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In the southwest Japan forearc, slab‐fluids produced from subducted materials migrate to crustal levels and appear as deep‐seated brine. We have analyzed for the first‐time stable strontium isotopes in non‐volcanic spring water with high salinity, referred to as Arima‐type saline water that likely originate from slab‐fluid that upwelled along major faults. The stable strontium isotope compositions of the saline water are isotopically light (δ88/86Sr = 0.122–0.157‰) and different from those of local bedrock and near‐surface water. The light strontium‐enriched and radiogenic signature of the saline water reflects the primary characteristic of slab‐fluids without an isotopic overprint in the crust. The Arima‐type brines show signatures of slab‐fluids at forearc depth, which is different from the slab‐fluids at subarc depth estimated from arc lavas. The characteristic features of the Arima‐type brines are explained by a larger contribution of subducted sediments and strontium isotope fractionation during fluids generation at shallower depth. Plain Language Summary: Slab‐fluids are likely sourced from oceanic crust and sediments, such as carbonate, chert, and clay, materials that are subducting into the mantle at convergent boundaries, which is a process that triggers arc volcanism and transports elements/water. The fluids released in the deep subduction zone appear to migrate to the Earth's surface and upwell along major faults in western Japan as spring water with high salinity, referred to as Arima‐type saline water. The stable strontium isotope compositions of the Arima‐type saline water are different from those of surrounding rocks, interpreted as reflecting the isotopically light signature as geochemical characteristics of slab‐fluid. The lighter strontium enrichments are thought to be the result of involvement of subducted crust and sediments, and likely reflect the mass dependent isotope fractionation with a preferential extraction of the lighter isotopes during slab‐fluid generation. Key Points: The stable strontium isotopes for the Arima‐type saline water show light isotope enrichment and are different from those of local rocksThe strontium isotopes of the saline water reflect the primary characteristics of slab‐fluids without an isotopic overprint in the crustThe light strontium isotope‐enriched signature of the saline water suggests isotope fractionation associated with slab‐fluid generation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical nodal metastasis is a key prognostic factor in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. The role of lymph nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma management and prognosis remains controversial. Methods: Level IIb lymph nodes obtained from 44 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were histopathologically examined retrospectively. Specimens were classified as ipsilateral or contralateral. The number of dissected nodes and prevalence of level IIb metastasis were compared according to pre-operative clinical nodal stage. Results: In the node-negative neck, the prevalence of contralateral and ipsilateral IIb nodes was 0 out of 20 and 0 out of 3, respectively. In the node-positive neck, the prevalence of contralateral and ipsilateral IIb nodes was 1 out of 13 (7.70 per cent) and 3 out of 41 (7.32 per cent), respectively. Clinically determined and pathologically confirmed level IIb node negativity were significantly associated. Thirty-four patients (77.3 per cent) developed accessory nerve complications from level IIb dissection. Conclusion: Level IIb neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma may be required if pre-operative examination reveals multilevel, level IIa or suspicious level IIb metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A survival benefit of extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage (EIPL) has been reported in patients with gastric cancer with positive peritoneal cytology. The hypothesis of this study was that EIPL may reduce peritoneal recurrence in patients with advanced gastric cancer who undergo surgery with curative intent. Methods: This was an open‐label, multi‐institutional, randomized, phase 3 trial to assess the effects of EIPL versus standard treatment after curative gastrectomy for resectable gastric cancer of T3 status or above. The primary endpoint was disease‐free survival (DFS); secondary endpoints were overall survival, peritoneal recurrence‐free survival and incidence of adverse events. Results: Between July 2011 and January 2014, 314 patients were enrolled from 15 institutions and 295 patients were analysed (145 and 150 in the EIPL and no‐EIPL groups respectively). The 3‐year DFS rate was 63·9 (95 per cent c.i. 55·5 to 71·2) per cent in the EIPL group and 59·7 (51·3 to 67·1) per cent in the control group (hazard ratio (HR) 0·81, 95 per cent c.i. 0·57 to 1·16; P = 0·249). The 3‐year overall survival rate was 75·0 (67·1 to 81·3) per cent in the EIPL group and 73·7 (65·9 to 80·1) per cent in the control group (HR 0·91, 0·60 to 1·37; P = 0·634). Peritoneal recurrence‐free survival was not significantly different between the two groups (HR 0·92, 0·62 to 1·36; P = 0·676). No intraoperative complications related to EIPL were observed. Conclusion: EIPL did not improve survival or peritoneal recurrence in patients who underwent gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer. Registration number: 000005907 (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The outcome for pT1 N+ or pT2-3 N0 gastric cancer is favourable, but some patients suffer from recurrent disease. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors in patients with pT1 N+ or pT2-3 N0 gastric cancer. Methods This was a multicentre, retrospective cohort study. All patients with pT1 N+ or pT2-3 N0 gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy at five high-volume, specialized cancer centres in Japan between 2000 and 2008 were included. Demographic, clinical, surgical and pathological data were collected. Independent prognostic factors were identified using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results Some 1442 patients were included. The 5-year overall survival rate for patients with pT1 N+ or pT2-3 N0 gastric cancer was 92·0 per cent. Multivariable analysis for overall survival identified age (hazard ratio ( HR) 2·67, 95 per cent c.i. 2·09 to 3·43), sex ( HR 0·57, 0·39 to 0·83) and clinical tumour depth ( cT) ( HR 1·45, 1·06 to 1·98) as independent prognostic factors. Conclusion Survival of patients with pT1 N+ or pT2-3 N0 gastric cancer is good. Age 65 years or above, male sex and cT2-4 category are associated with worse overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The distribution pattern of the trace elements Rb, Sr, Nd and Sm for Yamato 984028 (Y984028) is consistent with its classification as a lherzolitic shergottite. The Sm–Nd mineral isochron of this lherzolitic shergottite defines its age to be 170 ± 10 Ma for an initial ɛ Nd = +11.6 ± 0.2. The corresponding Rb–Sr mineral isochron yields an identical age of 170 ± 9 Ma and an initial 87Sr/86Sr = 0.710389 ± 0.000029. The concordant Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr isochron ages suggest that Y984028 crystallized 170 ± 7 Ma ago contemporaneously with five other lherzolitic shergottites and ten enriched basaltic and olivine-phyric shergottites. The age, Sr- and Nd- isotopic signatures further suggest that Y984028 and Y-793605, and also probably Y000097 could come from a single magmatic body. Using a two-stage evolution model, the time-averaged 87Rb/86Sr-ratio for the mantle source of the parent magma of Y984028 is ∼0.182, within the range of 0.178–0.182 that has been reported for other lherzolitic shergottites. The corresponding time-averaged 147Sm/144Nd-ratio for the source mantle of its parent magma is super-chondritic at ∼0.217, implying its source was a depleted mafic part of the Martian mantle similar to that of diabasic shergottite Northwest Africa (NWA) 1460. Rb, Sr, Sm and Nd distributions in Y984028 are likely produced by pyroxene and olivine accumulation, probably from a NWA 1460-like parental melt, in an intrusive magma body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-resolved measurements of the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in exhaust from a diesel vehicle fitted with an oxidation catalyst and operated in JE05 mode are performed at a sensitivity of 10 ppb using a supersonic jet/resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization (Jet-REMPI) method. The concentrations of benzene, naphthalene, and phenol in exhaust from the test vehicle are measured before entering and after exiting from the oxidation catalyst. The total hydrocarbon (THC) is measured simultaneously using a constant volume sample (CVS) instrument fitted with a flame ionization detector (FID). Concentration changes of benzene, naphthalene and phenol are recorded at 1 s intervals and quantified using standard samples. Comparison of these signals with the real-time THC data shows that the time dependence of the individual species is almost the same as that of the THC before the oxidation catalyst but substantially different after. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the authors studied on fabrication of silica-coated Agl (Agl–SiO2) nanoparticles with a Stöber method toward new X-ray contrast agents. In the Stöber method, amines are often used as catalysts for silica formation, so that it is probable that amine is left in the silica-coated particles. Since amines are harmful to the human body, amine free particles are desired for medical use. From this viewpoint, amine free Agl–SiO2 nanoparticles were prepared with a modified Stöber method using NaOH as a catalyst instead of amine in the present work. The Agl nanoparticles were prepared from AgClO4 and KI with the use of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) as a silane coupling agent and NaOH catalyst for alkoxide hydrolysis. The silicacoating was performed at 4·5 × 10-5M MPS, 15–22·5M water, 0·0008–0·0024M NaOH and 0·0004–0·009M tetraethylorthosilicate at an Agl concentration of 0·001M. Agl–SiO2 particles as small as ca. 30 nm could be successfully fabricated at the concentrations of 4·5 × 10-5M MPS, 20M water, 0·0011M NaOH, 0·001M Agl and 0·004M tetraethylorthosilicate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Coesite relics were discovered as inclusions in clinopyroxene in eclogite and as inclusions in zircon in felsic and pelitic gneisses from Higher Himalayan Crystalline rocks in the upper Kaghan Valley, north-west Himalaya. The metamorphic peak conditions of the coesite-bearing eclogites are estimated to be 27–32 kbar and 700–770 °C, using garnet–pyroxene–phengite geobarometry and garnet–pyroxene geothermometry, respectively. Cathodoluminescence (CL) and backscattered electron (BSE) imaging distinguished three different domains in zircon: inner detrital core, widely spaced euhedral oscillatory zones, and thin, broadly zoned outermost rims. Each zircon domain contains a characteristic suite of micrometre-sized mineral inclusions which were identified by in situ laser Raman microspectroscopy. Core and mantle domains contain quartz, apatite, plagioclase, muscovite and rutile. In contrast, the rim domains contain coesite and minor muscovite. Quartz inclusions were identified in all coesite-bearing zircon grains, but not coexisting with coesite in the same growth domain (rim domain). 206 Pb/238 U zircon ages reveal that the quartz-bearing mantle domains and the coesite-bearing rim were formed at c . 50 Ma and 46.2 ± 0.7 Ma, respectively. These facts demonstrate that the continental materials were buried to 100 km within 7–9 Myr after initiation of the India–Asia collision (palaeomagnetic data from the Indian oceanic floor supports an initial India-Asia contact at 55–53 Ma). Combination of the sinking rate of 1.1–1.4 cm year-1 with Indian plate velocity of 4.5 cm year-1 suggests that the Indian continent subducted to about 100 km depth at an average subduction angle of 14–19°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been identified as the substance that increases the permeability and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. We examined the clinical significance of VEGF expression in 60 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas using the methods of Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), comparatively, and analysed the relationship between VEGF status in Western blot and tumour size, lymph-node status, histologic grade and disease-free survival (DFS) rate. Western blot analysis revealed high VEGF expressors (tumour/normal tissue density ≥ 3-fold) in 26 patients (43%) and low VEGF expressors (< 3-fold) in 34 patients (57%). The results of the Western blot analysis correlated significantly with those of the RT-PCR (P = 0.00007) or immunohistochemistry (P = 0.00006). High VEGF expressors are associated with the progression of lymph-node spread (P = 0.0009), which are correlated with poor DFS. The 2-year DFS rate of high VEGF expressors (30%) was significantly lower than that of low VEGF expressors (78%) (P = 0.0008). Multivariate analysis showed VEGF expression and stage were independent predictors for the DFS (P = 0.045 and 0.041, respectively). VEGF expression may play an important role in progression of HNSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 62-year-old Japanese man with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis revealed alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) elevation. Dynamic computed tomography, taken at this time, showed a liver tumor in the anterior segment. As the patient refused any further medical treatment, he was observed in an outpatient clinic. The size of the tumor reduced and the serum level of AFP decreased gradually without any treatment. Twelve months after the initial diagnosis, the tumor could not be detected by computed tomography (CT) scan, and the level of AFP had declined to the normal range. Blood supply is essential for tumor growth and an arterioportal shunt near the tumor may change the dynamics of blood flow to the tumor. The shunt found in this patient was thought to be one of the causative factors leading to regression, but it could not be denied that immunological mechanisms may have played an important role in the spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-power continuous-wave polycrystalline 1% Nd:Y[sub 3]Al[sub 5]O[sub 12] (Nd:YAG) ceramic rod laser was demonstrated. With 290 W/808 nm laser diode pumping, cw laser output of 72 W was obtained at 1064 nm. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is 24.8%. Thermally induced birefringence properties of Nd:YAG ceramic was also investigated. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subdiaphragmatic bronchogenic cysts are rare, and those located retroperitoneally are exceptional. We describe a retroperitoneal cyst presenting as an asymptomatic adrenal mass which was treated with laparoscopic surgery with three trocars., Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Natural Selection of Chloroplast DNA Acting in the Incipient Speciation of Chara braunii," by S. Kato and colleagues, is presented.

An abstract of the article, "Cyanobacterial Contribution to the Genomes of the Plastid-Lacking Protists," by S. Maruyama, M. Matsuzaki, K. Misawa and H. Nozaki, is presented.