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Abstract Transverse thermoelectric effect, the conversion of longitudinal heat current into transverse electric current, or vice versa, offers a promising energy harvesting technology. Materials with axis-dependent conduction polarity, known as p × n-type conductors or goniopolar materials, are potential candidate, because the non-zero transverse elements of thermopower tensor appear under rotational operation, though the availability is highly limited. Here, we report that a ternary metal LaPt2B with unique crystal structure exhibits axis-dependent thermopower polarity, which is driven by mixed-dimensional Fermi surfaces consisting of quasi-one-dimensional hole sheet with out-of-plane velocity and quasi-two-dimensional electron sheets with in-plane velocity. The ideal mixed-dimensional conductor LaPt2B exhibits an extremely large transverse Peltier conductivity up to ∣α y x ∣ = 130 A K−1 m−1, and its transverse thermoelectric performance surpasses those of topological magnets utilizing the anomalous Nernst effect. These results thus manifest the mixed-dimensionality as a key property for efficient transverse thermoelectric conversion.

Lifshitz transitions are being increasingly recognized as significant in a wide variety of strongly correlated and topological materials, and understanding the origin and influence of Lifshitz transitions is leading to deeper understanding of key aspects of magnetic, transport, or quantum critical behavior. In the ferromagnetic superconductor UCoGe, a magnetic field applied along the c axis has been shown to induce a series of anomalies in both transport and thermopower that may be caused by Lifshitz transitions. The need to understand the subtleties of the relationship between magnetism, superconductivity and a heavy-electron Fermi surface in the ferromagnetic superconductors makes it important to explore if and why a series of magnetic-field-induced Lifshitz transitions occurs in UCoGe. Here we report magnetic susceptibility measurements of UCoGe, performed at temperatures down to 45 mK and magnetic fields (μ_{0}H||c) up to 30 T. We observe a series of clearly defined features in the susceptibility, and multiple sets of strongly field-dependent de Haas-van Alphen oscillations, from which we extract detailed field dependence of the quasiparticle properties. We complement our experimental results with density functional theory band structure calculations, and include a simple model of the influence of magnetic field on the calculated Fermi surface. By comparing experimental and calculated results, we determine the likely shape of the Fermi surface and identify candidate Lifshitz transitions that could correspond to two of the features in susceptibility. We connect these results to the development of magnetization in the system.

In a magnetic field, superconductivity can be induced or reinforced near a metamagnetic transition, where ferromagnetic fluctuations are suspected to mediate the pairing strength of the Cooper pairs. Here, the authors investigate the superconductor UTe2 and report on the variation in the superconducting properties as the magnetic field is applied along two particular crystallographic axes and their relation to metamagnetism.

The recently discovered superconductor UTe_{2}, with a superconducting transition temperature T_{c} between 1.5 and 2 K, is attracting much attention due to strong suspicion of spin-triplet and topological superconductivity. Its properties under magnetic field are also remarkable, with field-reinforced (H∥b) and field-induced [H in the (b,c) plane] superconducting phases. Here, we report the first complete thermodynamic determination of the phase diagram for fields applied along the three crystallographic directions. For field along the easy a axis, we uncover a strong negative curvature of the upper critical field very close to T_{c}, revealing a strong suppression of the pairing strength at low magnetic fields. By contrast, measurements performed up to 36 T along the hard magnetization b axis confirm a bulk field-reinforced superconducting phase. Most of all, they also reveal the existence of a phase transition line within the superconducting phase. Drastic differences occur between the low-field and high-field phases pointing to different pairing mechanisms. Detailed analysis suggests a possible transition between a low-field spin-triplet to high-field spin-singlet state, a unique case among superconductors.

The strongly-correlated electron system URu2Si2 possesses a hidden-order phase whose order parameter remains unidentified. Here, the authors demonstrate the development of spin-density-wave phases in URu2Si2under high magnetic fields, providing a potential in-road to understanding this system.

Thermoelectric power (S) and Hall effect (R_{H}) measurements on the paramagnetic superconductor UTe_{2} with the magnetic field applied along the hard magnetization b axis are reported. The first-order nature of the metamagnetic transition at H_{m}=H_{c2}^{b}=35 T leads to drastic consequences on S and R_{H}. In contrast to the field dependence of the specific heat in the normal state through H_{m}, S(H) is not symmetric with respect to H_{m}. This implies a strong interplay between ferromagnetic fluctuations and a Fermi-surface reconstruction at H_{m}. R_{H} is very well described by incoherent skew scattering above the coherence temperature T_{m} corresponding roughly to the temperature of the maximum in the susceptibility T_{χ_{max}} and coherent skew scattering at lower temperatures. The discontinuous field dependence of both S(H) and the ordinary Hall coefficient R_{0}, at H_{m} and at low temperature, provides evidence of a change in the band structure at the Fermi level.

The distributions of monolignol glucosides (MLGs) in compression and opposite woods of Pinus thunbergii were assessed using cryo-time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry to investigate their involvement in lignification. p-Glucocoumaryl alcohol (PG) was identified in the region of the differentiating xylem adjacent to the cambial zone only in compression wood, whereas coniferin (CF) was similarly localized in both compression and opposite woods. Their distribution from the phloem to the xylem was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using serial tangential sections. Variations in storage amounts of CF and PG in the stem of P. thunbergii agreed with lignification stages of the tracheid, supporting the idea that MLGs act as a storage and transportation form of lignin precursors. The imaging of monolignol (ML)-dependent active lignification sites using fluorescence-tagged MLs supported distinct distribution patterns of MLGs for lignification in compression and opposite woods. Methylation-thioacidolysis was applied to compression and opposite wood samples to examine the structural difference between the guaiacyl (G) and p-hydroxyphenyl (H) units in lignin. Most of the H units in compression wood were detected as lignin end groups via thioacidolysis. PG was detected in opposite wood by HPLC; however, the H unit was not detected by thioacidolysis. The differences in ML and MLG distributions, enzyme activity, and resultant lignin structures between the G and H units suggest the possibility of individual mechanisms regulating the heterogeneous structures of G and H unit in lignin., (© 2024 The Author(s). The Plant Journal published by Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Although therapeutic human papillomavirus vaccines could offer a noninvasive treatment for patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, none has been clinically implemented. Oral administration of the therapeutic human papillomavirus vaccine IGMKK16E7 results in the histological regression of human papillomavirus 16-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 to normal (complete response). We investigated biomarkers that could predict complete response after oral administration of IGMKK16E7., Methods: Forty-two patients administered high-dose oral IGMKK16E7 in a phase I/II trial were included. Cervix-exfoliated cells were collected before vaccine administration. Gene expression of CD4, CD8, FOXP3, programmed cell death 1 protein, CTLA4, CD103, CD28, CD80, CD86, and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 in the cells was measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to explore potential biomarkers. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was used to correlate gene expression profiles with clinical outcome., Results: The only predictive biomarker of vaccine response for which receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed significant diagnostic performance with histological complete response was CD86 (area under the curve = 0.71, 95% confidence interval = 0.53 to 0.88, P = .020). Patients with complete response had significantly lower CD86 expression (CD86-low) than patients with no complete response (P = .035). The complete response rates for CD86-low and CD86-high patients were 50% and 19%, respectively, and CD86-low patients had a significantly higher complete response rate (P = .047). Compared with all patients, the CD86-low group had a 1.5-fold increase in the complete response rate. Gene expression of CD86 and CTLA4 showed the strongest positive correlation with clinical outcomes in the incomplete response group (P < .001)., Conclusion: Low expression of CD86 in exfoliated cervical cells can be used as a pretreatment biomarker to predict histological complete response after IGMKK16E7 administration., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Background: Tailored, preventive cancer care requires the identification of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) among potentially at-risk blood relatives (BRs). Cascade testing is carried out for BRs of probands who are positive for PGVs of an inherited cancer but not for negative probands. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of PGVs for BRs of PGV-negative probands., Methods: PGV prevalence was assessed for 682 BRs of 281 probands with BRCA1/BRCA2 wild-type hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome., Results: PGVs were discovered in 22 (45.8%) of the 48 BRs of the PGV-positive probands and in 14 (2.2%) of 634 BRs of the PGV-negative probands. Eleven PGVs on high-risk BRCA1, BRCA2, and TP53 genes were present only in BRs and not in the probands (probands vs BRs in Fisher exact test; p = 0.0104; odds ratio [OR] = 0.000 [0.000-0.5489 of 95% confidence interval]), partly due to the nature of the selection criteria. The enrichment of high-risk PGVs among BRs was also significant as compared with a non-cancer East Asian population (p = 0.0016; OR = 3.0791 [1.5521-5.6694]). PGV prevalence, risk class of gene, and genotype concordance were unaffected by the cancer history among BRs., Conclusion: These findings imply the necessity to construct a novel testing scheme to complement cascade testing., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: This study was conducted to determine the optimal monitoring after initial treatment of ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) using data from patients enrolled in the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group (JGOG) 3017 study. The JGOG study evaluated the efficacy of an irinotecan and cisplatin combination regimen compared with that of a paclitaxel and carboplatin regimen for OCCC patients who underwent primary surgery., Methods: Yielding 619 total patients in this study, to analyze progression-free and overall survival, the hazards over time were estimated using kernel smoothing curves to identify the peak of event occurrence. The number of progression events was summed by progression site, and the cumulative incidence proportion was estimated for the major progression sites, considering competing risks., Results: The peak hazard for progression or death was observed at 12 months post-treatment, and most events were observed by 24 months. The hazard for death peaked at 18 months post-treatment, with most events being observed by 48 months. The hazard for lung, liver, and spleen metastases remained constant for 18 months post-treatment, with a decreasing trend thereafter; most events were observed by 18 months. The hazard for peritoneal dissemination was constant for 12 months, with a decreasing trend thereafter, with most exacerbations observed by 24 months. The risk of pelvic recurrence peaked at 6 months, with most exacerbations observed by 24 months., Discussion: The incidence of progression events for OCCC peaked at 12 months and most progression events occurred within 24 months. Close follow-up for the initial 24 months post-treatment and fewer visits thereafter may be acceptable. However, closely monitoring symptoms and examining patients based on differences in progression rates at different sites may be important., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have declared no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate an association between the gut microbiome and efficacy of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) in ovarian cancer., Methods: This study conducted fecal microbiome analysis (16S rRNA gene sequencing) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) profiling for ovarian cancer patients who underwent PARPi maintenance therapy. Fecal and blood samples were collected at the baseline and the progressive disease (PD) or last follow-up. The relative abundance of gut microbes and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed using linear discriminant analysis of effect size and the Cox proportional hazard model according to BRCA1 / 2 mutation ( BRCA1 / 2 mut) status detected by ctDNA sequencing., Results: Baseline samples were available from 23 BRCA1 / 2 mut-positive patients and 33 BRCA1/2 mut-negative patients. The microbes enriched in the baseline samples with long PFS were Bifidobacterium , Roseburia , Dialister , Butyricicoccus , and Bilophila for BRCA1/2 mut-positive patients and Phascolarctobacterium for BRCA1/2 mut-negative patients. In multivariate analyses dividing patients by the median values of relative abundances, no bacteria were associated with PFS in BRCA1/2 mut-positive patients, whereas high Phascolarctobacterium abundances (≥1.11%) was significantly associated with longer PFS in BRCA1/2 mut-negative patients (median 14.0 vs. 5.9 months, hazard ratio=0.28; 95% confidence interval=0.11-0.69; p=0.014). In the last samples, the relative abundances of Phascolarctobacterium were significantly higher in patients without PD (n=5) than those with PD (n=15) (median 1.25% vs. 0.06%; p=0.016)., Conclusion: High fecal composition of Phascolarctobacterium was associated with prolonged PFS in patients with BRCA1/2 mut-negative ovarian cancer receiving PARPi therapy. Our results would provide new insights for future research., Competing Interests: Mika Okazawa-Sakai declares no competing interests. Shunsuke A. Sakai declares no competing interests. Ichinosuke Hyodo reports advisory roles for Asahi-Kasei, Ono, Taiho, Chugai, and Eisai Pharmaceutical Companies. Satoshi Horasawa declares no competing interests. Kentaro Sawada declares no competing interests. Takao Fujisawa reports honoraria from Amelieff Co. Ltd. Yasuko Yamamoto declares no competing interests. Shogen Boku reports honoraria from Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, and MSD. Yoh Hayasaki declares no competing interests. Masanori Isobe declares no competing interests. Daisuke Shintani declares no competing interests. Kosei Hasegawa reports honoraria from AstraZeneca, GSK, MSD, and Takeda; advisory role for GSK, MSD, and Takeda; research grants from MSD. Tomomi Egawa-Takata declares no competing interests. Kimihiko Ito reports honoraria from AstraZeneca. Kei Ihira declares no competing interests. Hidemichi Watari reports honoraria from AstraZeneca, Takeda, MSD, and Chugai. Kazuhiro Takehara reports honoraria from AstraZeneca, Takeda, MSD, Chugai, Eisai, and Sanofi. Hiroshi Yagi declares no competing interests. Kiyoko Kato declares no competing interests. Tatsuyuki Chiyoda reports research grants from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. Kenichi Harano reports honoraria from AstraZeneca, Chugai, Eizai, MSD, Taiho and Takeda, and advisory roles for AstraZeneca, Chugai, Eizai, Taiho and Takeda. Yoshiaki Nakamura declares advisory role from Guardant Health Pte Ltd., Natera, Inc., Roche Ltd., Seagen, Inc., Premo Partners, Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Exact Sciences Corporation, Gilead Sciences, Inc.; speakers' bureau from Guardant Health Pte Ltd., MSD K.K., Eisai Co., Ltd., Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Miyarisan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Merck Biopharma Co., Ltd., CareNet, Inc., Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc., Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Guardant Health Japan Corp; research funding from Seagen, Inc., Genomedia Inc., Guardant Health AMEA, Inc., Guardant Health, Inc., Tempus Labs, Inc., Roche Diagnostics K.K., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Riu Yamashita declares no competing interests. Takayuki Yoshino reports honoraria from Chugai Pharma, Takeda Pharma, Merck, Bayer Yakuhin, Ono Pharmaceutical and MSD K. K.; consulting fees from Sumitomo Corp.; and research grants from Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, FALCO Biosystems, Genomedia Inc., Medical & Biological Laboratories, Merus N.V., Molecular Health, MSD, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, Ono, Pfizer, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Sysmex, Taiho and Takeda. Daisuke Aoki reports honoraria from AstraZeneca, Takeda, MSD, Chugai, and Myriad Genetics., (© 2025. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology.)

Introduction: Needle-track seeding of prostate cancer into the rectal wall following transrectal prostate biopsy is exceedingly rare. We report a case of mucinous prostate cancer recurrence in the rectal wall due to biopsy needle seeding, discovered after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy., Case Presentation: A 67-year-old man underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for mucinous prostate cancer (clinical stage T2cN0M0, Gleason score of 4 + 4, and initial prostate-specific antigen level of 8.8 ng/mL). Five years postoperatively, endoscopy revealed a rectal tumor, which was diagnosed as needle-track seeding from the previous transrectal prostate biopsy. Following resection of this rectal tumor, the patient's prostate-specific antigen level fell to <0.008 ng/mL. No signs of recurrence or metastasis were observed 3 months postoperatively., Conclusion: While rare, transrectal prostate biopsies can pose a small risk of needle-track seeding into the rectal wall. Endorectal examination should be considered if biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer occurs following radical prostatectomy., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). IJU Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Urological Association.)

Introduction: Retrocaval ureter is a rare congenital anomaly that causes ureteral obstruction. Because of the rarity of retrocaval ureter, only a few cases of open, laparoscopic, or robot-assisted surgery have been reported. We herein report a case of retrocaval ureter that was successfully reconstructed with robot-assisted surgery., Case Presentation: A 24-year-old woman was incidentally diagnosed with right hydronephrosis on ultrasonography. Computed tomography revealed retrocaval ureter, and the right hydronephrosis was attributed to the retrocaval ureter. The patient underwent robot-assisted right ureteral reconstruction in the left lateral decubitus position. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred, and no right hydronephrosis was observed 6 months after the operation., Conclusion: The present case demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of robot-assisted ureteral reconstruction for retrocaval ureter., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). IJU Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Urological Association.)

Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of niraparib in Japanese women with heavily pretreated ovarian cancer., Methods: This was the follow-up analysis of a phase 2, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study in Japanese women with homologous recombination-deficient, platinum-sensitive, relapsed, high-grade serous epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who had completed 3-4 lines of chemotherapy and were poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor naïve. Participants received niraparib (starting dose, 300 mg) once daily in continuous 28-day cycles until objective disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or consent withdrawal. The primary endpoint was confirmed objective response rate (ORR), as assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Safety evaluations included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs)., Results: 20 patients were enrolled in the study and included in both efficacy and safety analyses. Median total study duration was 759.5 days. Median dose intensity was 201.3 mg/day. Confirmed ORR was 60.0% (90% confidence interval [CI]=39.4-78.3); 2 patients had complete response and 10 patients had partial response. Median duration of response was 9.9 months (95% CI=3.9-26.9) and the disease control rate was 90.0% (95% CI=68.3-98.8). The most common TEAEs were anemia (n=15), nausea (n=12), and decreased platelet count (n=11). TEAEs leading to study drug dose reduction, interruption, or discontinuation were reported in 16 (80.0%), 15 (75.0%), and 2 patients (10.0%), respectively., Conclusion: The long-term efficacy and safety profile of niraparib was consistent with previous findings in the equivalent population in non-Japanese patients. No new safety signals were identified., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03759600., Competing Interests: Daisuke Aoki declares the receipt of consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Chugai, MSD, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, and honoraria from AstraZeneca, Chugai, MSD, Myriad Genetics, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. Tsutomu Tabata declares the receipt of lecture fees from AstraZeneca, Chugai, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. Satoshi Yanagida, Toshiaki Nakamura and Hidekatsu Nakai declare the receipt of lecture fees from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. Kenichi Harano declares the receipt of grants from AstraZeneca, Chugai, Daiichi Sankyo, MSD, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, and speaker fees from Astra Zeneca, Chugai, Eisai, MSD, Taiho, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. Kenichi Harano also declares an advisory role for AstraZeneca, Chugai, Taiho and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, and receipt of institutional research funding from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. Kosei Hasegawa declares the receipt of research grants from Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, MSD, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, honoraria from AstraZeneca, Chugai, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, Genmab, Kaken, Kyowa Kirin, MSD, Sanofi, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, and travel expenses from Regeneron. Kosei Hasegawa is also on the advisory board of Chugai, Eisai, Genmab, MSD, Roche, Sanofi, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. Shinichi Komiyama declares the receipt of consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Chugai, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, and MSD, and honoraria from AstraZeneca, Chugai, Eisai, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. Kazuhiro Takehara declares the receipt of speaker bureaus fees from AstraZeneca, MSD, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, and manuscript writing fees from MSD. Yoichi Kase and Ai Kato are employees of, and hold stocks in Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. Shuuji Sumino and Junpei Soeda are employees of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. Ajit Suri is an employee of Millennium Pharmaceuticals, part of Takeda, and holds stocks in Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. Aikou Okamoto declares the receipt of honoraria from ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, AstraZeneca, Bayer Holding Ltd, Chugai, Covidien Japan Inc., Eisai, Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd, Johnson & Johnson K.K., Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, MSD, Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Myriad Genetics G.K., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, and Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Aikou Okamoto also declares the receipt of institutional grants from ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, AstraZeneca, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd, Gyne Mom Co., Ltd, Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Linical Co., Ltd, Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd, Merck BioPharma Japan, Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, MSD, Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd, Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, and Tsumura & Co. Other authors have no conflict of interest to disclose., (© 2024. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology.)

Objective: Hospital treatment volume affects survival in patients with endometrial cancer; notably, initial treatment at high-volume centers improves survival outcomes. Our study assessed the effect of hospital treatment volume on cost-effectiveness and survival outcomes in patients with endometrial cancer in Japan., Methods: A decision-analytic model was evaluated using the following variables and their impact on cost-effectiveness: 1) hospital treatment volume (low-, intermediate-, and high-volume centers) and 2) postoperative recurrent risk factors based on pathological findings (high- and intermediate-risk or low-risk). Data were obtained from the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology database, systematic literature searches, and the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) was used as a measure of effectiveness. The model was built from a public healthcare perspective and the impact of uncertainty was assessed using sensitivity analyses., Results: A base-case analysis showed that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio at high-volume centers was below a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of ¥5,000,000 with a maximum of ¥3,777,830/4.28 QALY for the high- and intermediate-risk group, and ¥2,316,695/4.57 QALY for the low-risk group. Treatment at the high-volume centers showed better efficiency and cost-effectiveness in both strategies compared to intermediate- or low-volume centers. Sensitivity analyses showed that the model outcome was robust to changes in input values. With the WTP threshold, treatment at high-volume centers remained cost-effective in at least 73.6% and 78.2% of iterations for high- and intermediate-risk, and low-risk groups, respectively., Conclusion: Treatment at high-volume centers is the most cost-effective strategy for guiding treatment centralization in patients with endometrial cancer., Competing Interests: Honorarium, Bristol Myers Squibb (H.M) and none for others., (© 2024. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology.)

Introduction: Taxus species contain the anticancer alkaloid paclitaxel, as well as other taxanes similar in structure and potentially in effect to paclitaxel. Tissue-specific distribution patterns and seasonal variations of taxanes in some Taxus species have been reported; however, it is still under-presented for the taxanes in Taxus cuspidata ., Methods: The radial distributions of eight taxanes in the transverse surface of freeze-fixed T. cuspidata stems from the late summer and the spring seasons were investigated by cryo-time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy (cryo-TOF-SIMS/SEM) visualization and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) quantitative analysis. By optical microscopic observation, seasonal differences in the amounts and distribution patterns of target taxanes were further characterized in specific tissues., Results and Discussion: The overall amount of taxanes was higher in the late summer than in the spring. Also, taxanes' radial distribution was generally found at higher concentration in the phloem, the cambium and lower level in the periderm, the latest-forming xylem, with different taxanes showing several patterns with distinction between seasons, which were considered related to seasonal plant physiological behaviors. In addition, the distribution of baccatin III (BAC) was investigated at the cellular level, which was regarded in specific cells suggesting its transport in the radial and axial directions in the T. cuspidata stem. Characterizing the microscopic distribution of taxanes in the T. cuspidata stem is expected to play a role in the further study of their biosynthesis and in planta behaviors., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Gong, Aoki, Yoshida and Fukushima.)

Lignin is an aromatic polymer that constitutes plant cell walls. The polymerization of lignin proceeds by radical coupling, and this process requires radicalization of the phenolic end of lignin by enzymes. However, due to the steric hindrance between enzymes, lignin, and polysaccharides, the direct oxidation of the phenolic end of lignin by the enzyme would be difficult, and the details of the growth of lignin are still unknown. In this study, enzymatic dehydrogenative polymerization experiments were conducted using coniferyl alcohol (CA) and the deuterium-labeled lignin model compound (D-LM) under a noncontact condition in which horseradish peroxidase cannot directly oxidize D-LM due to separation by a dialysis membrane. Analysis of deuterium-labeled degraded compounds obtained by a combination of methylation and thioacidolysis revealed the formation of the bond between the phenolic end of D-LM and CA, suggesting that membrane-permeable, low-molecular-weight lignols functioned as a redox shuttle mediator.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether the number of resected pelvic lymph nodes (PLNs) affects the prognosis of endometrial cancer (EC) patients at post-operative risk of recurrence., Methods: JGOG2043 was a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of three chemotherapeutic regimens as adjuvant therapy in EC patients with post-operative recurrent risk. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 250 patients who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy alone in JGOG2043. The number of resected and positive nodes and other clinicopathologic risk factors for survival were retrieved., Results: There were 83 patients in the group with less than 20 PLNs removed (group A), while 167 patients had 20 or more PLNs removed (group B). There was no significant difference in patients' backgrounds between the two groups, and the rate of lymph node metastasis was not significantly different. There was a trend toward fewer pelvic recurrences in group B compared with group A (3.5% vs. 9.6%; p=0.050). Although Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no statistically significant difference in survival rates between the two groups (5-year overall survival [OS]=90.3% vs. 84.3%; p=0.199), multivariate analysis revealed that resection of 20 or more nodes is one of the independent prognostic factors (hazard ratio=0.49; 95% confidence interval=0.24-0.99; p=0.048), as well as surgical stage, high-risk histology, and advanced age for OS., Conclusion: Resection of 20 or more PLNs was associated with improved pelvic control and better survival outcomes in EC patients at risk of recurrence who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy alone and were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (© 2025. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology.)

Purpose: TAS-117 is a highly potent and selective, oral, allosteric pan-AKT inhibitor under development for advanced/metastatic solid tumors. The safety, clinical pharmacology, pharmacogenomics and efficacy were investigated., Methods: This phase I, open-label, non-randomized, dose-escalating, first-in-human study enrolled patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors and comprised three phases (dose escalation phase [DEP], regimen modification phase [RMP], and safety assessment phase [SAP]). The SAP dose and regimen were determined in the DEP and RMP. Once-daily and intermittent dosing (4 days on/3 days off, 21-day cycles) were investigated. The primary endpoints were dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) in Cycle 1 of the DEP and RMP and incidences of adverse events (AEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the SAP. Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, and antitumor activity., Results: Of 66 enrolled patients, 65 received TAS-117 (DEP, n = 12; RMP, n = 10; SAP, n = 43). No DLTs were reported with 24-mg/day intermittent dosing, which was selected as a recommended dose in SAP. In the SAP, 98.5% of patients experienced both AEs and ADRs (grade ≥ 3, 67.7% and 60.0%, respectively). In the dose range tested (8 to 32 mg/day), TAS-117 pharmacokinetics were dose proportional, and pharmacodynamic analysis showed a reduction of phosphorylated PRAS40, a direct substrate of AKT. Four patients in the SAP had confirmed partial response., Conclusion: Oral doses of TAS-117 once daily up to 16 mg/day and intermittent dosing of 24 mg/day were well tolerated. TAS-117 pharmacokinetics were dose proportional at the doses evaluated. Antitumor activity may occur through AKT inhibition., Trial Registration: jRCT2080222728 (January 29, 2015)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Transverse thermoelectric effect, the conversion of longitudinal heat current into transverse electric current, or vice versa, offers a promising energy harvesting technology. Materials with axis-dependent conduction polarity, known as p × n-type conductors or goniopolar materials, are potential candidate, because the non-zero transverse elements of thermopower tensor appear under rotational operation, though the availability is highly limited. Here, we report that a ternary metal LaPt 2 B with unique crystal structure exhibits axis-dependent thermopower polarity, which is driven by mixed-dimensional Fermi surfaces consisting of quasi-one-dimensional hole sheet with out-of-plane velocity and quasi-two-dimensional electron sheets with in-plane velocity. The ideal mixed-dimensional conductor LaPt 2 B exhibits an extremely large transverse Peltier conductivity up to ∣α yx ∣ = 130 A K -1 m -1 , and its transverse thermoelectric performance surpasses those of topological magnets utilizing the anomalous Nernst effect. These results thus manifest the mixed-dimensionality as a key property for efficient transverse thermoelectric conversion., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ovarian cancer, notable for its severe prognosis among gynecologic cancers, has seen substantial progress in treatment approaches recently. Enhanced protocols in chemotherapy and the introduction of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for maintenance therapy have markedly improved outcomes for patients with specific genetic profiles, such as those positive for BRCA mutations or exhibiting homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). Additionally, the method of intraperitoneal chemotherapy administration has emerged as a valuable alternative to traditional transvenous routes, showing promise for wider clinical adoption. The field of surgery has also evolved, with increasing exploration into the benefits and feasibility of laparoscopic methods over more invasive traditional surgeries, aiming for complete tumor removal but with reduced patient impact. The hereditary nature of ovarian cancer underscores the importance of genetic testing, which has become integral in tailoring treatment strategies, particularly in determining suitability for PARP inhibitors. The formation of the East Asian Gynecologic Oncology Trial Group (EAGOT) aims to optimize treatment across Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan. The ovarian cancer committee of EAGOT shared the current policies, focusing on 5 topics: 1) strategies for maintenance therapy after initial surgery and chemotherapy, 2) drug regimens for platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant recurrence, 3) intraperitoneal chemotherapy, 4) laparoscopic surgery as an alternative to laparotomy, and 5) current status of genetic testing (BRCA, HRD, and panel tests) for ovarian cancer and its prospects. EAGOT's multi-national trials aim to harmonize these evolving treatment strategies, ensuring that the latest and most effective protocols are accessible across the region, thereby significantly impacting patient outcomes in East Asia., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (© 2024. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology.)

In recent years, rapid advancement in gene/protein analysis technology has resulted in target molecule identification that may be useful in cancer treatment. Therefore, "Clinical Practice Guidelines for Molecular Tumor Marker, Second Edition" was published in Japan in September 2021. These guidelines were established to align the clinical usefulness of external diagnostic products with the evaluation criteria of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency. The guidelines were scoped for each tumor, and a clinical questionnaire was developed based on a serious clinical problem. This guideline was based on a careful review of the evidence obtained through a literature search, and recommendations were identified following the recommended grades of the Medical Information Network Distribution Services (Minds). Therefore, this guideline can be a tool for cancer treatment in clinical practice. We have already reported the review portion of "Clinical Practice Guidelines for Molecular Tumor Marker, Second Edition" as Part 1. Here, we present the English version of each part of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Molecular Tumor Marker, Second Edition., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.)

The growth cone, a motile structure located at the tip of growing axons, senses extracellular guidance cues and translates them into directional forces that drive axon outgrowth and guidance. Axon guidance directed by chemical cues on the extracellular adhesive substrate is termed haptotaxis. Recent studies reported that netrin-1 on the substrate functions as a haptotactic axon guidance cue. However, the mechanism mediating netrin-1-induced axonal haptotaxis remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that substrate-bound netrin-1 induces axonal haptotaxis by facilitating physical interactions between the netrin-1 receptor, DCC, and the adhesive substrates. DCC serves as an adhesion receptor for netrin-1. The clutch-linker molecule shootin1a interacted with DCC, linking it to actin filament retrograde flow at the growth cone. Speckle imaging analyses showed that DCC underwent either grip (stop) or retrograde slip on the adhesive substrate. The grip state was more prevalent on netrin-1-coated substrate compared to the control substrate polylysine, thereby transmitting larger traction force on the netrin-1-coated substrate. Furthermore, disruption of the linkage between actin filament retrograde flow and DCC by shootin1 knockout impaired netrin-1-induced axonal haptotaxis. These results suggest that the directional force for netrin-1-induced haptotaxis is exerted on the substrates through the adhesion-clutch between DCC and netrin-1 which occurs asymmetrically within the growth cone., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Qiu, Minegishi, Aoki, Abe, Baba and Inagaki.)

We have developed a versatile and simple synthetic method to produce a [3]catenane. Heating a rotaxane with bis(hindered amino) disulfide groups at both ends spontaneously and selectively produces the [3]catenane. The successful polymerization of the obtained [3]catenane provides a platform for the synthesis of various interlocking polymers.

The potential spin-triplet heavy-fermion superconductor UTe 2 exhibits signatures of multiple distinct superconducting phases. For field aligned along the b axis, a metamagnetic transition occurs at μ 0 H m  ≈ 35 T. It is associated with magnetic fluctuations that may be beneficial for the field-reinforced superconductivity surviving up to H m . Once the field is tilted away from the b towards the c axis, a reentrant superconducting phase emerges just above H m . In order to better understand this remarkably field-resistant superconducting phase, we conducted magnetic-torque and magnetotransport measurements in pulsed magnetic fields. We determine the record-breaking upper critical field of μ 0 H c2  ≈ 73 T and its evolution with angle. Furthermore, the normal-state Hall effect experiences a drastic suppression indicative of a reduced band polarization above H m in the angular range around 30° caused by a partial compensation between the applied field and an exchange field. This promotes the Jaccarino-Peter effect as a likely mechanism for the reentrant superconductivity above H m ., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the number of newly diagnosed gynecological cancers has not been extensively investigated in Japan. This study determined the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence of gynecological cancer., Methods: Using the Japanese Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologic Oncology registry database, the distribution of the number of patients based on clinical staging or tumor-node-metastasis classifications before and during the COVID-19 pandemic was analyzed to compare the trends. The clinical staging classification of cervical cancer in Japan was based on the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2008 from 2018 to 2020 and on the FIGO 2018 from 2021. Since FIGO-2018 classified N1 cases as stage IIIC, we focused on T classification without referencing the clinical staging (FIGO staging) of patients with cervical cancer in 2021., Results: The number of patients with endometrial cancer and malignant ovarian tumors of all clinical stages increased uniformly yearly, while that of those with stage III cervical cancer rapidly increased in 2021 owing to the adoption of the revised classification. On comparing cases of cervical cancer in 2020 and 2021, we found that T1 cases decreased and T2 and T3 cases increased in 2021 compared to those in 2020 (p = 0.006). Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia/adenocarcinoma in situ incidence decreased in 2020 compared to that in 2019 but increased again in 2021. The number of patients with cervical cancer decreased in most prefectures in 2020., Conclusion: The incidence of locally advanced cervical cancer increased during the COVID-19 pandemic., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contain ≲20% of the carbon in the interstellar medium. They are potentially produced in circumstellar environments (at temperatures ≳1000 kelvin), by reactions within cold (~10 kelvin) interstellar clouds, or by processing of carbon-rich dust grains. We report isotopic properties of PAHs extracted from samples of the asteroid Ryugu and the meteorite Murchison. The doubly- 13 C substituted compositions (Δ2× 13 C values) of the PAHs naphthalene, fluoranthene, and pyrene are 9 to 51‰ higher than values expected for a stochastic distribution of isotopes. The Δ2× 13 C values are higher than expected if the PAHs formed in a circumstellar environment, but consistent with formation in the interstellar medium. By contrast, the PAHs phenanthrene and anthracene in Ryugu samples have Δ2× 13 C values consistent with formation by higher-temperature reactions.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy has been the standard of care for locally advanced cervical cancer for over 20 years; however, 30-40% of treated patients have recurrence or progression within 5 years. Immune checkpoint inhibition has improved outcomes for patients with PD-L1 positive metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer. We assessed the benefit of adding durvalumab, a PD-L1 antibody, with and following chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer., Methods: The CALLA randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial included 105 hospitals across 15 countries. Patients aged at least 18 years with previously untreated locally advanced cervical cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous, or adenosquamous; International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] 2009 stage IB2-IIB lymph node positive, stage ≥III any lymph node status) and WHO or Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 were randomly assigned (1:1) through an interactive web response system using a permuted block size of 4 to receive durvalumab (1500 mg intravenously once every 4 weeks) or placebo with and following chemoradiotherapy, for up to 24 cycles. Chemoradiotherapy included 45 Gy external beam radiotherapy at 5 fractions per week concurrent with intravenous cisplatin (40 mg/m 2 ) or carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve 2) once weekly for 5 weeks, followed by image-guided brachytherapy (high-dose rate, 27·5-30 Gy or low-dose/pulse-dose rate, 35-40 Gy). Randomisation was stratified by disease stage status (FIGO stage and node status) and geographical region. Chemoradiotherapy quality was continuously reviewed. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival, assessed by the investigator using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1, in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed in patients who received at least one dose of study treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03830866., Findings: Between Feb 15, 2019, and Dec 10, 2020, 770 women were randomly assigned (385 to durvalumab and 385 to placebo; median age 49 years [IQR 41-57]). Median follow-up was 18·5 months (IQR 13·2-21·5) in the durvalumab group and 18·4 months (13·2-23·7) in the placebo group. At data cutoff, median progression-free survival had not been reached (95% CI not reached-not reached) for either group (HR 0·84; 95% CI 0·65-1·08; p=0·17); 12-month progression-free survival was 76·0% (71·3-80·0) with durvalumab and 73·3% (68·4-77·5) with placebo. The most frequently reported grade 3-4 adverse events in both groups were anaemia (76 [20%] of 385 in the durvalumab group vs 56 [15%] of 384 in the placebo group) and decreased white blood cells (39 [10%] vs 49 [13%]). Serious adverse events occurred for 106 (28%) patients who received durvalumab and 89 (23%) patients who received placebo. There were five treatment-related deaths in the durvalumab group (one case each of urinary tract infection, blood loss anaemia, and pulmonary embolism related to chemoradiotherapy only; one case of endocrine disorder related to durvalumab only; and one case of sepsis related to both durvalumab and chemoradiotherapy). There was one treatment-related death in the placebo group (pneumonia related to chemoradiotherapy)., Interpretation: Durvalumab concurrent with chemoradiotherapy was well tolerated in participants with locally advanced cervical cancer, however it did not significantly improve progression-free survival in a biomarker unselected, all-comers population. Concurrent durvalumab plus chemoradiotherapy warrants further exploration in patients with high tumoral PD-L1 expression. Rigorous monitoring ensured high chemoradiotherapy compliance with advanced technology and allowed patients to receive optimal care., Funding: AstraZeneca., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests BJM reports institutional research funding from Novartis, Amgen, Genentech, Lilly, Janssen, Array BioPharma, Tesaro, Morphotek, Pfizer Advaxis, AstraZeneca, ImmunoGen, Regeneron, and Nucana. Honoraria from Agenus, Akeso Biopharma, Amgen, Aravive, AstraZeneca, Clovis Oncology, Eisai, Genmab/Seattle Genetics, ImmunoGen, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Merck, Mersana, Pfizer, Puma Biotechnology, Regeneron, Roche/Genentech, TESARO/GKS, Vascular Biogenics, GOG Foundation, Elevar Therapeutics, Novocure, Gradalis, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Bayer, EMD Merck, Macrogenics, Sorrento Therapeutics, US Oncology, and Myriad Pharmaceuticals; a leadership position for US Oncology; speakers’ bureau participation for Roche/Genentech, AstraZeneca, Clovis Oncology, Eisai, TESARO/GSK, and Merck; served in a consulting or advisory role for Agenus, Akeso Biopharma, Amgen, Aravive, AstraZeneca, Clovis Oncology, Eisai, Genmab/Seattle Genetics, GOG Foundation, ImmunoGen, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Merck, Mersana, Myriad Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Puma Biotechnology, Regeneron, Roche/Genentech, TESARO/GSK, Vascular Biogenics, Gradalis, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Sorrento Therapeutics, Novocure, Bayer, Elevar Therapeutics, EMD Merck, Gradalis, and US Oncology. TT reports personal fees from AstraZeneca, Chugai, JGOG, and Zeria, outside the submitted work. JCVL reports funding, provision of study material, medical writing, and processing charges for the present work and grants from AstraZeneca; consulting fees and honoraria from AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb outside the submitted work; travel support from AstraZeneca, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Novartis, and Pfizer; served as an advisor for AstraZeneca; grants for clinical research from AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Novartis, Roche, and Sanofi, outside the submitted work. RS-F received an institutional research grant from Merck Sharp and Dohme and served at an advisory board for Merck Sharp and Dohme; and received lecture honoraria from AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Medison, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Neopharm, Novartis, and Roche, outside the submitted work. UM reports institutional grants from Varian Medical Systems and was a RT Steering Committee member for CALLA study. MdPED reports institutional funding from AstraZeneca for the present work and served as an advisor for AstraZeneca, outside the submitted work. SL has received payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers’ bureaus, manuscript writing, or educational events and participated on a data safety monitoring board or advisory board for AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Roche, and Novartis, and has a leadership or fiduciary role for Iylon Precision Oncology. FJRG reports support for the present work from AstraZeneca, grants from AstraZeneca, Janssen, Lilly Company, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Roche, and Sanofi; travel support from BioGentec, and an unpaid leadership role with the Comite de Etica e Investigacion del Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, outside the submitted work. NV reports personal research funding from AstraZeneca, Merck Sharp and Dohme, and Roche; Consulting fees or honoraria from Tecnofarma, MSD, and Roche; and is currently the Vice President of the Peruvian Mastology society, outside the submitted work. DA reports funding for this clinical trial was made to his institute from AstraZeneca; an institutional grant from Takeda Pharmaceutical; consulting fees from AbbVie; honoraria from AstraZeneca, AbbVie, MSD, Takeda Pharmaceutical, and Chugai; participated in an advisory board for Takeda Pharmaceutical, AstraZeneca, and MSD; and was the president of the Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, the Chairperson of the Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and the Vice President of the Japan Gynecologic Oncology Group. ML reports grants for clinical research from AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squib, Merck Sharp and Dohme, and Roche; consulting fees, honoraria, and travel support from Roche, outside the submitted work. J-YL reports personal research funding from AstraZeneca and Merck Sharp and Dohme; institutional funding from Clovis Oncology, Immunogen, Janssen Oncology, Merck, Merck Sharp and Dohme, and Synthon; served an advisory role for AstraZeneca, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Roche, and Takeda. FR reports personal fees from AstraZeneca. YR reports subcontract funding from NIH SBIR grant R44CA254844, compensation from Medical Physics Journal Editorial as the Deputy Editor, and personal fees from AstraZeneca for case review. SW is an employee and shareholder at AstraZeneca and has patents at GlaxoSmithKline UK Ltd and AstraZeneca. AL and HD are employees and shareholders at AstraZeneca. ATN received medical writing support for this manuscript funded by AstraZeneca, is a shareholder and was an employee of AstraZeneca during this study; and is a current employee at Merck. JM reports honoraria and consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Varian Medical Systems, Merck, Primmune, Agenus Bio; grants from NRG Oncology; royalties from Springer Medical Books for published work; and support for attending meetings and travel from NRG Oncology. XW, RT, MM, QZ, COK, SV, RS, YK, W-FC, and GK have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Our measurements of ^{125}Te NMR relaxations reveal an enhancement of electronic spin fluctuations above μ&#95;{0}H^{*}∼15  T, leading to their divergence in the vicinity of the metamagnetic transition at μ&#95;{0}H&#95;{m}≈35  T, below which field-reinforced superconductivity appears when a magnetic field (H) is applied along the crystallographic b axis. The NMR data evidence that these fluctuations are dominantly longitudinal, providing a key to understanding the peculiar superconducting phase diagram in H∥b, where such fluctuations enhance the pairing interactions.

Quantum oscillation phenomenon is an essential tool to understand the electronic structure of quantum matter. Here we report a systematic study of quantum oscillations in the electronic specific heat C el in natural graphite. We show that the crossing of a single spin Landau level and the Fermi energy give rise to a double-peak structure, in striking contrast to the single peak expected from Lifshitz-Kosevich theory. Intriguingly, the double-peak structure is predicted by the kernel term for C el /T in the free electron theory. The C el /T represents a spectroscopic tuning fork of width 4.8k B T which can be tuned at will to resonance. Using a coincidence method, the double-peak structure can be used to accurately determine the Landé g-factors of quantum materials. More generally, the tuning fork can be used to reveal any peak in fermionic density of states tuned by magnetic field, such as Lifshitz transition in heavy-fermion compounds., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Sacrificial chemical bonds have been used effectively to increase the toughness of elastomers because such bonds dissociate at forces significantly below the fracture limit of the primary load-bearing bonds, thereby dissipating local stress. This approach owes much of its success to the ability to adjust the threshold force at which the sacrificial bonds fail at the desired rate, for example, by selecting either covalent or noncovalent sacrificial bonds. Here, we report experimental and computational evidence that a mechanical bond, responsible for the structural integrity of a rotaxane or a catenane, increases the elastomer's fracture strain, stress, and energy as much as a covalent bond of comparable mechanochemical dissociation kinetics. We synthesized and studied 6 polyacrylates cross-linked by either difluorenylsuccinonitrile (DFSN), which is an established sacrificial mechanochromic moiety; a [2]rotaxane, whose stopper allows its wheel to dethread on the same subsecond time scale as DFSN dissociates when either is under tensile force of 1.5-2 nN; a structurally homologous [2]rotaxane with a much bulkier stopper that is stable at force >5.5 nN; similarly stoppered [3]rotaxanes containing DFSN in their axles; and a control polymer with aliphatic nonsacrificial cross-links. Our data suggest that mechanochemical dethreading of a rotaxane without failure of any covalent bonds may be an important, hitherto unrecognized, contributor to the toughness of some rotaxane-cross-linked polymers and that sacrificial mechanical bonds provide a mechanism to control material fracture behavior independently of the mechanochemical response of the covalent networks, due to their distinct relationships between structure and mechanochemical reactivity.

Background: Japan's health insurance covers multigene panel testing. This study aimed to determine the potential availability and utility of gene panel testing clinically in gynecologic oncology., Methods: We analyzed the characteristics of patients with gynecologic cancer who underwent gene panel testing using FoundationOne ® CDx or OncoGuide™ NCC Oncopanel between November 2019 and October 2022., Results: Out of 102 patients analyzed, 32, 18, 43, 8, and 1 had cervical, endometrial, ovarian cancers, sarcoma, and vaginal cancer, respectively. Druggable gene alteration was found in 70 patients (68.6%; 21 with cervical cancer, 15 with endometrial cancer, 28 with ovarian cancer, 5 with sarcoma, and 1 with other). The most common druggable gene alteration was PIK3CA mutation (n = 21), followed by PTEN mutation (n = 12) and high tumor mutation burden (TMB-H) (n = 11). TMB-H was detected in 5 patients with cervical cancer, 5 with endometrial cancer, and 1 with endometrial stromal sarcoma. Eleven patients (10.8%) received molecularly targeted therapy according to their gene aberrations. Gene panel testing was mostly performed when the second-line treatment was ineffective. Of all 102 patients, 60 did not have recommended treatment, and 15 died or had worsened conditions before obtaining the test results., Conclusion: Through multigene panel testing, although many patients had druggable gene alterations, 10.8% of them received the recommended treatment. TMB-H was mainly observed in cervical/endometrial cancer, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic biomarker of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Furthermore, patients' prognosis and performance status should be considered before performing the test., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.)