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Search asymmetry is a phenomenon in which search efficiency in a visual-search task differs for searching for an X target among Y distractors from search for a Y target among X distractors. Previous research shows that search asymmetry is mainly produced by a difference in the whole signal strength of items or a difference in item familiarity. This study reports that a difference in the local fluency within items also affects search efficiency and generates search asymmetry. Fluency is a value that correlates with the processing efficiency of an item. In particular, five experiments reveal that search efficiency for two part items depends on whether a fluent part is the top or bottom portion of a target (vs. distractor). We argue that this type of search asymmetry implicates the operation of an unknown mechanism that detects local fluency gradient in visual processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Whether direct‐acting anti‐viral therapy can reduce liver fibrosis and steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is unclear. Aims: To evaluate changes in liver stiffness and steatosis in patients with HCV who received direct‐acting anti‐viral therapy and achieved sustained virological response (SVR). Methods: A total of 198 patients infected with HCV genotype 1 or 2 who achieved SVR after direct‐acting anti‐viral therapy were analysed. Liver stiffness as evaluated by magnetic resonance elastography, steatosis as evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging‐determined proton density fat fraction (PDFF), insulin resistance, and laboratory data were assessed before treatment (baseline) and at 24 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR24). Results: Alanine aminotransferase and homeostatic model assessment‐insulin resistance levels decreased significantly from baseline to SVR24. Conversely, platelet count, which is inversely associated with liver fibrosis, increased significantly from baseline to SVR24. In patients with high triglyceride levels (≥150 mg/dL), triglyceride levels significantly decreased from baseline to SVR24 (P = 0.004). The median (interquartile range) liver stiffness values at baseline and SVR24 were 3.10 (2.70‐4.18) kPa and 2.80 (2.40‐3.77) kPa respectively (P < 0.001). The PDFF values at baseline and SVR 24 were 2.4 (1.7‐3.4)% and 1.9 (1.3‐2.8)% respectively (P < 0.001). In addition, 68% (19/28) of patients with fatty liver at baseline (PDFF ≥5.2%; n = 28) no longer had fatty liver (PDFF <5.2%) at SVR24. Conclusion: Viral eradication reduces both liver stiffness and steatosis in patients with chronic HCV who received direct‐acting anti‐viral therapy (UMIN000017020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the background characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C who achieved eradication of hepatitis C virus ( HCV), that is sustained virologic response ( SVR), with interferon ( IFN)-based versus IFN-free antiviral therapy in Japan. In addition, we used a previously reported risk assessment model to compare the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) after SVR by treatment type. Pretreatment characteristics of 1533 patients who achieved SVR with IFN-based therapy and 1086 patients with IFN-free therapy from five institutions across Japan were compared. The risk of HCC after SVR was assessed based on pretreatment characteristics, and the incidence of HCC after SVR was estimated in both groups. Age and serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were higher, platelet count was lower, and liver fibrosis was more advanced in patients who achieved SVR with IFN-free therapy compared with IFN-based therapy. The incidence of HCC after SVR in the IFN-free group was estimated to be more than twofold higher than in the IFN-based therapy group (7.29% vs. 3.09%, and 6.23% vs. 3.01% when excluding patients who have underwent curative treatment for HCC). There are large differences in pretreatment characteristics between patients who achieved SVR with IFN-based and IFN-free therapies in Japan, which are associated with differential risk of HCC after SVR. These differences can influence the incidence of HCC after SVR and should be taken into consideration when comparing IFN-based and IFN-free therapies in terms of hepatocarcinogenesis suppression with HCV eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:The Japanese 'BALAD' model offers the first objective, biomarker-based, tool for assessment of prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma, but relies on dichotomisation of the constituent data, has not been externally validated, and cannot be applied to the individual patients.Methods:In this Japanese/UK collaboration, we replicated the original BALAD model on a UK cohort and then built a new model, BALAD-2, on the original raw Japanese data using variables in their continuous form. Regression analyses using flexible parametric models with fractional polynomials enabled fitting of appropriate baseline hazard functions and functional form of covariates. The resulting models were validated in the respective cohorts to measure the predictive performance.Results:The key prognostic features were confirmed to be Bilirubin and Albumin together with the serological cancer biomarkers, AFP-L3, AFP, and DCP. With appropriate recalibration, the model offered clinically relevant discrimination of prognosis in both the Japanese and UK data sets and accurately predicted patient-level survival.Conclusions:The original BALAD model has been validated in an international setting. The refined BALAD-2 model permits estimation of patient-level survival in UK and Japanese cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To carry out a phase II multi-center study on the efficacy and safety of triple combination therapy with paclitaxel, S-1, and cisplatin in patients with unresectable/metastatic gastric cancer. Methods: A total of 63 patients from 8 institutions were included in this study. Paclitaxel (160 mg/m2) was administered by infusion for 3 h on the first day. S-1 (70 mg/m2/day) was administered orally for 14 consecutive days from the first day. Cisplatin (60 mg/m2) was administered intravenously over 24 h on day 14 of every 28-day cycle. Results: All 63 patients were assessed for clinical efficacy and safety. A total of 259 cycles of treatment were administered (median 4, range 1-10). Grade 3-4 toxicities included neutropenia in 30.2%, thrombocytopenia in 12.7%, and anemia in 11.1%. There was no grade 3-4 non-hematological toxicity or treatment-related death. Complete response was observed in 6 patients and partial response in 34 patients. The overall response rate was 63.5%. The median progression-free survival and response duration were 8.0 and 8.8 months, respectively, and median survival time was 15 months. Conclusions: Triple combination therapy with paclitaxel, S-1, and cisplatin showed promising safety and efficacy profiles with the potential to become a standard regimen for unresectable/metastatic gastric cancer. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have carried out a dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) study of proton spins of UV-irradiated solid butanol containing phenol at 0.1–1%. By the aid of butyl free radicals produced by the photolysis, the butanol sample was dynamically polarized up to the polarization of 1.4±0.1% at 1.5K and 1.2T, which is about 4000 times larger than that at the thermal equilibrium at an ambient temperature. Unlike persistent free radicals such as nitroxy and trityl free radicals commonly used for DNP, the butyl free radicals immediately decay by melting. We propose that free radicals produced by UV-photolysis are applicable to the DNP-enhanced hyperpolarized liquid-state NMR (Ardenkjær-Larsen et al. ). The hyperpolarization of the UV-irradiated samples should remain longer than that of the samples having persistent free radicals, because of the absence of the free radicals after the melting in the UV-irradiated samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Singleton targets that differ from distractors in a single salient attribute can be discerned regardless of the number of items in the display. Recent studies have indicated that the perception of singleton targets is facilitated by an attentional control setting. We focused on the voluntary aspect of the attentional control setting. Psychophysical and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments examined the temporal characteristics of the attentional control setting by using an auditory cue. In both experiments, an auditorily cued feature–search task was used. The cue validity (valid vs. neutral) and the cue lead time (CLT) were varied. In the psychophysical experiment, we established the effect of a symbolic cue on detection of a singleton. When the CLT was short or the cue was neutral, there was no facilitation, as reflected by the slow activation of the attentional control setting. In our fMRI experiment, the brain activity indicates that this detection task activated the prefrontal cortex. These results demonstrate that the attentional control setting for facilitation of the singleton–target perception modulates activity in regions of the prefrontal cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recombination reactions of thermal H and T atoms, H+T→HT and T+T→T2, have been investigated using radiochemical methods at 1.4-2.5 K in a mixture of 3He-4He. The reactive species were produced via 3He(n,p)T by neutron irradiation at the upgraded Japan Research Reactor No. 3 (JRR-3M). Nonstatistical formation of ortho-T2 was observed over the entire range of 3He atomic fraction at 1.4-2.5 K. The relative yield of T2 decreased with an increase in superfluid component, which is a second liquid phase observed only in liquid helium, at 1.6 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To manufacture high-porosity expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular grafts with the same internodal distance but different node-fibril morphology, and to evaluate their biologic behaviors in a canine carotid artery implantation model. Materials and Methods: Several types of high-porosity ePTFE vascular grafts with the same inside diameter (4 mm) and wall thickness (650 μm) were manufactured under different heating, stretching conditions. The luminal surface and cross section of the grafts were photographed by scanning electron microscopy and the node-fibril structure was examined. Two typical types of high-porosity ePTFE vascular grafts were then selected and proceeded to an animal study. The test grafts were explanted after an interval of 12 weeks and subjected to histomorphometric analyses. Results: The following two types of high-porosity ePTFE vascular grafts were selected; one had a through-pore structure extending from the outer to the inner surface and the other had a random-node architecture with tortuous path channels extending from the outer to the inner surface. The histomorphometric analyses of thrombus-free surface, thickness of pseudointima, cellular ingrowth, capillary ingrowth, and cellular proliferation revealed no significant differences between the grafts. Conclusion: In high-porosity ePTFE vascular grafts, graft healing enhanced by transmural tissue ingrowth may be not largely dependent on node-fibril morphology. This knowledge will be helpful to design a new type of high-porosity ePTFE vascular grafts available for clinical use.Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]