-OFF keying (OOK), nonreturn-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (NRZ-DPSK), and NRZ-OOK for 100/spl times/10-Gb/s transmission with a spectral efficiency of 0.22 b/s/Hz over transoceanic distances. The Q degradation of the RZ-DPSK after transmission over 9180 km was 3 dB greater than that of RZ-OOK. The experimental results clearly showed the major cause of degradation for DPSK is not cross-phase modulation but self-phase modulation. The calculated nonlinear phase noise, i.e., the Gordon-Mollenauer effect, agreed with the experimental results. A distributed-Raman-amplifier assisted erbium-doped-fiber-amplified transmission line acted well in reducing the nonlinear phase noise.     

Efficiency of repeated batch penicillin fermentation using two fermentors. Computer simulation and optimisation

Repeated batch operation using two fermentors (RBTF) to penicillin fermentation was demonstrated by computer simulation to improve productivity. Three operation modes were compared: chemostat, repeated batch operation using a single fermentor (RBSF) and RBTF; in each case account was made of the lag period before growth. The simulated fermentor performances were assessed on the basis of the penicillin productivity and concentration; the simulation was based on published batch fermentation data. It was shown that RBTF was superior to RBSF and chemostat. The advantage of RBTF increased as the lag period became greater.     

Application of gene gun for local-regional cancer

We studied the in vivo gene transfusion using a gene gun, formerly used in plants and culture cells. The hand-held type gene gun (Helios Gene Gun System) is simple and convenient for effective gene transfection in living animals. This method has some advantages in that there is no need for use of viral vector, independence on the cell cycle and local inducement of plural genes. There is a great possibility for application to local-regional cancer.     

Age-related changes in innervation in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Recent reports have identified abnormal innervation of the circular muscle layer involving the fine intramuscular nerve fibers in hypertrophic pyloric stenous (HPS). HPS presenting after 3 months of age is rare. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution pattern of nerve fibers in the smooth muscle layers in HPS and correlate this with age at presentation. METHODS: Full-thickness pyloric muscle biopsy specimens were obtained from eight patients with HPS (five age 3 to 5 weeks, two age 3 months, and one age 7 months) and five controls with normal pylorus (age 5 days to 3 years). All specimens were stained with monoclonal antibody to the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: There were many NCAM-positive nerve fibers in the circular and longitudinal muscle layers in the controls. No NCAM positive nerve fibers were seen in the circular or longitudinal muscle layers in the five cases of HPS in which the patients were less than 5 weeks old. In the two cases in which the patients were 3 months old, occasional NCAM-positive nerve fibers were seen in the circular layer, and moderate numbers of NCAM positive fibers were seen in the longitudinal muscle layers. Moderate numbers of NCAM-positive nerve fibers in the circular muscle layer and many NCAM positive nerve fibers in the longitudinal muscle layers were identified in the 7-month-old HPS patient. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the pyloric muscle lacks innervation in the young HPS infant. Whereas, at 3 months of age the hypertrophied pyloric muscle is partially innervated, and at 7 months of age the pyloric muscle has practically normal innervation.     

The molecular interaction of Fas and FAP-1. A tripeptide blocker of human Fas interaction with FAP-1 promotes Fas-induced apoptosis

Fas (APO-1/CD95), which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is a cell surface receptor that induces apoptosis. A protein tyrosine phosphatase, Fas-associated phosphatase-1 (FAP-1), that was previously identified as a Fas binding protein interacts with the C-terminal 15 amino acids of the regulatory domain of the Fas receptor. To identify the minimal region of the Fas C-terminal necessary for binding to FAP-1, we employed an in vitro inhibition assay of Fas/FAP-1 binding using a series of synthetic peptides as well as a screen of random peptide libraries by the yeast two-hybrid system. The results showed that the C-terminal three amino acids (SLV) of human Fas were necessary and sufficient for its interaction with the third PDZ (GLGF) domain of FAP-1. Furthermore, the direct cytoplasmic microinjection of this tripeptide (Ac-SLV) resulted in the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis in a colon cancer cell line that expresses both Fas and FAP-1. Since t(S/T)X(V/L/I) motifs in the C termini of several other receptors have been shown to interact with PDZ domain in signal transducing molecules, this may represent a general motif for protein-protein interactions with important biological functions.     

Communication network protocol for real-time distributed controland its LSI implementation

A new token-passing mechanism, priority token passing, which features real-time access and fast detection and recovery of transmission errors, is discussed in detail in comparison with standard token-passing protocols, and its large-scale integration (LSI)-oriented design concept is described. Priority token passing includes only a small performance overhead, due to its switching functions, which can change network topology from ring to broadcast medium. A token-holding node passes the token to another node after determining the successor through priority comparison. Errors occurring during token passing can, thus, be detected and corrected simply and promptly. Priority token passing has a simple hardware implementation, requiring only small additions to the frame control circuitry, and has a small implementation overhead. The priority token-passing protocol and two other important network communication functions, dual ring network reconfiguration and high-level data link control (HDLC) normal response mode-based message transmission, are designed as a single finite-state machine, and implemented into a compact LSI chip. This integrated instrument network (IINET) chip provides complete network communication services and requires only three additional external electronic components for operation