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A novel bladder preservation therapy, the OMC (Osaka Medical College) regimen, which combines radiation therapy with balloon-occluded arterial infusion of anticancer agents, is a treatment option for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). We retrospectively analysed the effects of changes in radiation dose and irradiation field on treatment efficacy and adverse events.The purpose of this study is to use the results of this study to help determine a course of radiation therapy for bladder preservation therapy of cT2N0M0 MIBC.We examined 352 patients with clinical stage T2N0M0 (cT2N0M0) MIBC classified into the following groups based on the irradiation method: group A, the whole pelvis (50 Gy/25 fractions) + local bladder (10 Gy/5 fractions); group B, the small pelvis (50 Gy/25 fractions) + local bladder (10 Gy/5 fractions); group C, the whole pelvis (40 Gy/20 fractions) + local bladder (10 Gy/5 fractions).The complete response rate, 3-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates in group A were 92.9%, 94.9% and 82.1%, respectively; in group B were 87.2%, 86.7% and 76.7%, respectively; and in group C were 95.2%, 92.6% and 71.1%, respectively. No significant differences between the groups were noted. The incidence of ≥grade 3 urinary tract and gastrointestinal toxicities were not significantly different among the groups (group A: 7.8%, 1.7%; B, 11.1%, 0%; C, 7.1%, 1.8%, respectively). The 3-year progression-free rates of the common iliac lymph node (CILN) region in patients who received whole-pelvis and small-pelvis irradiation were 99.0 and 89.0% (P0.01), respectively, with the latter group having significantly high lymph node recurrence in the CILN region.Our findings showed that the optimal radiation therapy for patients with cT2N0M0 MIBC undergoing the OMC regimen is whole-pelvis irradiation including the CILN region, with a total dose of 50 Gy/25 fractions.

The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the clinical and histopathological findings associated with intranasal tumours in degus.Medical records of degus diagnosed with intranasal neoplasms on histopathological examination between the years 2007 and 2020 at one hospital were included in the study.Twenty degus (10 males and 10 females) were eligible for inclusion. Initial clinical signs included sneezing, abnormal nasal sounds, and nasal discharge, followed by anorexia and frequent nose rubbing. On radiography, 15 out of 20 animals showed space-occupying lesions in the nasal cavity. CT was performed in 16 animals and revealed various degrees of changes, including abnormal radiopacity within the nasal cavity and damaged nasal septum. Rhinostomy and excisional biopsy was performed in all 20 animals. Six out of 20 patients died during the perioperative period. Six and seven degus survived for 3 months and 1 year, respectively. One animal was lost to follow-up. In 16 cases the histological diagnosis was consistent with fibromas, while in 4 cases with osteomas.Intranasal neoplasms in degus are mostly benign mesenchymal tumours with various degrees of bone formation, which is unique to this animal species. This occurrence should be considered as an important differential diagnosis for upper respiratory tract disease in degus.

The language and cultural priorities in Australian Indigenous education have been priority areas since the inaugural national Indigenous education policy was launched in 1989. For over thirty years, these priorities have sat awkwardly in the largely non-Indigenous teaching profession and classroom teachers continue to struggle with how to embed these priorities into the education process, despite the efforts of Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority and their elaborations for application at curriculum and practice levels. In this article, I suggest that these language and cultural priorities are at cross-purposes with education priorities, and neither have helped to curb the demise of our Indigenous languages nor improved Indigenous students’ educational outcomes.

We have used the local-δf gyrokinetic code GS2 to perform studies of the effect of flux-surface shaping on two highly-shaped, low- and high-β JT-60SA-relevant equilibria, including a successful benchmark with the GKV code. We find that for a high-performance plasma, i.e. one with high plasma beta and steep pressure gradients, the turbulent outwards radial fluxes may be reduced by minimizing the elongation. We explain the results as a competition between the local magnetic shear and finite-Larmor-radius (FLR) stabilization. Electromagnetic studies indicate that kinetic ballooning modes are stabilized by increased shaping due to an increased sensitivity to FLR effects, relative to the ion-temperature-gradient instability. Nevertheless, at high enough β, increased elongation degrades the local magnetic shear stabilization that enables access to the region of ballooning second-stability.

Multi-scale gyrokinetic theory and simulations of a toroidal magnetized plasma have revealed the existence of cross-scale interactions of the trapped electron mode (TEM) and the electron temperature gradient (ETG) turbulence. Reduction of the TEM instability growth rate in the ETG turbulence is clearly identified, and is well represented in the form of effective diffusion. A theoretical model based on the stochastic forcing by the ETG turbulence well describes the turbulent diffusion coefficient observed in multi-scale turbulence simulations.

Early division of the dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) or its branches to the uncinate process during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in addition to early division of the gastroduodenal artery and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery should be performed to reduce blood loss by completely avoiding venous congestion. However, the significance of early division of DPA or its branches to the uncinate process has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the anatomy of DPA and its branches to the uncinate process using the currently available high-resolution dynamic computed tomography (CT) as the first step to investigate the significance of DPA in the artery-first approach during PD. Preoperative dynamic thin-slice CT data of 160 consecutive patients who underwent hepato–pancreato–biliary surgery were examined focusing on the anatomy of DPA and its branches to the uncinate process. DPA was recognized in 103 patients (64%); it originated from the celiac axis or its branches in 70 patients and from the superior mesenteric artery or its branches in 34 patients. The branches to the uncinate process were visualized in 82 patients (80% of those with DPA), with diameters of 0.5–1.5 mm in approximately 80% of the 82 patients irrespective of DPA origin. DPA branches to the uncinate process were recognized using high-resolution CT in approximately half of the patients.

Alarge superconducting machine, JT-60SA has been constructed to provide major contributions to the ITER program and DEMO design. For the success of the ITER project and fusion reactor, understanding and development of plasma controllability in ITER and DEMO relevant higher beta regimes are essential. JT-60SA has focused the program on the plasma controllability for scenario development and risk mitigation in ITER as well as on investigating DEMO relevant regimes. This paper summarizes the high research priorities and strategy for the JT-60SA project. Recent works on simulation studies to prepare the plasma physics and control experiments are presented, such as plasma breakdown and equilibrium controls, hybrid and steady-state scenario development, and risk mitigation techniques. Contributions of JT-60SA to ITER and DEMOhave been clarified through those studies. Peer Reviewed Article escrit per 127 autors/autores: M Yoshida, G Giruzzi, N Aiba, J F Artaud, J Ayllon-Guerola, L Balbinot, OBeeke, E Belonohy, P Bettini, W Bin, A Bierwage, T Bolzonella, M Bonotto, CBoulbe, J Buermans, M Chernyshova, S Coda, R Coelho, S Davis, C Day, GDeTommasi, M Dibon, A Ejiri, G Falchetto, A Fassina, B Faugeras, L Figini, M Fukumoto, S Futatani, K Galazka, J Garcia, M Garcia-Muñoz, L Garzotti, L Giacomelli, L Giudicotti, S Hall, N Hayashi, C Hoa, M Honda, K Hoshino, M Iafrati, A Iantchenko, S Ide, S Iio, R Imazawa, S Inoue, A Isayama, E Joffrin, K Kamiya, Y Ko, M Kobayashi, T Kobayashi, G Kocsis, A Kovacsik, T Kurki-Suonio, B Lacroix, P Lang, Ph Lauber, A Louzguiti, E de la Luna, G Marchiori, M Mattei, A Matsuyama, S Mazzi, A Mele, F Michel, Y Miyata, J Morales, P Moreau, A Moro, T Nakano, M Nakata, E Narita, R Neu, S Nicollet, M Nocente, S Nowak, F P Orsitto, V Ostuni, Y Ohtani, N Oyama, R Pasqualotto, B Pégourié, E Perelli, L Pigatto, C Piccinni, A Pironti, P Platania, B Ploeckl, D Ricci, P Roussel, G Rubino, R Sano, K Särkimäki, K Shinohara, S Soare, C Sozzi, S Sumida, T Suzuki, Y Suzuki, T Szabolics, T Szepesi, Y Takase, M Takech, N Tamura, K Tanaka, H Tanaka, M Tardocchi, A Terakado, H Tojo, T Tokuzawa, A Torre, N Tsujii, H Tsutsui, Y Ueda, H Urano, M Valisa, M Vallar, J Vega, F Villone, T Wakatsuki, T Wauters, M Wischmeier, S Yamoto, L Zani

A novel scheme to predict the turbulent transport of ion heat of magnetic confined plasmas is developed by combining mathematical optimization techniques employed in data analysis approaches and first-principle gyrokinetic simulations. Gyrokinetic simulation, as a first-principle approach, is a reliable way to predict turbulent transport. However, in terms of the flux-matching [Candy et al., Phys. Plasmas 16, 060704 (2009)], quantitative transport estimates by gyrokinetic simulations incur extremely heavy computational costs. In order to reduce the costs of quantitative transport prediction based on the gyrokinetic simulations, we develop a scheme with the aid of a reduced transport model. In the scheme, optimization techniques are applied to find relevant input parameters for nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations, which should be performed to obtain relevant transport fluxes and to optimize the reduced transport model for a target plasma. The developed scheme can reduce the numbers of the gyrokinetic simulations to perform the quantitative estimate of the turbulent transport levels and plasma profiles. Utilizing the scheme, the predictions for the turbulent transport can be realized by performing the first-principle simulations once for each radial position.

Study question Does postponement of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) timing after spindle visualization for Metaphase I (MI) oocytes improve developmental outcomes of embryos? Summary answer Postponement of ICSI timing after spindle visualization for MI oocytes improves blastocyst utility rates. What is known already Immature oocytes are generally considered poor developmental outcomes. Meanwhile, the timing of ICSI adjusted by using spindle visualization can improve clinically utilized embryos and live birth rates, but these outcomes remain inferior to those of mature oocytes. In in vitro maturation culture, nuclear maturation is thought to occur before the completion of cytoplasmic maturation, and in immature oocytes, synchronization of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation may be insufficient for ICSI immediately after spindle visualization. Study design, size, duration Data for this retrospective cohort study were obtained 672 oocytes retrieved under mild stimulation cycles using letrozole, in patients aged younger than 39 years between April 2017 and October 2020.Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. This study was approved by the institutional review board. Participants/materials, setting, methods As a control group, 464 MetaphaseIIoocytes that underwent ICSI immediately after visualization of the spindle were used. In group A, 103 MI oocytes underwent ICSI immediately after the first polar body release and spindle visualization, and in group B, 105 oocytes underwent ICSI 2–3 hours after spindle visualization. The primary outcomes were fertilization rates, degeneration, cleavage, embryo blastocyst formation, and utility rates. Outcomes were compared among the three groups. Main results and the role of chance The baseline fertilization rates of each group (control, A, B) were 82.3% (382/464), 73.8% (76/103), and 83.8% (88/105), respectively. The rate was significantly lower in group A than in the control group (P Limitations, reasons for caution The optimal timing of ICSI for MI oocyte cannot be determined by the presence or absence of spindles. In addition, the postponement duration we set was based on reports which reported on final oocyte maturation, and further investigation is needed to establish the optimal ICSI timing for MI oocytes. Wider implications of the findings: In MI oocytes, postponement of ICSI timing after spindle visualization is essential for synchronization of the nucleus and cytoplasmic maturation. Trial registration number none

Study question Are one live birth rates (LBRs) similar in minimal stimulation cycle IVF with letrozole only and natural cycle IVF for the first ART cycle? Summary answer LBRs after first ART cycle in minimal stimulation cycle IVF with letrozole only are superior to natural cycle IVF. What is known already The addition of letrozole to gonadotropins in ovarian stimulation (OS) may reduce the risk of OHSS, but there is no significant difference were reported in ongoing pregnancy rate or number of oocytes retrieved in the letrozole + FSH group compared to the FSH only. No differences were also reported in clinical pregnancy rates or number of mature oocytes in the additional of letrozole in an GnRH antagonist protocol group compared to the GnRH antagonist group. There are no previous study comparing LBRs after first ART cycle in minimal stimulation cycle IVF with letrozole and natural cycle IVF. Study design, size, duration Data for this retrospective cohort study were obtained 643 women, 30–39 years of age started their first ART cycle at one private fertility clinic between January 2016- December 2019. Participants/materials, setting, methods A total of 643 women were scheduled their first oocyte retrieval cycle. 118 women started with letrozole (LE) and 525 women started natural cycle (NC). The main strategy for OS in our center is minimal stimulation and natural cycle IVF. Patients consulted with gynecologists to determine their treatment plan based on patients’ preference or their menstrual cycle. All pregnancies generated from oocyte retrieval during the first IVF cycle including fresh and frozen-thaw cycles were registered. Main results and the role of chance The number of retrieved oocytes and the normal fertilization rates were significantly higher in the LE than NC (4.4 vs 3.4, 77.6% vs 71.1%), p Limitations, reasons for caution The strength of the present study was the use of a large cohort of women who underwent minimal stimulation IVF with letrozole only. Although our results are promising, limited by retrospective cohort study. These interpretations prompted the need for a perspective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy of letrozole. Wider implications of the findings: When comparing minimal stimulation IVF with letrozole only and natural cycle IVF, we found significantly higher LBRs per OR in minimal stimulation IVF with letrozole only, despite similar CPRs per ET. Trial registration number none

A novel nonlinear functional relation of turbulence potential intensity, zonal flow potential intensity, and ion thermal diffusivity that accurately reproduces nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations of toroidal ion temperature gradient (ITG) driven turbulence is proposed. Applying mathematical optimization techniques to find extremal solutions in high-dimensional parameter space, the optimal regression parameters in the functional form are determined to be valid for both near- and far-marginal regime of the ITG stability including the Dimits-shift. Then, the regression error of ∼5% is accomplished. In addition, it is clarified that the intensity ratio of the zonal flow and turbulence potential intensity is a crucial factor to determine the reproduction accuracy.

Microinstabilities such as ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode and trapped electron mode (TEM) in quasi-axisymmetric (QA) stellarator are investigated by using gyrokinetic Vlasov simulations, where the QA configuration of Chinese first quasi-axisymmetric stellarator is utilized. Extensive parameter scans with respect to the density and temperature gradients for the zero beta cases identify the microinstability maps that indicate the transition boundary among ITG and TEM. It is found that, in particular for the modes with the ion-gyroradius scale, a relatively more stabilized regime appears along the transition boundary of ITG–TEM. Such a valley-like stability structure is not observed in the other cases with the sub-ion-gyroradius-scale. A stabilization effect attributed to the hollow density profile is also demonstrated.

We assess the magnetic field configuration in modern fusion devices by comparing experiments with the same heating power, between a stellarator and a heliotron. The key role of turbulence is evident in the optimized stellarator, while neoclassical processes largely determine the transport in the heliotron device. Gyrokinetic simulations elucidate the underlying mechanisms promoting stronger ion scale turbulence in the stellarator. Similar plasma performances in these experiments suggests that neoclassical and turbulent transport should both be optimized in next step reactor designs.

Over the past 24 years, the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) program has provided highly accurate remote-sensing characterization of aerosol optical and physical properties for an increasingly extensive geographic distribution including all continents and many oceanic island and coastal sites. The measurements and retrievals from the AERONET global network have addressed satellite and model validation needs very well, but there have been challenges in making comparisons to similar parameters from in situ surface and airborne measurements. Additionally, with improved spatial and temporal satellite remote sensing of aerosols, there is a need for higher spatial-resolution ground-based remote-sensing networks. An effort to address these needs resulted in a number of field campaign networks called Distributed Regional Aerosol Gridded Observation Networks (DRAGONs) that were designed to provide a database for in situ and remote-sensing comparison and analysis of local to mesoscale variability in aerosol properties. This paper describes the DRAGON deployments that will continue to contribute to the growing body of research related to meso- and microscale aerosol features and processes. The research presented in this special issue illustrates the diversity of topics that has resulted from the application of data from these networks.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most deadly cancer in the US, with a meager 5-year survival rate of less than 20%. Such unfavorable numbers are closely related to the heterogeneity of the disease and the unsatisfactory therapies currently used to manage patients with invasive HCC. Outside of the clinic, gene therapy research is evolving to overcome the poor responses and toxicity associated with standard treatments. The inadequacy of gene delivery vectors, including poor intracellular delivery and cell specificity, are major barriers in the gene therapy field. Herein, we described a non-viral strategy for effective and cancer-specific DNA delivery to human HCC using biodegradable Poly(Beta-Amino Ester) (PBAE) nanoparticles (NPs). Varied PBAE NP formulations were evaluated for transfection efficacy and cytotoxicity to a range of human HCC cells as well as healthy human hepatocytes. To address HCC heterogeneity, nine different sources of human HCC cells were utilized. The polymeric NPs composed of 2-((3-aminopropyl)amino)ethanol end-modified poly(1,5-pentanediol diacrylate-co-3-amino-1-propanol) (‘536’) at a 25 polymer-to-DNA weight-to-weight ratio led to high transfection efficacy to all of the liver cancer lines, but not to hepatocytes. Each individual HCC line had a significantly higher percentage of exogenous gene expression than the healthy liver cells (P < 0.01). Notably, this biodegradable end-modified PBAE gene delivery vector was not cytotoxic and maintained the viability of hepatocytes above 80%. In a HCC/hepatocyte co-culture model, in which cancerous and healthy cells share the same micro-environment, 536 25 w/w NPs specifically transfected cancer cells. PBAE NP administration to a subcutaneous HCC mouse model, established with one of the human lines tested in vitro, confirmed effective DNA transfection in vivo. PBAE-based NPs enabled high and preferential DNA delivery to HCC cells, sparing healthy hepatocytes. These biodegradable and liver cancer-selective NPs are a promising technology to deliver therapeutic genes to liver cancer.

1,3-Dithianes are widely used as carbonyl protecting groups as they are stable under both acidic and basic conditions. They are intermediates in desulfurization reactions and they also enable carbonyl umpolung by metalation. This chapter discusses advances in 1,3-dithiane synthesis published since 2007, including solid-supported thioacetalization reactions.

1,3-Dithiepanes are less common than 1,3-dithiolanes or 1,3-dithianes, but are also used in the thioacetalization of carbonyl compounds. This chapter covers methods published since 2007, including fused rings with hidden 1,3-dithiepane substructures.

a b s t r a c t In this letter, we report a detailed study of the influence of the synthesis and the optical properties of Sr-doped MgTO3 powders synthesized via a polymeric precursor method. Our findings explain the shift in PL behavior from blue to near-infrared (NIR) emission, which is caused by different concentrations of deep and shallow defects in the samples and thus enables the design of differently colored materials. Additionally, the present results provide useful insights into designing a new series of NIR-emitting materials that have potential applications in emerging technologies ranging from optoelectronics to the biomedical field.

The ratio of mitral peak early diastolic filling to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e') reflects diastolic cardiac function in adults. Dual-gate Doppler (DD) enables measurements of E/e' in the same heart beat. This study was designed to assess the utility of the DD method for measurement of fetal E/e' and determine reference ranges for normal fetuses.This prospective study comprised normal singleton pregnancies undergoing fetal echocardiography between 16 and 36 weeks of gestation. According to the DD method, E-wave velocity on pulsed-wave Doppler and e'-wave on tissue Doppler imaging were measured simultaneously on an apical or basal four-chamber view, and fetal E/e' was calculated. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between gestational age (GA) and E-wave and e'-wave velocities and E/e'.A total of 133 pregnancies were included in this study and all E/e' measurements were successful. Significant correlation was observed between GA and both left ventricular (LV) E/e' (rBilateral E/e' of normal fetuses, measured using the DD method, decreased with GA, which is considered to be related to myocardial maturity. DD is a useful and convenient method for evaluating fetal E/e' in order to assess diastolic function in the prenatal period. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John WileySons Ltd.

Background and Objective Currently, cells for transplantation in regenerative medicine are derived from either autologous or allogeneic tissue. The former has the drawbacks that the quality of donor cells may depend on the condition of the patient, while the quantity of the cells may also be limited. To solve these problems, we investigated the potential of allogeneic cardiac mesenchymal progenitors (CMPs) derived from postmortem hearts, which may be immunologically privileged similar to bone marrow–derived mesenchymal progenitors. Materials and Methods We examined whether viable CMPs could be isolated from C57/B6 murine cardiac tissues harvested at 24 hours postmortem. After 2- to 3-week propagation with a high dose of basic fibroblast growth factor, we performed cellular characteristics analyses, which included proliferation and differentiation property flow cytometry and microarray analyses. Results Postmortem CMPs had a longer lag phase after seeding than CMPs obtained from living tissues, but otherwise had similar characteristics in all the analyses. In addition, global gene expression analysis by microarray showed that cells derived from postmortem and living tissues had similar characteristics. Conclusion These results indicate that allogeneic postmortem CMPs have potential for cell transplantation because they circumvent the issue of both the quality and quantity of donor cells.

Nocturnal heat island formation is a prom inent phenomenon in urban planning research and thermal comfort. It is characterized by an increased air temperature from the periphery to the center of the cities and is partly caused by the urban geometry. The phenomenon is a result of the influence of the characteristics of urbanization, which alter the energy balance of the cities. Among surveys in this context, the model proposed by Oke (1981) shows its relevan ce in the area. Using simulations with reduced models, Oke found that the fraction of visible sky negatively correlated with the heat buildup on the surfaces and increased the air temperature. The relationship between the height of the buildings and the width of the path (H/W ratio, height/width) was used to measure the urban geometry in this previous study. Based on that study, this research verified the role of geometry in the formation of an urban heat island in a Brazilian city, aiming to adapt this model to real urban conditions. The methodological procedures rely on the following steps: a study of a theoretical-numerical base model (Oke model, 1981) and adjustment (validati on). Thus, the methodology to be employed included urban data collection, which include d urban geometry and air temperature, the application of the Oke model and its adjustme nt. The results found in this investigation corroborate the study of Oke (1981) and dem onstrate that urban geometry effectively contributes to the formation of nocturnal heat islands.

This study proposes the development of thermal and energy consumption maps to generate useful planning information. A residential neighbourhood in a medium-sized city was selected as the study area. In this area, 40 points were taken as urban reference points where air temperatures at the pedestrian level were collected. At the same time, rural temperatures made available by the city meteorological station were registered. Data of electrical energy consumption of the building units (houses and apartments) were collected through a household survey that was also designed to identify the users’ income levels. Then, maps were developed so that the configuration of urban heat islands and electrical energy consumption could be visualised, compared and analysed. The results showed that the income level was the most important variable influencing electrical energy consumption. However, a strong relationship of the consumption with the thermal environment was also observed.

When a potential is applied to a liquid silicate slag, bubbles of oxygen can be produced. Under certain conditions, these bubbles can be observed to redissolve in the liquid slag. This occurs under isothermal conditions when the potential is eliminated and under a thermal gradient during the application of a potential. There are two potential reasons for this observation: molecular solubility or the depolymerization of chains of silicate ions. Both hypotheses are discussed with the suggestion that depolymerization of chains of silicate ions may be responsible for the observed bubble dissolution behavior.

High temperatures are known to reduce fruit size and fruit weight in strawberry, but cultivar differences in the response to high temperature stress during the reproductive stage up to the second inflorescence have not been sufficiently reported. We examined the effect of two day/night temperature regimes on fruit set and fruit growth in two cultivars, ‘Nyoho’ and ‘Toyonoka’. A high day/night temperature of 30/25 °C reduced the number of inflorescences, flowers, and fruits in both cultivars compared with plants grown at 23/18 °C. The percentage of fruit set in ‘Nyoho’ was not significantly different between the two temperature treatments, while that in ‘Toyonoka’ was much lower at 30/25 °C than at 23/18 °C. Days to ripening was shorter at 30/25 °C than at 23/18 °C, and no cultivar differences were observed. Fresh weight of primary, secondary, and tertiary fruits was greater at 23/18 °C than at 30/25 °C in both cultivars, and no cultivar differences were observed, except in tertiary fruits. The diameter of fruits from all positions was also reduced at 30/25 °C in both cultivars. Relative growth rates of fruits showed two peaks in both cultivars and in both temperature treatments. Both peaks appeared earlier at 30/25 °C than at 23/18 °C. Percentage of fruit set at 30/25 °C in the second inflorescence was also significantly lower in ‘Toyonoka’ than in ‘Nyoho’. These results indicate that high temperature stress negatively affects the reproductive process in strawberry and that plant response to high temperature stress is cultivar-related in such responses.

耕作放棄後約40年が経過し, 現在は森林になっている新潟県佐渡島の中山間地にある放棄棚田において, 森林の成立に関わる要因を調査した。本調査地では, コナラやクリを主とした樹木の侵入が棚田の放棄前後から始まり, その後20年くらいの間に徐々に進んでいた。放棄棚田における森林の成立には, 斜面位置による地下水位と, 棚田面・畦・法面といった微地形による土壌の水分環境が強く影響していた。斜面上側では地下水位が低いために土壌含水率が高くなく, 棚田面・畦・法面にともに樹木が生育していた。しかし, 斜面下側ほど地下水位が高いために棚田面の土壌含水率が高く, 樹木は過湿な土壌環境が緩和された畦や法面におもに生育し, それらによって林冠が閉鎖されていた。法面では傾斜が土壌含水率や樹木の生育に影響を与えていた。棚田の微地形間での樹種分布の違いには, 種子の散布様式や土壌の水分環境に対する生理的な耐性も関係していると考えられた。

This paper describes practical solutions for constructing a ubiquitous network in building and home control systems. A hybrid network, which consists of a low power ad-hoc wireless network and a power/pipe line communication network with high frequency band dispersed-tone method, is developed. We have constructed appliance control systems by utilizing the proposed hybrid network system and have installed them in an actual building and home to evaluate their reliability and capability. High reliability and capability of the network system have been confirmed through the field test.

Transmission loss and radiated electric field characteristics of the pipe-based transmission line as new transmission medium are calculated by using the method of moment, and it is clear that the calculated values almost agreed with measured values. In addition, it is confirmed that the pipe based transmission system can obtain dynamic range of about 56 dB and realize secure transmission, even if the radiated electric field from the pipe-based transmission line comply with the limit of the information technology equipment specified by VCCI.

A prototype cryomodule containing two 9-cell superconducting cavities of β = 0.725 and f 0 = 972 MHz had been constructed under the collaboration of Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) and High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) on the development of superconducting LINAC for Accelerator Driven System (ADS). Cool-down tests to 2 K of the cryomodule and high power rf tests with a 972 MHz pulsed klystron have been carried out. Rf power of 350 kW in pulsed operation of 3 m s and 25 Hz was transferred to a 9-cell cavity through an input coupler. Accelerating gradients of 14 MV/m (compared to the specification of 10 MV/m) have been achieved in both cavities. Compensation of Lorentz-force detuning by a piezo tuner was successfully demonstrated.

A case of periodontitis in a young adolescent Japanese girl with Down's syndrome is presented in this report. The patient received a monthly preventive course of dental care consisting of mechanical plaque control and oral hygiene instruction. After 2.5 years she recovered from progression of periodontal disease both clinically and microbiologically. The importance of clinical care for periodontitis in Down's syndrome patients is discussed.

Any polar-ordered material with a spatially uniform polarization field is internally frustrated: The symmetry-required local preference for polarization is to be nonuniform, i.e., to be locally bouquet-like or “splayed.” However, it is impossible to achieve splay of a preferred sign everywhere in space unless appropriate defects are introduced into the field. Typically, in materials like ferroelectric crystals or liquid crystals, such defects are not thermally stable, so that the local preference is globally frustrated and the polarization field remains uniform. Here, we report a class of fluid polar smectic liquid crystals in which local splay prevails in the form of periodic supermolecular-scale polarization modulation stripes coupled to layer undulation waves. The polar domains are locally chiral, and organized into patterns of alternating handedness and polarity. The fluid-layer undulations enable an extraordinary menagerie of filament and planar structures that identify such phases.