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Objective: The efficacy of docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (DCF) therapy in treating esophageal cancer has been reported. However, febrile neutropenia (FN) is a potentially serious adverse event of DCF therapy with an incidence of 10 to 40%. Pegfilgrastim, a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), has been shown to have a primary prophylactic role in FN. However, it has been suggested that excessive use of expensive G-CSF should be avoided. Therefore, we performed a cost-utility analysis of primary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim. Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis using decision tree modelling.Methods: We used a decision tree analysis model based on the report of primary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim. Based on a previous study, the FN incidence rate was set at 40.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 11.9–68.1) for the pegfilgrastim group and 43.5% (95%CI: 21.6–65.4) for the no pegfilgrastim group. The FN treatment cost was US$726.63, and the duration of FN was 3.65±1.20 days. The utility value of patients who received DCF therapy was 0.643, and the change in utility value at FN onset was -0.15. Expected cost, quality-adjusted life year (QALY), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated, and cost-utility analysis was performed.Results: The ICER of pegfilgrastim was 184,976.75 USD/QALY. As a result of sensitivity analysis, the utility of FN had the greatest impact on the cost-effectiveness analysis, followed by the drug cost of pegfilgrastim.Conclusion: Primary prophylaxis of FN with pegfilgrastim might not be cost-effectiveness. In determining whether to administer pegfilgrastim it is necessary to consider patient factors, not just the incidence of FN.

Aims. We study the dependence of the profiles of molecular abundances and line emission on the accretion flow in the hot ($\ga$100 K) inner region of protoplanetary disks.

We have modeled self-consistently the density and temperature profiles of gas and dust in protoplanetary disks, taking into account irradiation from a central star. Making use of this physical structure, we have calculated the level populations of molecular hydrogen and the line emission from the disks. As a result, we can reproduce the observed strong line spectra of molecular hydrogen from protoplanetary disks, both in the ultraviolet (UV) and the near-infrared, but only if the central star has a strong UV excess radiation.

We have made self-consistent models of the density and temperature profiles of the gas and dust surrounding embedded luminous objects using a detailed radiative transfer model together with observations of the spectral energy distribution of hot molecular cores. Using these profiles we have investigated the hot core chemistry which results when grain mantles are evaporated, taking into account the different binding energies of the mantle molecules, as well a model in which we assume that all molecules are embedded in water ice and have a common binding energy. We find that most of the resulting column densities are consistent with those observed toward the hot core G34.3+0.15 at a time around 104years after central luminous star formation. We have also investigated the dependence of the chemical structure on the density profile which suggests an observational possibility of constraining density profiles from determination of the source sizes of line emission from desorbed molecules.

We describe a large-scale far-infrared line and continuum survey of protoplanetary disk through to young debris disk systems carried out using the ACS instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory. This Open Time Key program, known as GASPS (Gas Survey of Protoplanetary Systems), targeted ?250 young stars in narrow wavelength regions covering the [OI] fine structure line at 63 ?m the brightest far-infrared line in such objects. A subset of the brightest targets were also surveyed in [OI]145 ?m, [CII] at 157 ?m, as well as several transitions of H2O and high-excitation CO lines at selected wavelengths between 78 and 180 ?m. Additionally, GASPS included continuum photometry at 70, 100 and 160 ?m, around the peak of the dust emission. The targets were SED Class II-III T Tauri stars and debris disks from seven nearby young associations, along with a comparable sample of isolated Herbig AeBe stars. The aim was to study the global gas and dust content in a wide sample of circumstellar disks, combining the results with models in a systematic way. In this overview paper we review the scientific aims, target selection and observing strategy of the program. We summarise some of the initial results, showing line identifications, listing the detections, and giving a first statistical study of line detectability. The [OI] line at 63 ?m was the brightest line seen in almost all objects, by a factor of ?10. Overall [OI]63 ?m detection rates were 49%, with 100% of HAeBe stars and 43% of T Tauri stars detected. A comparison with published disk dust masses (derived mainly from sub-mm continuum, assuming standard values of the mm mass opacity) shows a dustmass threshold for [OI]63 ?m detection of ?10-5M?. Normalising to a distance of 140 pc, 84% of objects with dust masses ?10-5M?can be detected in this line in the present survey; 32% of those of mass 10-6-10-5M?, and only a very small number of unusual objects with lower masses can be detected. This is consistent with models with a moderate UV excess and disk flaring. For a given disk mass, [OI] detectability is lower for Mstars compared with earlier spectral types. Both the continuum and line emission was, in most systems, spatially and spectrally unresolved and centred on the star, suggesting that emission in most cases was from the disk. Approximately 10 objects showed resolved emission, most likely from outflows. In the GASPS sample, [OI] detection rates in T Tauri associations in the 0.3-4 Myr age range were ?50%. For each association in the 5-20 Myr age range, ?2 stars remain detectable in [OI]63 ?m, and no systems were detected in associations with age >20 Myr. Comparing with the total number of young stars in each association, and assuming a ISM-like gas/dust ratio, this indicates that ?18% of stars retain a gas-rich disk of total mass ?1 MJupiterfor 1-4 Myr, 1-7% keep such disks for 5-10 Myr, but none are detected beyond 10-20 Myr. The brightest [OI] objects from GASPS were also observed in [OI]145 ?m, [CII]157 ?m and CO J= 18 - 17, with detection rates of 20-40%. Detection of the [CII] line was not correlated with disk mass, suggesting it arises more commonly from a compact remnant envelope.

In this study, we characterized the image quality of two types of indirect-conversion flat-panel detectors: an X-ray incident-side photo-detection system (IS) and an X-ray penetration-side photo-detection system (PS). These detectors consist of a Gd2O2S:Tb (GOS) scintillator coupled with a photodiode thin film transistor (PD-TFT) array on a glass substrate. The detectors have different X-ray incident directions, glass substrates, and scintillators. We also characterized the effects of layered scintillator structures on the image quality by using a single-layered scintillator containing large phosphor grains and a double-layered scintillator consisting of a layer of large phosphor grains and a layer of small phosphor grains. The IS system consistently demonstrated a higher MTF than the PS system for a scintillator of the same thickness. Moreover, the IS system showed a higher DQE than the PS system when a thick scintillator was used. While the double-layered scintillators were useful for improving the MTF in both systems, a thick single-layered scintillator was preferable for obtaining a high DQE when the IS system was applied. These results indicate that an IS system can efficiently utilize the light emitted from the phosphor at the far side of the PD without the occurrence of blurring. The use of IS systems makes it possible to increase the thickness of the scintillator layer for improving the sensitivity without reducing the MTF, which increases the DQE. The DQE of the IS system was 1.2 times that of the PS system, despite the absorption of X-rays at the glass substrate before entering the phosphor.

Tracheostomy has been employed to release the airway obstruction at the glottic level and to prevent sudden death in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). However, sudden death is possible even after tracheostomy. Nocturnal polysomnography showed that the apnea–hypopnea index became higher after tracheostomy, and all tracheostomized patients had frequent central sleep apneas.

Neural stem/progenitor cells capable of generating new neurons and glia, reside in specific areas of the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS), including the ependymal region of the spinal cord and the subventricular zone (SVZ), hippocampus, and dentate gyrus of the brain. Much is known about the neurogenic regions in the CNS, and their response to various stimuli including injury, neurotrophins (NFs), morphogens, and environmental factors like learning, stress, and aging. This work has shaped our current views about the CNS's potential to recover lost tissue and function post-traumatically and the therapies to support the intrinsic regenerative capacity of the brain or spinal cord. Recently, intensive research has explored the potential of harvesting, culturing, and transplanting neural stem/progenitors as a therapeutic intervention for spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Another strategy has focused on maximizing the potential of this endogenous population of cells by stimulating their recruitment, proliferation, migration, and differentiation in vivo following traumatic lesions to the CNS. The promise of such experimental treatments has prompted tissue and biomaterial engineers to implant synthetic three-dimensional biodegradable scaffolds seeded with neural stem/progenitors into CNS lesions. Although there is no definitive answer about the ideal cell type for transplantation, strong evidence supports the use of region specific neural stem/progenitors. The technical and logistic considerations for transplanting neural stem/progenitors are extensive and crucial to optimizing and maintaining cell survival both before and after transplantation, as well as for tracking the fate of transplanted cells. These issues have been systematically addressed in many animal models, that has improved our understanding and approach to clinical therapeutic paradigms.

A systematic series of triarylbismuthane oxides was prepared in order to disclose their structure and reactivity, which have been compared with those of lighter pnictogen counterparts. X-ray crystallographic analysis of tris(2-methoxyphenyl)bismuthane oxide and tris(2-methoxyphenyl)stibane oxide revealed that they exist as dimers with a flat bis(μ-oxo) ring, implying that the polarized Bi⁺−O^- and Sb⁺−O^- bonds aggregate to attain electrostatic stabilization. In sharp contrast to their phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony counterparts, triarylbismuthane oxides are thermally unstable and possess a high oxidizing ability. In particular, the bismuthane oxides bearing ortho-substituted aryl ligands oxidized primary and secondary alcohols to aldehydes and ketones, respectively, with high efficiency under mild conditions.

The ultrasonic absorption spectra of aqueous solutions of polyacrylate (PA), polyphosphate (PP), and polystyrenesulfonate (PSS), neutralized by tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH), were measured. The effects of addition of tetramethylammonium chloride (TMACl) and sodium chloride (NaCl) to the polyelectrolyte solutions were investigated in the frequency range from 500 kHz to 100 MHz. Two ultrasonic relaxation processes due to the local segmental motions were observed. The relaxation frequency for TMAPP solution decreased as the ionic strength was increased by the addition of TMACl. For the other two polymer solutions, the ionic strength did not affect the relaxation spectra. The addition of NaCl led to an increase of the ultrasonic absorption, which was ascribed to ion binding. The ultrasonic absorption due to the ion binding was estimated by subtracting the contribution of the segmental motion from the measuring ultrasonic spectra. The volume changes accompanying the ion binding for polyacrylate and polyphosphate salts were estimated to be 5 and 8 cm3-mol−1, respectively.

For ultrasonically induced birefringence in polymer solutions, both the linear sinusoidal birefringence and the nonlinear stationary birefringence were observed. The sign and value of the stationary ultrasonically induced birefringence depended on the molecular structure of segment and its anisotropy in polarizability. Furthermore, no molecular weight dependence could be observed above the molecular weight 104. The theory based on the viscoelastic ones using the Rouse-Zimm model could not explain our experimental results as a whole. These results strongly suggest that the stationary ultrasonically induced birefringence should be caused by the local segmental motion of polymer chain in solution. For all polymer solutions investigated here, the stationary birefringence per ultrasonic intensity decreased with increasing frequency. This frequency dependence is not consistent with the present treatment for the ultrasonically induced birefringence.

AbstractAims: To determine the effect of preoperative factors on the foveal thickness following vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema. Methods: Fifty-eight eyes of 47 patients underwent vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema. In all eyes, no clear, visible vitreomacular traction was present. Twelve eyes were pseudophakic before vitrectomy, and 31 eyes underwent concurrent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent effect of age, history of photocoagulation, diabetic retinopathy status, preoperative posterior vitreous detachment, HbA1c and serum creatinine levels within 2 weeks before surgery, lens status after surgery and follow-up period on the foveal thickness determined by optical coherence tomography. Results: The median preoperative visual acuity was 20/100 (range from 20/500 to 20/20), and the median postoperative visual acuity was 20/70 (range from 20/500 to 20/13). The preoperative visual acuity (logarithm of minimal angle of resolution; logMAR) was 0.73 ± 0.36 (mean ± SD; 20/107 Snellen acuity), and the mean postoperative logMAR visual acuity was 0.60 ± 0.39 (20/80), which was significantly better than the mean preoperative value (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.011). The mean ± SD of preoperative foveal thickness was 475.9 ± 172.5 μm, and the mean postoperative foveal thickness was 277.3 ± 171.9 μm. The mean postoperative foveal thickness was significantly thinner than the preoperative thickness (Student’s paired t test, p < 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a preoperative low HbA1c and postoperative pseudophakia were independently associated with the decrease in foveal thickness (p = 0.01, p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions: The greater reduction in foveal thickness in eyes with an IOL probably resulted from a relatively larger amount of vitreous being removed during the vitrectomy. Because the decrease in foveal thickness may be related to the preoperative glycemic control and the amount of vitreous, these factors should be considered in the planning for vitrectomy.

This paper provides the numerical simulation model of the gas flow through the sand core. When the sand core is used in the casting, the core is heated to release gas which causes casting defect. It is necessary to exhaust the gas in order to obtain a sound casting product without defects caused by gas entrapped. As a technique to decide the locations of gas vents, knowing the distribution of pressure and velocity in the core by numerical simulation is one of the key methods to give sound castings. In this study, Ergun's equation is used as the fundamental equation considering the variation of characteristics of the sand core. The governing equations for the gas are solved by the SIMPLE method. The experiments are done to verify the model. As the result of tuning up parameters by comparing the result of simulation with the experiment, it becomes possible to estimate pressure distribution, velocity, and flow quantity with enough precision. From these results, the present simulation provides the useful information for deciding the positions of gas vents.

Local pressurization is a squeeze method for eliminating the shrinkage porosity. In this study, local pressurization was carried out with a specially designed permanent mold to examine the effect of pressurization on the shrinkage porosity through the investigation of macrostructure, partial density variation under the pin tip for two types of aluminium alloys of hypoeutectic (AC4B) and eutectic (ADC12). Then copper concentration at the different positions in AC4B casting was analysed in order to investigate segregation. And in order to estimate the flow of liquid or solid-liquid zone by local pressurization, the ratio of flowing volume of two alloys was measured with varied pressurization timing and different pressures. The solid fraction of flowing zone was calculated by the use of both the solidification simulation and the characteristic macrostructure change of flowing zone. The solid fraction indicates the fraction within which the present pressurization can induce interdendritic liquid flow.The results showed that the partial density of two alloys cannot be affected within the certain limits of pressurization timing for a given pressure and pressurizing speed, and does not increase obviously even if pressure increases, such as 64 to 128MPa for ADC12 casting. It was also found that the negative segregation of copper in AC4B casting occurred under the pin tip. The concentration of copper varied with distance from the pin tip. The degree of segregation was severe in the position 15mm distant from the pin tip. Opposite to the negative segregation, the positive segregation occurred in the upper zone around the pin. From the simulation, the maximum solid fraction of flowing zone, where interdendritic liquid moves, is shown to be about 0.46 and 0.53 for AC4B casting with pressure of 32 and 64Mpa, respectively.

The partial molar volume and partial molar compressibility of alkali−halide ions in aqueous solution at infinite dilution are calculated based on the RISM−Kirkwood−Buff theory. The theoretical results are in qualitative agreement with the corresponding experimental data. The volume and compressibility values are decomposed into the volume-exclusion and electrostriction contributions. The volume-exclusion effect qualitatively determines the dependence of the partial molar volume on the ion size, whereas the electrostriction effect dominates in the size dependence of the partial molar compressibility. The partial molar volume and compressibility are further analyzed by using the hydration shell model which enables us to distinguish a contribution from each hydration shell. For the primary hydration shell, we can make contact with the classical models of ion hydration proposed by Frank−Wen and Samoilov. Water molecules in the immediate vicinity of an ion always give a negative contribution to its partial molar volume. The first hydration shell makes a negative contribution to the partial molar compressibility for the ions classified with the “positive hydration” in terms of Samoilov's model and does the opposite contribution for those with the “negative hydration”. The reason the water structure around a negatively hydrated ion is more compressible is explained in terms of density fluctuations around the ions from a viewpoint of the Landau fluctuation formula for the thermodynamic response functions.

In order to extend the RH lower vessel campaign life and to recycle used retractories, MgO-C bricks were applied for the RH lower vessel. As a result, the campaign life of the lower vessel has been extended by approximately 15 % , compared with magnesia- chromite bricks normally used. It was further ensured that it was possible to refine ultra-low carbon steel under these conditions.

In order to extend the RH lower vessel campaign life and to recycle used retractories, MgO-C bricks were applied for the RH lower vessel. As a result, the campaign life of the lower vessel has been extended by approximately 15 % , compared with magnesia- chromite bricks normally used. It was further ensured that it was possible to refine ultra-low carbon steel under these conditions.

The stirring strength, cooling rate and solidified fraction in co-existing liquid/solid phases are important factors influencing mould filling behaviour of semi-solid metal slurry. In the present study the investigation is carried out on semi-solid processing of gray iron to clarify the effects of these factors. The results indicate that the apparent viscosity and primary particle morphology have pronounced effects on the filling ability of semi-solid slurry. The particle segregation in the solidified sample is observed between the upper and lower part of the sample and is shown to decrease with the increase of stirring in semi-solid state. Finally, raising the die temperature improves the mould filling ability while the primary particle size becomes larger.

Some cross-sectional studies have suggested that age, systolic blood pressure and obesity are positively related to intraocular pressure (IOP), but few longitudinal studies have examined this relationship. This study was carried out to evaluate the association between intraocular pressure and obesity by cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses in a large Japanese population.

The acoustic properties of PMMA poly(methyl methacrylate) deformed by tensile stress were investigated by the coherent Brillouin scattering method. The ultrasonic velocities of PMMA in steady stress–strain states were measured in the frequency range of 100 MHz to 1 GHz. The ultrasonic velocities decreased with increasing strain, and the ratio of the decrease increased with increasing strain rate. This result indicates that the crazing residues still remain in the steady stress–strain states, and the amount of the residues depends upon the strain rate. The velocity dispersion was observed around 400 MHz for virgin and deformed PMMA and reproduced with a single relaxation process. The relaxation process is assigned to the γ-relaxation according to the dispersion map for methyl group relaxation in PMMA. The relaxation frequency and strength were independent of the applied stress and strain. The viscoelastic and plastic deformations have little effect on the γ-relaxation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 978–986, 2000

Expression analysis of a novel cDNA isolated from immortal murine fibroblasts revealed a single transcript of 3.0 kilobase pairs that was highly expressed in mouse and human striated muscle and in mouse heart. The gene has therefore been named striamin. Its expression was confined to skeletal muscle types with a fast glycolytic (2B) contractile phenotype. It was also detected in C2C12 mouse myoblasts and was down-regulated during in vitro myogenesis. The cDNA has a single open reading frame encoding a predicted 16.8-kDa protein of 149 amino acids with no homology to known proteins. Microinjection and transfection of green fluorescence protein-tagged striamin demonstrated that it localizes to the nucleus. Coimmunoprecipitations revealed that it can interact with p53 (a positive marker for myoblast differentiation) in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, it repressed p53 activity in p53-mediated reporter assays. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with a mouse P1 genomic clone localized the gene to chromosome 12C3, which is syntenic to human chromosome 14q21-22.

We have isolated a novel liver-specific organic anion transporter, LST-1, that is expressed exclusively in the human, rat, and mouse liver. LST-1 is a new gene family located between the organic anion transporter family and prostaglandin transporter. LST-1 transports taurocholate (Km = 13.6 microM) in a sodium-independent manner. LST-1 also shows broad substrate specificity. It transports conjugated steroids (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol-17beta-glucuronide, and estrone-3-sulfate), eicosanoids (prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2, leukotriene C4, leukotriene E4), and thyroid hormones (thyroxine, Km = 3.0 microM and triiodothyronine, Km = 2.7 microM), reflecting hepatic multispecificity. LST-1 is probably the most important transporter in human liver for clearance of bile acids and organic anions because hepatic levels of another organic anion transporter, OATP, is very low. This is also the first report of the human molecule that transports thyroid hormones.

A colony‐stimulating factor (CSF) has been purified to homogeneity from the serum‐free medium conditioned by one of the human CSF‐producing tumor cell lines, CHU‐2. The molecule was a hydrophobic glycoprotein (mol. wt 19,000, pI = 6.1 as asialo form) with possible O‐linked glycosides. Amino acid sequence determination of the molecule gave a single NH2‐terminal sequence which had no homology to the corresponding sequence of the other CSFs previously reported. The biological activity was apparently specific for a neutrophilic granulocyte‐lineage of both human and mouse bone marrow cells with a specific activity of 2.7 X 10(8) colonies/10(5) non‐adherent human bone marrow cells/mg protein. The purified CSF can be regarded as a G‐CSF of human origin and will become a useful material for investigation of regulatory mechanisms of human granulopoiesis.

Two different cDNAs for human granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) were isolated from a cDNA library constructed with mRNA prepared from human squamous carcinoma cells, which produce G‐CSF constitutively. The nucleotide sequence analysis of both cDNAs indicated that two polypeptides coded by these cDNAs are different at one position where three amino acids are deleted/inserted. When the two cDNAs were introduced into monkey COS cells under the SV40 early promoter, both of them produced proteins having authentic G‐CSF activity and some difference in the specific activity was suggested. A human gene library was then screened with the G‐CSF cDNA and the DNA fragment containing the G‐CSF chromosomal gene was characterized by the nucleotide sequence analysis. The human G‐CSF gene is interrupted by four introns and a comparison of the structures of the two G‐CSF cDNAs with that of the chromosomal gene indicated that the two mRNAs are generated by alternative use of two 5′ splice donor sequences in the second intron of the G‐CSF gene. When the G‐CSF chromosomal gene was expressed in monkey COS cells by using the SV40 enhancer two mRNAs were detected by S1 mapping analysis.