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Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. The incidence rate of skin cancer has continuously increased over the past decades. In an effort to discover novel anticancer agents, we identified a novel tubulin inhibitor STK899704, which is structurally distinct from other microtubule-binding agents such as colchicine, vinca alkaloids and taxanes. STK899704 inhibited microtubule polymerization leading to mitotic arrest and suppressed the proliferation of various cancer cell lines as well as multidrug resistance cancer cell lines. In this study, our investigation is further extended into animal model to evaluate the effect of STK899704 on skin carcinogenesis in vivo. Surprisingly, almost 80% of the tumors treated with STK899704 were regressed with a one-fifth reduction in tumor volume. Furthermore, the efficacy of STK899704 was nearly 2 times higher than that of 5-fluorouracil, a widely used skin cancer therapeutic. Overall, our results suggest that STK899704 is a promising anticancer chemotherapeutic that may replace existing therapies, particularly for skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart work services can help to reduce work time and help to remove irrational processes in the process of product management, by providing proper information promptly. To make the smart work environment, the system has to be in a data-driven manner so that the data can keep its consistency. Preexisting data acquisition method in inspection job is almost based on documents or handover from other engineers. However, sometimes it produces inconsistent data which is different from updated information and it leads to potential risk factors. To prevent and reduce inconstant information between users and updated information, this paper suggests radio-frequency identification device (RFID) and cloud technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and performance of an InGaAs/InP transimpedance amplifier and post amplifier for 40 Gb/s receiver applications are presented. We fabricated the 40 Gb/s transimpedance amplifier and post amplifier using InGaAs/InP heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) technology. The developed InGaAs/InP HBTs show a cutoff frequency (fT) of 129 GHz and a maximum oscillation frequency (fmax) of 175 GHz. The developed transimpedance amplifier provides a bandwidth of 33.5 GHz and a gain of 40.1 dBΩ. A 40 Gb/s data clean eye with 146 mV amplitude of the transimpedance amplifier module is achieved. The fabricated post amplifier demonstrates a very wide bandwidth of 36 GHz and a gain of 20.2 dB. The post-amplifier module was fabricated using a Teflon PCB substrate and shows a good eye opening and an output voltage swing above 520 mV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 77-GHz transceiver module has been developed for automotive radar sensors by using an monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) one-chip set. An MMIC one-chip set consists of a transmitter, an eight-stage low noise amplifier and a mixer. The chip set was fabricated using a 0.15-μm gate-length InGaAs/InAlAs/GaAs metamorphic high-electron mobility transistor (mHEMT) process based on a four-inch substrate. The transceiver module's total size, including the 38.25 GHz VCO, 76.5 GHz transmitter, 76.5 GHz receiver, 78 GHz LO circuit, IF and BB circuit, and bias circuit, is 80 × 95 × 23 mm3. This MMIC transceiver module is suitable for the 77-GHz automotive radar sensors and related applications in a W-band. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 2371–2376, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23651 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male germ cell development includes mitotic and meiotic cell divisions that are followed by dramatic morphological changes resulting in the production of spermatozoa. Genetic evidence has indicated that the DAZ family genes are critical for successful male germ cell development in diverse animals as well as humans. In the present study, we investigated the cellular functions of Dazl in the mouse male germ cells. We identified a specific interaction of Dazl with the dynein light chain, a component of the dynein–dynactin motor complex. The subcellular distribution of Dazl was microtubule-dependent and a selected number of Dazl-bound mRNAs could accumulate in the perinuclear area. Based on these results, we propose that Dazl may play a role in transport of specific mRNAs via dynein motor complex. The Dazl-bound mRNAs may be stored at specific sites and would be available for future developmental processes. Our study revealed the presence of an active mRNA transport system in mouse male germ cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratinocytes constitute the first-line barrier against exogenous antigens and contain Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which function as pattern-recognition molecules to activate antimicrobial innate immune responses. In an effort to ascertain whether or not filaggrin ( filament- aggregating prote in) expression affected the TLR-mediated responses of keratinocytes, we transfected filaggrin siRNA into HaCaT human keratinocyte cells and determined that thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and IL-6 secretion were increased by poly(I:C) stimulus. Additionally, TSLP expression is increased in filaggrin knockdown as well as TLR3 stimulation in reconstituted human epidermal layers. Therefore, the findings of this study show that reduced filaggrin levels may influence innate immune responses via TLR stimuli and may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin disease via TSLP expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]