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Our data suggest that Axl/14-3-3ζ signaling is central for TGF-β-mediated HCC progression and a promising target for HCC therapy.

Carrier-selective contacts (i.e., minority carrier mirrors) are one of the last remaining obstacles to approaching the theoretical efficiency limit of silicon solar cells. In the 1980s, it was already demonstrated that n-type polysilicon and semi-insulating polycrystalline silicon emitters form carrier-selective emitters which enabled open-circuit voltages (Voc) of up to 720mV. Albeit promising, to date a polysilicon emitter solar cell having a high fill factor (FF) has not been demonstrated yet. In this work, we report a polysilicon emitter related solar cell achieving both a high V oc=694mV and FF=81%. The passivation mechanism of these so-called tunnel oxide passivated contacts will be outlined and the impact of TCO (transparent conductive oxide) deposition on the injection-dependent lifetime characteristic of the emitter as well as its implications on FF will be discussed. Finally, possible transport paths across the tunnel oxide barrier will be discussed and it wil l be shown that the passivating oxide layer does not lead to a relevant resistive loss and thus does not limit the solar cell's carrier transport. Contrary to amorphous silicon-based heterojunction solar cells, this structure also shows a good thermal stability and, thus, could be a very appealing option for next generation high-efficiency silicon solar cells

Doping of athletes with recombinant and genetically modified erythropoietins (EPO) is currently detected by isoelectric focusing (IEF). The application of these drugs leads to a significant change in the isoform profile of endogenous urinary erythropoietin (uhEPO). Dynepo, MIRCERA, biosimilars with variable IEF-profiles as well as active urines and effort urines have made additional testing strategies necessary. The new generation of small molecule EPO-receptor stimulating agents like Hematide will also challenge the analytical concept of detecting the abuse of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA). By determining their apparent molecular masses with SDS-PAGE a clear differentiation between endogenous and exogenous substances also concerning new EPO modifications is possible. Due to the orthogonal character of IEF- and SDS-PAGE both methods complement each other. The additional benefits of SDS-PAGE especially in relation to active and effort urines as well as the detection of Dynepo were investigated. Due to significant differences between the apparent molecular masses of uhEPO/serum EPO (shEPO) and recombinant, genetically or chemically modified erythropoietins the presence of active or effort urines was easily revealed. The characteristic band shape and apparent molecular mass of Dynepo on SDS-PAGE additionally evidenced the presence of this substance in urine. A protocol for the detection of EPO-doping in serum and plasma by SDS-PAGE was developed. Blood appears to be the ideal matrix for detecting all forms ESA-doping in the future.

The detection of doping with MIRCERA (the brand name for Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator, or CERA) is hampered by the limited excretion of the rather large molecule (approximately 60 kDa) in urine. Blood (serum, plasma) in combination with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) appears to be the ideal matrix for detecting all forms of doping with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) because the apparent molecular masses of ESAs are different from the mass of human serum erythropoietin (shEPO). While SDS-PAGE has proven the most sensitive method for the detection of doping with Dynepo, the sensitivity of SDS-PAGE for MIRCERA is drastically decreased. By exchanging the SDS for SARCOSYL (SAR) in the sample and running buffers the sensitivity problem was solved. SARCOSYL, a methyl glycine-based anionic surfactant, is only binding to the protein-part of MIRCERA but not to its polyethylene glycol (PEG)-chain, while SDS binds to both parts. In consequence, the monoclonal anti-EPO antibody (clone AE7A5) no longer interacts with the fully SDS-solubilized MIRCERA molecules. Only those molecules that contain SDS bound to the protein-chain are detected. Due to the inability of SARCOSYL to solubilize PEG-molecules, MIRCERA can be detected on SARCOSYL-PAGE with the same sensitivity as non-PEGylated epoetins. In a typical SAR-PAGE experiment, 200 microL of serum are used, which allows the direct detection of MIRCERA, recombinant epoetins (such as NeoRecormon, Dynepo, NESP), and shEPO in a single experiment and with high (i.e. femtogram) sensitivity.

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