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Study Design Retrospective comparative study. Objective To evaluate the accuracy of percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) placement and intraoperative imaging time using dual fluoroscopy units and their differences between surgeons with more versus less experience. Methods One hundred sixty-one patients who underwent lumbar fusion surgery were divided into two groups, A ( n = 74) and B ( n = 87), based on the performing surgeon's experience. The accuracy of PPS placement and radiation time for PPS insertion were compared. PPSs were inserted with classic technique under the assistance of dual fluoroscopy units placed in two planes. The breach definition of PPS misplacement was based on postoperative computed tomography (grade I: no breach; grade II: Results Of 658 PPSs, only 21 screws were misplaced. The breach rates of groups A and B were 3.3% (grade II: 3.4%, grade III: 0%) and 3.1% (grade II: 2.6%, grade III: 0.6%; p = 0.91). One patient in grade III misplacement had a transient symptom of leg numbness. Median radiation exposure time during PPS insertion was 25 seconds and 51 seconds, respectively ( p < 0.01). Conclusions Without using an expensive imaging support system, the classic technique of PPS insertion using dual fluoroscopy units in the lumbar and sacral spine is fairly accurate and provides good clinical outcomes, even among surgeons lacking experience.

Although Th1 and Th2 cells are known to be involved in allergic inflammatory diseases, the molecular mechanisms underlying their differentiation are incompletely understood. In this study, we identified CD155 as a costimulatory molecule on CD4+ T cells. Importantly, CD155-mediated signaling induced Th1 development in both humans and mice, as evidenced by production of IFN-γ and upregulation of Tbx21 transcription; these effects were independent of IL-12 but dependent on NF-κB–induced autocrine IFN-γ that triggered positive feedback via STAT1 activation. Mice genetically deficient in CD155 or treated with anti-CD155 Ab exhibited attenuated Th1-type contact hypersensitivity. Thus, CD155 plays an important regulatory role in helper T cell differentiation and allergic diseases.

Background Hemifacial spasm is usually diagnosed by inspection which mainly identifies involuntary movements of orbicularis oculi. Assessing abnormal muscle responses (AMR) is another diagnostic method. Case description We report a case of left hemifacial spasm without detectable involuntary facial movements. The patient was a 48-year-old man with a long history of subjective left facial twitching. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the left VIIth cranial nerve was compressed by the left anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), which was in turn compressed by the left vertebral artery. We initially treated him with botulinum toxin. We were able to record AMR, and hemifacial spasm occurred after AMR stimulation, although no spasm was detectable by inspection. Subsequently, we performed microvascular decompression with transposition of the AICA that compressed the VIIth cranial nerve. His hemifacial spasm resolved by 5 weeks after surgery and was not induced by AMR stimulation. Conclusion Hemifacial spasm can sometimes be diagnosed by detecting AMR rather than by visual inspection. We propose that such hemifacial spasm should be termed nonspastic hemifacial spasm.

We report the first case of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) producing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) with induction of high uptake of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) throughout the bone marrow. A close relationship between tumor status and serum G-CSF concentration was also seen. A 65-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of esophageal SCC with leukocytosis and pyrexia. His leukocyte count and serum G-CSF concentration were 15900/μl and 140 pg/ml, respectively. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showed focal intense bone marrow (18)F-FDG uptake. Hypermetabolic activity in the bone marrow was suspected to be an effect of G-CSF. Under the diagnosis of G-CSF-producing esophageal SCC, the patient underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy in the prone position with 2-field lymph node dissection. After removal of the tumor, the leukocyte count and serum G-CSF concentration rapidly normalized. Immunohistochemically, G-CSF expression was found in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. High uptake of (18)F-FDG throughout the bone marrow decreased. The patient left the hospital on postoperative day 10 without any complications. Changes in bone marrow PET/CT findings and serum G-CSF concentration should be helpful in the definitive diagnosis of G-CSF-producing esophageal SCC and serve as an indicator of therapeutic effect.

We previously identified dibenzooxepine derivative 1 as a potent PPARγ ligand with a unique binding mode owing to its non-thiazolidinedione scaffold. However, while 1 showed remarkably potent MKN-45 gastric cancer cell aggregation activity, an indicator of cancer differentiation-inducing activity induced by PPARγ activation, we recognized that 1 was metabolically unstable. In the present study, we identified a metabolically soft spot, and successfully discovered 3-fluoro dibenzooxepine derivative 9 with better metabolic stability. Further optimization provided imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative 17, which showed potent MKN-45 gastric cancer cell aggregation activity and excellent PK profiles compared with 9. Compound 17 exerted a growth inhibitory effect on AsPC-1/AG1 pancreatic tumor in mice. Furthermore, the decrease in the hematocrit (an indicator of localized edema, a serious adverse effect of PPARγ ligands) was tolerable even with oral administration at 200 mg/kg in healthy mice.

One of the mechanisms to cause the Josephson effect between two superconductors through a normal conductor is virtual traversal of electrons and holes through Andreev bound states. The spin Hall effect, on the other hand, disturbs the formation of Cooper pairs at the interfaces through the discrimination of up and down spins. We have found that the Josephson effect is strongly suppressed with the spin Hall effect caused by an electric current crossing transversally through the normal strip. This result proposes a spintronic control of the Josephson effect in superconducting devices. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Some cases with lumbar degenerative diseases require multi-level fusion surgeries. At our institute, 27 and 4 procedures of 3- and 4-level fusion were performed out of a total 672 posterior lumbar interfusions (PLIFs) on patients with lumbar degenerative disease from 2005 to 2010. We present 2 osteoporotic patients who developed proximal vertebral body fracture after 4-level fusion. Both cases presented with gait disability for leg pain by degenerative lumbar scoliosis and canal stenosis at the levels of L1/2-4/5. After 4-level fusion using L1 as the upper instrumented vertebra, proximal vertebral body fractures were found along with the right pedicle fractures of L1 in both cases. One of these patients, aged 82 years, was treated as an outpatient using a hard corset for 24 months, but the fractures were exacerbated over time. In the other patient, posterolateral fusion was extended from Th10 to L5. Both patients can walk alone and have been thoroughly followed up. In both cases, the fracture of the right L1 pedicle might be related to the subsequent fractures and fusion failure. In consideration of multi-level fusion, L1 should be avoided as an upper instrumented vertebra to prevent junctional kyphosis, especially in cases with osteoporosis and flat back posture.

Better cover crop management options aiming to maximize the benefits of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to subsequent crops are largely unknown. We investigated the impact of cover crop management methods on maize growth performance and assemblages of AMF colonizing maize roots in a field trial. The cover crop treatments comprised Italian ryegrass, wheat, brown mustard and fallow in rotation with maize.The diversity of AMF communities among cover crops used for maize management was significantly influenced by the cover crop and time course. Cover crops did not affect grain yield and aboveground biomass of subsequent maize but affected early growth. A structural equation model indicated that the root colonization, AMF diversity and maize phosphorus uptake had direct strong positive effects on yield performance.AMF variables and maize performance were related directly or indirectly to maize grain yield, whereas root colonization had a positive effect on maize performance. AMF may be an essential factor that determines the success of cover crop rotational systems. Encouraging AMF associations can potentially benefit cover cropping systems. Therefore, it is imperative to consider AMF associations and crop phenology when making management decisions. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

In order to determine the deterioration of an arrester used in bullet train electricity feeding, it is effective to capture changes in the current of the resistance in the leakage current that flows through the grounding cable of the arrester. However, it is difficult to measure current of the resistance directly. In this research, we devised a principle for the detection of changes in current of the resistance by obtaining a leakage current that can be measured using the grounding cable of an arrester at an arbitrary date and time, and by calculating the difference with a reference leakage current. We have also developed a leakage current monitoring device for arrester by applying this principle to measure the current of the resistance at a bullet train substation.

iA/i30-year-old woman presented with posterior cervical pain and left-sided omalgia. The patient had a history of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for which she had received prophylactic whole-brain irradiation(including at the upper cervical level)17 years previously. A magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)scan obtained 1 month previously showed an intradural extramedullary mass lesion at the left C1/2 level. We initially considered the tumor to be a benign schwannoma, but the patient subsequently developed left hemiparesis and was consequently admitted 2 days after her first visit. A second MRI scan showed that the tumor had progressed markedly. Hence, the patient underwent emergency surgical excision of the tumor. However, the tumor could only be partially removed because it had strongly adhered to the ventral aspect of the spinal cord. The tumor was pathologically diagnosed as a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor(MPNST). The residual tumor was subjected to local irradiation and surgery, but the treatment was unsuccessful, and the patient died on the 91st day of her illness.iConclusion/i:We report a case of radiation-induced high cervical MPNST arising from a benign schwannoma. All 9 previously reported cases of radiation-induced spinal MPNST were reviewed. Intraspinal MPNST of the high cervical region are extremely rare and are associated with a very poor prognosis. The 5-year survival rate of such tumors is markedly worse than that of other types of MPNST, and no standard treatment has been established for this condition.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, To determine prognostic factors of clinically relevant radiographic progression (CRRP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical practice. We performed a multicenter prospective study in Japan of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD)-naive RA patients with moderate to high disease activity treated with conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) at study entry. We longitudinally observed 408 patients for 1 year and assessed disease activity every 3 months. CRRP was defined as yearly progression of modified total Sharp score (mTSS) > 3.0 U. We also divided the cohort into 2 groups based on disease duration (

Background The prognosis of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) depends on their condition on arrival at the hospital. However, a small number of patients recover from an initially poor condition. We investigated the correlation between quantitative measures of computed tomography (CT) perfusion (CTP) on arrival and the outcomes of patients with World Federation of Neurosurgical Society (WFNS) grade V aSAH. Methods We performed plain CT, CTP, and CT angiography (CTA) in all patients with aSAH on arrival. Aneurysms were surgically obliterated in patients with stable vital signs and the presence of a brain stem response. We measured the average mean transit time (aMTT) and compared it with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 1 month. Regions of interest were identified as 24 areas in the bilateral anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral artery territories and 2 areas in the basal ganglia. Results A total of 57 patients were treated between 2007 and 2014. None of the 21 patients with aMTT >6.385 seconds achieved a favorable outcome, whereas 8 of the 36 patients with aMTT P = 0.015). Furthermore, comparing the number of areas showing a mean transit time (MTT) >7.0 seconds among the aforementioned 8 areas and mRS, favorable outcomes were not seen in 24 patients with more than 2 such areas ( P = 0.009). Conclusion We cannot expect a favorable outcome for patients with WFNS grade V aSAH with aMTT >6.385 seconds or more than 2 of 8 areas with MTT >7.0 seconds.

This paper describes an integration of different Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) of two Course Management Systems (CMS) called Sakai and the Common Factory for Inspiration and Value in Education (CFIVE). First, when the service of CMS is provided campus-wide, the problems of user support, CMS operation and customization of CMS are clarified from past experience. Additionally, various Japanese specific educational practices are reviewed. The candidate CMSs are selected by using proposed methods at Requirements Engineering (RE) research community. Finally, in order to consider possible application of these CMSs, the running environment of different two CMSs are discussed, and the integration of different RDBMS on two CMSs is described.

Microwave multiple radio relay stations are often built on mountains, and the stations are susceptible to damage from lightning. Therefore, it is important to take adequate lightning protection measures to ensure that communication devices are not damaged by any lightning surge current that penetrates from a lightning rod fitted on such stations. In most cases, the penetration route of the lightning surge current is uncertain, and it is difficult to specifically evaluate the effectiveness of measures against lightning. We calculated the branch aspect of lightning surge current in actual microwave relay stations using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method, which is one way to numerically analyze electromagnetic fields, to directly solve Maxwell's equations. By comparing the calculated results with measured results obtained by injecting a pulse current into a microwave relay station, we verified that the current peak value of the calculated results corresponded with the measured results well, both when a steel tower was located on the ground and when it was located on the roof of a microwave relay station. We confirmed that the FDTD method can be used to understand the branch current of lightning surges and to study lightning protection measures at microwave relay stations.

BackgroundUnderstanding diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is important for optimizing their role for phosphorus (P) nutrition of soybeans (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) in P-limited soils. However, it is not clear how soybean growth and P nutrition is related to AMF colonization and diversity of AMF communities in a continuous P-unfertilized cover cropping system. Thus, we investigated the impact of P-application and cover cropping on the interaction among AMF colonization, AMF diversity in soybean roots, soybean growth and P nutrition under a five-year P-unfertilized crop rotation.MethodsIn this study, we established three cover crop systems (wheat, red clover and oilseed rape) or bare fallow in rotation with soybean. The P-application rates before the seeding of soybeans were 52.5 and 157.5 kg ha−1in 2014 and 2015, respectively. We measured AMF colonization in soybean roots, soybean growth parameters such as aboveground plant biomass, P uptake at the flowering stage and grain yields at the maturity stage in both years. AMF community structure in soybean roots was characterized by specific amplification of small subunit rDNA.ResultsThe increase in the root colonization at the flowering stage was small as a result of P-application. Cover cropping did not affect the aboveground biomass and P uptake of soybean in both years, but the P-application had positive effects on the soybean performance such as plant P uptake, biomass and grain yield in 2015. AMF communities colonizing soybean roots were also significantly influenced by P-application throughout the two years. Moreover, the diversity of AMF communities in roots was significantly influenced by P-application and cover cropping in both years, and was positively correlated with the soybean biomass, P uptake and grain yield throughout the two years.DiscussionOur results indicated that P-application rather than cover cropping may be a key factor for improving soybean growth performance with respect to AMF diversity in P-limited cover cropping systems. Additionally, AMF diversity in roots can potentially contribute to soybean P nutrition even in the P-fertilized cover crop rotational system. Therefore, further investigation into the interaction of AMF diversity, P-application and cover cropping is required for the development of more effective P management practices on soybean growth performance.

Based on the published papers, we investigate the influences of the properties of original coarse aggregate and the percentage of adhered mortar on the properties of recycled coarse aggregate concrete. And, the relationship between water absorption ratio of adhered mortar and compressive strength of original concrete and length change of recycled coarse aggregate concrete are analyzed. As the result, it is confirmed that compressive strength and length change of recycled coarse aggregate concrete are influenced by quantity and properties of adhered mortar.

We present here the reversible signal regulation of (19)F NMR using the transition metal complex as a switching module. Water-soluble fluorinated dendrimers containing ferrocene were synthesized as a probe, and the signal intensities of (19)F NMR of the probes were monitored by changing the valence state of the ferrocene moiety. By oxidation of the ferrocene moiety, the relaxation of the nearby fluorine atoms was accelerated via the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement, as a result the (19)F NMR signal from the probe was significantly decreased. The reduction of the ferrocenium cation of the probe recovered the signal intensity. Finally, in combination with the difference of the fluorescence quenching ability between ferrocene and ferrocenium cation, we constructed the multimodal (19)F NMR/fluorescence probe based on the redox switching system.

We have developed a highly sensitive method for the measurement of airborne orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata: Dac g) pollen antigens using an electron spin resonance (ESR) radical immunoassay. In this immunoassay, the lowest detectable level of Dac g antigen in a sample is 0.1 arbitrary unit; the amount of Dac g antigen in single pollen grains was found to be as 1.84 units. Thus, Dac g antigens can be detected in amounts of 1/20th of that contained in the grain. This immunoassay enables early detection of grass pollen antigens. Such information may be useful for patients with grass pollinosis, especially for those who show symptoms when only low levels of the pollen antigens are present in air. In this study, minor amounts of Dac g antigen (cross-reactive antigens) were detected in late March, after which the levels gradually increased. The levels were detected to be 10 units/m3 until the middle of May and then increased after blooming of orchard grass. High levels were maintained until the middle of June. Some patients who suffer from grass pollinosis show symptoms in late April and early May, when the airborne Dac g antigen levels were found to be 5–10 units/m3.

2000年から2006年の間に当院で摘出術が必要であった腰椎椎間板ヘルニアは335例あり，そのうち経硬膜的摘出術が必要であった症例は3例であった．これらの3例は正中に大きく突出したもの（1例は硬膜管内へ突出）であり，通常のLove法によるヘルニア摘出は困難であり，経硬膜的ヘルニア摘出を行った．我々は経硬膜的ヘルニア摘出の際，椎弓切除術により棘上靭帯・棘間靭帯を除去した場合，後方支持組織の破綻から生じる術後腰椎不安定性による再発が起こりやすいと判断し，脊椎固定術（PLIFもしくはPLF）の追加が必要と考えている．

脊椎圧迫骨折患者の中には，椎体圧潰による遅発性神経麻痺を来す例や，偽関節となり背部痛が持続する例が存在する．2006年4月から12月までに当科にて治療を行った圧迫骨折症例のうち，不安定性を呈した陳旧性圧迫骨折15例を対象とし，64列マルチスライスCTを用い検討した．男性5例，女性10例，45～83歳（平均72.6歳），受診までの期間1ヶ月～2年（平均約205日），BMD 0.577～1.525g/cm2（平均0.804g/cm2），受傷機転は不明10例，転倒4例，転落1例，罹患部位はTh12 7例，L1 5例であった．椎体内ガス像12例，水分貯留3例，脊柱管内への椎体突出が5例にみられた．マルチスライスCTにて詳細に検討すると，前方要素と後方要素をつなぐ椎弓根基部骨折を12例73％に認めた．持続する腰痛の原因は前方要素の不安定性のみではなく前方と後方要素をつなぐ椎弓根部での不安定性も関与していると考えられた．

A novel simple cut-cell method for hierarchical Cartesian grid is proposed. Small or split cells which often appear in the cut-cell method are eliminated by a simple projection strategy. In order to evaluate the capability of this method, two-dimensional flow is solved, and the results are compared with the immersed boundary method (IBM) on Cartesian grids. The computational results of inviscid and viscous laminar flow simulations show that the new cutcell method is superior to IBM in terms of grid convergence of drag force and separation points. The method is extended to turbulent flow simulations using Spalart-Allmaras wall function. The cut-cell method predicts the skin friction accurately, compared to the IBM.

Airborne pollen is important in relation to the social issues of pollinosis and of the environmental effects of genetically modified plants. Existing methods for pollen counting involve counting and classifying the grains that adhere to a sampling surface, requiring much time and skilled labor. We therefore have developed a method of automatically monitoring pollen, using a laser-optics instrument. In this instrument, the sideways and forward scattering of laser light by each particle is recorded in real time for computer processing. A field experiment was conducted in 2005, comparing our method with that of the older Hirst method. A scatter plot was made of the forward scattering vs. the sideways scattering for each particle. An algorithm was developed to find the optimum rectangular region of the plot for each type of pollen, and a count of points inside this region was taken as the count for that type of pollen. For the three most common types of pollen found in the field test (Urticaceae, Poaceae, and Ambrosia), the daily counts from this algorithm were compared with the daily counts from the Hirst-type (Burkard) sampler. There was a very high correlation (determination coefficient approximately 0.8) between the results of the two methods.

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a well-known oncogenic pathway. Its suppression has long been considered as an important challenge in treating cancer patients. Among colon cancer patients in particular, most patients carry an adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) mutation that leads to an aberration of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. To discover the small molecule inhibitors of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, we conducted high-throughput screening in APC-mutant colon cancer DLD-1 cells using a transcriptional reporter assay, which identified a selective Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor, K-756. K-756 stabilizes Axin and reduces active β-catenin, and inhibits the genes downstream of endogenous Wnt/β-catenin. We subsequently identified that K-756 is a tankyrase (TNKS) inhibitor. TNKS, which belongs to the PARP family, poly-ADP ribosylates Axin and promotes Axin degradation via the proteasome pathway. K-756 binds to the induced pocket of TNKS and inhibits its enzyme activity. Moreover, PARP family enzyme assays showed that K-756 is a selective TNKS inhibitor. K-756 inhibited the cell growth of APC-mutant colorectal cancer COLO 320DM and SW403 cells by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. An in vivo study showed that the oral administration of K-756 inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in colon cancer xenografts in mice. To further explore the therapeutic potential of K-756, we also evaluated the effects of K-756 in non–small cell lung cancer cells. Although a single treatment of K-756 did not induce antiproliferative activity, when K-756 was combined with an EGFR inhibitor (gefitinib), it showed a strong synergistic effect. Therefore, K-756, a novel selective TNKS inhibitor, could be a leading compound in the development of anticancer agents. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(7); 1525–34. ©2016 AACR.

This study was aimed at examining the effects of treatment with rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against the protein CD20, in a B-lymphocyte independent adriamycin-induced rat model of nephrotic syndrome. Rituximab is an emerging rescue therapy used in patients with complicated nephrotic syndrome and, therefore, we sought to elucidate the apparent B-lymphocyte independent mechanism underlying its anti-proteinuric effect.Adriamycin-induced nephropathy was established in Wistar rats by intravenously injecting 10 mg/kg of adriamycin, which were then treated with rituximab or purified human IgG weekly and euthanized on day 28. Proteinuria, glomerular expression of sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase acid-like 3b protein, and podocyte-related proteins were examined using immunofluorescence staining and a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.Rituximab treatment of rats with adriamycin-induced nephropathy significantly reduced urinary protein excretion 14 to 28 days after induction of disease, compared with those treated with purified normal human IgG. Furthermore, rituximab treatment also prevented the reduction of glomerular nephrin and podocin expression on day 28. Double-immunofluorescence staining revealed that after in vivo administration, rituximab was bound to the glomeruli, which also expressed synaptopodin or sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase, acid-like 3b. Moreover, sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase, acid-like 3b expression was significantly decreased on day 28 of adriamycin-induced nephropathy, which was also prevented by rituximab.This study demonstrated that rituximab directly affected glomerular podocytes and ameliorated proteinuria in adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats. Furthermore, protection of podocyte function by rituximab may be mediated by direct modulation of a sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase, acid-like 3b-dependent mechanism.

Using whole exome and transcriptome sequencing, NAB2-STAT6 gene fusions have recently been identified in patients with solitary fibrous tumors (SFT). We report two cases of SFT in which NAB2-STAT6 fusions were identified. The patients were a 32-year-old man with a parasagittal tumor involving the superior sagittal sinus, and a 40-year-old man with a cerebellar convexity tumor partially involving the transverse sinus. Their tumors were gross totally resected and diagnosed to be SFT according to the following pathological findings:the tumors were composed of spindle cells with a patternless architecture, with prominent stromal collagen and staghorn vessels. An immunohistochemical study yielded positive results for CD34, CD99, and Bcl-2 and negative results for EMA, GFAP, and S100. The MIB-1 indexes were 13 and 7%, respectively. NAB2-STAT6 fusions were detected in both cases with a common fusion variant, NAB2ex6-STAT6ex16/17. We also identified NAB2-STAT6 fusions in two hemangiopericytomas diagnosed in the past with a common variant of NAB2ex6-STAT6ex16/17. These findings suggest that solitary fibrous tumor and hemangiopericytoma may be diagnosed based on the presence of NAB2-STAT6 fusion, and not classified separately because of the same genetic background.

The safety and impact on the environment of transgenic crops are important issues, and studies have shown that pollen from transgenic Bt ( Bacillus thuringiensis ) corn ( Zea mays L.) may kill nontarget insects. To develop an algorithm for assessing the environmental effect of transgenic crops, we arranged a field experiment in Tsukuba, Japan. Pollen dispersal and deposition were measured inside and outside a cornfield throughout the flowering period. Weather conditions such as wind speed and direction were measured at the same time. Pollen dispersal peaked 1 week after the start of flowering and continued for 12 days thereafter. The variation in daily pollen dispersal was similar at all observation points. Both pollen dispersal and deposition decreased exponentially with distance from the cornfield on all days. We estimated potential pollen deposition with a quasi-mechanistic model that incorporates the effects of wind direction, wind speed, and flowering intensity. The daily potential deposition was summed over the flowering period, and then the relationship between distance from the cornfield and the integrated potential deposition was estimated. It was possible to show the effective area of the environmental risk zone posed by genetically modified pollen by combining the distance/deposition relationship with the dose/response relationship derived from a laboratory assay. The algorithm described here can be applied to various wind-pollinated plants to estimate both potential and integrated pollen deposition.

EI-1941-1 ( 1a ) and EI-1941-2 ( 2a ) accompanied by EI-1941-3 ( 3 ) have been isolated from culture broth of Farrowia sp. E-1941 as the inhibitors of interleukin-1β converting enzyme. The structures of 1a , 2a , and 3 were elucidated by the analysis of NMR and MS data, and finally the absolute stereochemistries of 1a and 2a were confirmed by optical rotation data, or X-ray crystallographic analysis of p -bromobenzoate, 2b , respectively.