Optical detection of radio waves through a nanomechanical transducer.

Low-loss transmission and sensitive recovery of weak radio-frequency and microwave signals is a ubiquitous challenge, crucial in radio astronomy, medical imaging, navigation, and classical and quantum communication. Efficient up-conversion of radio-frequency signals to an optical carrier would enable their transmission through optical fibres instead of through copper wires, drastically reducing losses, and would give access to the set of established quantum optical techniques that are routinely used in quantum-limited signal detection. Research in cavity optomechanics has shown that nanomechanical oscillators can couple strongly to either microwave or optical fields.

Identification of CD44 as a surface biomarker for drug resistance by surface proteome signature technology.

We developed surface proteome signatures (SPS) for identification of new biomarkers playing a role in cancer drug resistance. SPS compares surface antigen expression of different cell lines by immunocytochemistry of a phage display antibody library directed to surface antigens of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells. We applied SPS to compare the surface proteomes of two epithelial derived cancer cell lines, MCF7 and NCI/ADR-RES, which is drug resistant because of overexpression of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug efflux pump.

Autocrine semaphorin 3A signaling promotes glioblastoma dispersal.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant glioma type with diffuse borders due to extensive tumor cell infiltration. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of GBM cell dispersal is critical for developing effective therapies to limit infiltration. We identified neuropilin-1 as a mediator of cancer cell invasion by a functional proteomic screen and showed its role in GBM cells.

Urban CO exposure and its health effects on traffic policemen in Ankara.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an important component of air pollution caused by traffic exhaust fumes. CO can cause chronic poisoning which shows its first symptoms as headaches, blurry vision, difficulty in concentration, and confusion. With the increasing number of vehicles in metropolitan areas of Turkey, the CO level has also increased in the city air as is the case in the capital city of Ankara, especially at certain locations.

Recognition of cigarette brand names and logos by primary schoolchildren in Ankara, Turkey.

Objective: To assess the smoking behaviour of primary schoolchildren and their ability to recognise brand names and logos of widely advertised cigarettes, compared with other commercial products intended for children.

Design: Cross-sectional survey in classroom settings using a questionnaire designed to measure attitudes towards smoking and the recognition of brand names and logos for 16 food, beverage, cigarette, and toothpaste products.

Setting: Ankara, Turkey.

Environmentally-induced malignant pleural mesothelioma and HLA distribution in Turkey.

Setting: A large university hospital in Ankara, Turkey.

Objective: To investigate the potential links, if any, between the occurrence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and the presence and distribution of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in patients environmentally exposed to asbestos and erionite in rural Anatolia, Turkey.

Design: A case-control study design was used to compare the relative frequency and distribution of HLA among 31 MPM patients originating from the fibrous zeolite (erionite) and asbestos villages in central Anatolia, and two sets of controls.