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The flame propagation behavior and the effect of particle agglomeration are examined by changing the size of PMMA particles in laboratory-scale experiments. PMMA particles having a very narrow size distribution are used. We show that the minimum explosible concentration increases as the particle size decreases. On the other hand, the flame propagation velocity also increases as the particle size decreases. Therefore, the minimum explosible concentration and the flame propagation velocity show the opposite dependences on the particle size. It is considered that the minimum explosible concentration is strongly affected by the interparticle distance; meanwhile, the flame propagation velocity strongly depends on the specific surface area. It has to be emphasized that the severity of the explosion can be serious for very fine particles, although the minimum explosible concentration is fairly high.

BackgroundAntineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody -associated vasculitis (AAV) is usually treated with combination of high-dose glucocorticoid (GC) and immunosuppressive agents, followed by tapering GC dose. Although the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has specific recommendations for tapering the GC dose, clinicians often taper it slower than recommended due to concerns of potential disease relapse. However, such slower taper may prolong GC exposure for the patients, increasing the risk of adverse events, particularly infection.ObjectivesThe aims of our study were (1) to clarify GC dose tapering in the treatment of AAV in a real-world setting, in contrast to the EULAR recommendation of 2015 and (2) to compare the incidence of AAV relapse and severe infection between patients underdoing EULAR-recommended tapering and those undergoing slower tapering than the recommendation.MethodsIn this multicenter (25 sites in Japan), observational, retrospective study of AAV, 541 patients who had initial or severe relapse were enrolled between January 2017 and June 2020. Of these, 349 patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) or granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) who entered in GC tapering phase after successful induction treatment were included. These patients were then grouped on the pace of GC tapering, defined as the GC dose at 12 weeks after treatment initiation: (1) EULAR group: 7.5-10 mg/day of GC, according to the EULAR recommendation of 2015, and (2) SLOWER group: >10 mg/day of GC. Their baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared. Primary outcome was defined as relapse-free days from treatment initiation, whereas secondary outcome included the incidence of infectious events requiring hospitalization within 48 weeks from treatment initiation. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess the relationship between tapering pace and clinical outcomes.ResultsThere were 44 patients (12.6%) in the EULAR group and 290 (83.2%) in the SLOWER group. Regarding baseline characteristics, compared with the EULAR group, the SLOWER group had significantly higher serum C-reactive protein level (EULAR, 5.89 ± 6.89 mg/dL vs SLOWER, 7.56 ± 6.01 mg/dL; p = 0.03), as well as a trend toward higher Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (version 3) (EULAR, 11.80 ± 7.01 SLOWER, 13.93 ± 7.06; p = 0.08) We did not observe any significant differences in the frequency of relapses between the two groups (EULAR, 8/44, 18.2% vs SLOWER, 55/290, 19.0%; p = 0.63). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed no relationship GC dose at 12 weeks from treatment initiation and incidence of relapse. However, upon logistic regression analysis, the SLOWER group was found to have significant higher risk of a severe infectious event within 48 weeks from treatment initiation (p = 0.046; hazard ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.004 – 1.601).ConclusionOur finding indicates that clinicians tended to taper GC slower for patients with higher disease activity. However, slower GC taper was not found to reduce the frequency of relapse. In addition, slower GC taper was found to increase the risk of a severe infection. Hence, clinicians should pay attention not only relapsing but also late GC taper resulting in the risk of serious infection, especially in patients with higher disease activity of AAV.References[1]Eur J Clin Invest 2015;45 (3): 346–368.[2]Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Dec 24;61(1):205-212.[3]Arthritis Res Ther. 2021 Mar 20;23(1):90.[4]Scand J Rheumatol. 2022 Jan 20;1-13.[5]J Rheumatol. 2018 Apr;45(4):521-528.[6]Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2021 Mar 9;5(3):rkab018.[7]Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Sep;75(9):1583-94.Figure 1.AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

We have developed a unique technology for mutation induction using heavy-ion beams. The irradiation treatment is quick, lasting between a few seconds and a few minutes, and is sufficient to induce mutation. Some new cherry blossom cultivars have already been introduced to the market. Pale-yellow cherry blossom ‘Nishina Zao’ was created by irradiating greenish ‘Gyoiko’ (Prunus lannesiana) scions with carbon ions. Unlike normal cherry blossom trees (P. pauciflora ‘Keio-zakura Yamagata No.13’), ‘Nishina Otome’ does not require a certain period under cold winter weather to induce flowering in the spring. Both cultivars are propagated by cloning branches of mutant plants. We have also succeeded in creating new cultivars using progeny of irradiated plants that are not changed with respect to either flower color or shape. Although the original cultivar, P lannesiana ‘Beni-yutaka’, has a double flower with 15-20 petals, the new cultivar ‘Nishina Tomoka’ has a large, single flower with 5 petals. Heavy-ion beams are thus effective tools for creating new variations of Prunus trees through mutation breeding.

BackgroundThe pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is multifactorial and involves diverse cytokines, autoantibodies and immune complexes inducing blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, neuroendocrine-immune imbalance, vascular occlusion, tissue, and neuronal damage. Several pro-inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of NPSLE [1]. Previously we have shown that the titer of anti-suprabasin (SBSN) antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of NPSLE patients was significantly higher than in SLE, MS and NPH groups [2]. However, distinguishing NPSLE from other neuropsychiatric conditions with different etiologies is challenging.ObjectivesThis study determined the most critical serum biomarkers for the development of NPSLE as they may have clinical utility prior to the onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 35 NPSLE patients, 34 SLE patients, 20 viral meningitis (VM) patients, and 16 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. We measured anti-SBSN antibodies concentrations in serum by using Luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay. The serum concentrations of cytokines/chemokines were measured by using multiplex bead-based assay. All the clinical information and laboratory tests were collected at the time of admission.ResultsThe Bayesian posterior mean and 95% HPDI of the cut-off of AI and its PPV and 1-NPV values were 5.26 (3.68;7.17), 0.87, (0.72; 1.0) and 0.44, (0.36; 0.5), respectively (Figure 1).Figure 1.Summary of the posterior distribution of the cutoff of AI and its predictive value (1-NPV and PPV). The 95% HPDI is shown as the thick black horizontal line with the boundaries written above the lineAmong analyzed biomarkers, VEGF had the highest sparsity-oriented important learning (SOIL) importance, followed by AI, sCD40L, IL-10, GRO, MDC, IL-8, IL-9, TNFα, MIP-1α (Figure 2).Figure 2.Top 10 biomarkers having highest SOIL importance in prediction of NPSLE.Abbreviations• AI: anti-SBSN antibody index• PPV: positive predictive• NPV: negative predictive value• SOIL: sparsity-oriented important learning• IL: interleukin•MIP: macrophage inflammatory protein• sCD40L: soluble CD40 ligand• MDC: macrophage-derived chemokine• VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor• MDC: macrophage-derived chemokine• TNF: Tumor necrosis factorConclusionOur data demonstrated the ranking of serum biomarkers for the prediction of NPSLE. The most essential biomarkers are VEGF, anti-SBSN antibodies, sCD40L, IL-10, GRO, MDC, IL-8, IL-9, TNFα, MIP-1α.References[1]Govoni M, Hanly JG: Rheumatology (Oxford), 2020: 59(Suppl5):v52-v62.[2]Ichinose K, et al: Clinical immunology, 2018; 193:123-130.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

BackgroundHypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP), characterized by an inflammatory disorder indicating intracranial or spinal thickening of dura mater, is found to develop as a neurological involvement in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Meanwhile, the previous studies focusing on HP in AAV have been reported as a single-institution study, and the analyses were performed in a small number of patients because HP is a rare neurological disorder. Therefore, neither etiological nor clinical characteristics of HP in AAV have been adequately elucidated.ObjectivesThis study clarified the characteristics of HP in AAV by analyzing the information of multicenter study in Japan (Japan collaborative registry of ANCA-associated vasculitis: J-CANVAS).MethodsWe analyzed the clinical information from 541 Asian patients with AAV enrolled in J-CANVAS. Of them, newly diagnosed and relapsed AAV were included in 448 and 93, respectively. The epidemiological and clinical findings were compared between patients with and without HP. Clinical manifestations related to AAV were evaluated based on the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score version 3. To elucidate independent factors in HP development, logistic regression analyses were additionally performed.ResultsOf the total 541 patients (mean age: 71±14 years, M:F = 1:1.2), HP was demonstrated in 28 (5.17%), including 17 (3.79%) in newly diagnosed AAV and 11 (11.8%) in relapsed AAV. The classification of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) was significantly higher in patients with HP than those without HP (50% vs. 21%, p = 0.0007). In newly diagnosed AAV, patients with HP significantly had higher GPA classification and higher positivity for PR3-ANCA than those without HP (53% vs. 17%, p = 0.001; 29% vs. 9%, p = 0.015, respectively). Conversely, positivity for MPO-ANCA was significantly higher in patients with HP than those without HP in relapsed AAV (91% vs. 55%, p = 0.025), despite not significantly different in the classification of AAV. Headache and cranial neuropathies were significant neurological symptoms in patients with HP compared to those without HP (82% vs. 6.6%, p < 0.0001; 32% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.0001, respectively). Besides, ear, nose and throat (ENT) and mucous membranes/eyes were significantly higher involvements in patients with HP than in those without HP (54% vs. 26%, p = 0.003; 29% vs. 9%, p = 0.003, respectively). Moreover, higher complications of “conjunctive hearing loss” and “sudden visual loss”, which are included in the categories of ENT and mucous membranes/eyes involvement, respectively, were significantly indicated in patients with HP than those without HP (39% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.0001; 21% vs. 1.2%, p < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified that ENT (odds ratio [OR] 1.28, 95% confident interval [CI] 1.09 to 1.49, p = 0.002) and mucous membranes/eyes involvement (OR 1.37, CI 1.14 to 1.65, p = 0.0006), as well as conjunctive hearing loss (OR 4.52, CI 1.56 to 13.05, p = 0.005) and sudden visual loss (OR 1.84, CI 1.12 to 3.00, p = 0.015), were independent related factors in patients with HP.ConclusionGPA could be significantly classified in patients with HP. Notably, patients with HP significantly showed higher positivity for PR3-ANCA than those without HP in newly diagnosed AAV. Furthermore, sudden visual loss and conjunctive hearing loss might be implicated in HP development.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

BackgroundThe minimally important difference (MID) required to interpret the magnitude of changes in lupus patient-reported outcome (LupusPRO), which is a widely used outcome measure of quality of life in SLE patients, remains unclear.ObjectivesWe report preliminary results of an ongoing prospective observational study that assesses the MID as the interpretability of emotional health (EH) domain in Japanese version of LupusPRO.MethodsWe recruited subjects at three university hospitals in Japan participating in an ongoing multidisciplinary cohort study (the Lupus registry of Nationwide institutions (LUNA). Of a total of 210 SLE patients enrolled during the 17-month recruitment period, patients with low disease activity, defined as SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) ≤ 4, and who were seen at least twice of three months’ duration and responded to both the LupusPRO and health status change questions were included in this subcohort. The second questionnaire was given an allowance period of 30 days before or after the ​three months from starting date. Descriptive statistics were presented as means and standard deviations (SD) or counts and percentages (%). The emotional health score ranges from 0 to 100; a higher score indicates less frequent presence of symptoms. The change in health status was assessed using the 7-point Global Rating of Change 1), and the score = 0 and the score ≥ +1 were considered in the ‘unchanged’ and the minimal ‘improved’ category, respectively. MID was mainly estimated using the mean change of the groups with the score ≥ +1 as the anchor-based method, and the area under the curve (AUC) was also calculated as a sensitivity analysis to estimate MID thresholds 2) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were constructed using 1000 bootstrapping.ResultsThe mean age of the 24 eligible patients was 48 (SD 14), and 88% were female. The glucocorticoid dose, SLEDAI-2K, and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics /American College of Rheumatology Damage Index were 3.4 (2.1) mg, 1.0 (1.1) and 1.1 (1.9), respectively. The mean EH score was 67.5 (30.3), five patients (21%) had the maximum EH score at baseline, 73.4 (25.0) after three months, 7.2 (18.0) for the change in EH. The correlation coefficient and the AUC for the change in health status and the EH were 0.23 and 0.60. The mean changes were 4.1 (18.4) of the groups with ‘unchanged’ health status and 12.3 (17.1) of the groups with ‘improved’ health status. The MID for improvement was estimated at 12.3 using the anchor-based method, and the cutoff point corresponded to 9.3 [95%CI -6.7 to 25.3]) of the EH change score by the receiver operating curve method.ConclusionIn this study, the MID (3 months) for the EH domain in the Japanese version of LupusPRO was estimated to be between 9 and 12, which was similar to the results of the previous cross-sectional study 3). The challenge in estimating the MID in our setting was the low correlation with external anchors, even though the study population was limited to patients with low disease activity, because disease activity at baseline can generally influence ‘improved’ health status.References[1]Kamper SJ, Maher CG, Mackay G. Global rating of change scales: a review of strengths and weaknesses and considerations for design. J Man Manip Ther. 2009;17(3):163.[2]Froud R, Abel G. Using ROC curves to choose minimally important change thresholds when sensitivity and specificity are valued equally: the forgotten lesson of pythagoras. theoretical considerations and an example application of change in health status. PLoS One. 2014;9(12):e114468.[3]Miyawaki Y, Shimizu S, Ogawa Y, et al. Association of glucocorticoid doses and emotional health in lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS): a cross-sectional study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2021;23(1):79.AcknowledgementsThe authors thank Yuka Nakanou for her significant assistance in data management and Kikuko Miyazaki for her expert assistance on this topic.Disclosure of InterestsYoshia Miyawaki: None declared, Kenta Shidahara: None declared, Shoichi Nawachi: None declared, Yosuke ASANO: None declared, Yu Katayama: None declared, Keiji Ohashi: None declared, Eri Katsuyama: None declared, Takayuki Katsuyama: None declared, Mariko Narazaki: None declared, Yoshinori Matsumoto Speakers bureau: I received speaker’s fees from Glaxo Smith Kline K.K., KEN-EI SADA Speakers bureau: I received speaker’s fees from Glaxo Smith Kline K.K., Ryo Yanai: None declared, Nobuyuki Yajima: None declared, Ayuko Takatani: None declared, Kunihiro Ichinose: None declared, Jun Wada Speakers bureau: Jun Wada receives speaker honoraria from Astra Zeneca, Daiichi Sankyo, Novartis, Novo Nordisk Pharma, Tanabe Mitsubishi and receives grant support from Astellas, Baxter, Bayer, Chugai, Dainippon Sumitomo, Kyowa Kirin, Novo Nordisk Pharma, Ono, Otsuka, Tanabe Mitsubishi, and Teijin.

BackgroundCytomegalovirus (CMV) has been associated with atherosclerosis in patients with chronic renal failure, and may cause secondary nephrotic syndrome. Therefore, we hypothesized that the reactivation of CMV by immunosuppressive therapy in patients with vasculitis may affect renal function.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between CMV infection and renal function during ANCA-associated vasculitis remission induction therapy.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study enrolled microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis patients at 25 sites in Japan who had a first or severe relapse between January 2017 and June 2020. Of these, patients with MPA or GPA who had a positive renal lesion score on BVAS (version 3) at baseline, or vasculitis findings on renal biopsy, CMV assayed by 48 weeks of treatment, were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of a positive CMV antigen test during the remission induction phase (0–48 weeks of treatment). Outcomes were the rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 48 weeks after initiation of treatment in both groups, as determined by (eGFR at 48 weeks - eGFR at the initiation of treatment)/eGFR at the initiation of treatment; where lower values were associated with worse renal function. General linear models adjusted for age, gender, presence of diabetes or chronic kidney disease, and the use of rituximab or cyclophosphamide were generated.ResultsA total of 387 patients had CMV antigen measured during ANCA-associated vasculitis treatment, of which 164 had renal involvement and eGFR measured at 48 weeks. Seventy-seven (47.0%) were male and the median age was 75 years (range 69–80 years). CMV reactivation was observed in 44 patients (26.8%). The beta coefficient of multiple regression analysis with CMV positive as 1 and negative as 0 was 0.08 (95% confidence interval -0.13 to 0.29) (p = 0.47). The rate of change in eGFR was higher in the CMV positive group, but not statistically significantly.ConclusionContrary to our hypothesis, renal prognoses tended to be better when CMV reactivation was observed. The patients in the CMV reactivation group may have been treated more aggressively, and some patients with a poor prognosis who were not followed up for 48 weeks dropped out. Further research investigating the adjustment of treatment methods is required.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

One complementary or alternative control measure to chemical insecticide is interplanting of plants that affect insect behavior. While few successes are known based on interplanting of different varieties of the same crop, such intra-crop interplanting may be effective against insects that feed on a limited range of plants and have persistent preference to one cultivar. Here, we report three field trials that examined the efficacy of intra-crop interplanting of sweet potato varieties, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lamarck (Solanales: Convolvulaceae), on an oligophagous weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), planting a preferred variety, Beni-masari, together with a less preferred one, Kyushu 166. In the first experiment, Beni-masari was planted as a border around Kyushu 166 and this arrangement decreased tuber damage in the main crop (Kyushu 166), although damage reduction was not statistically significant from monoculture plantings of Kyushu 166. In the second experiment, both varieties were planted in plots spaced 3 m apart to test the attractiveness of Beni-masari to weevils from Kyushu 166. No attractive effects of Beni-masari were observed. In the third experiment, the two varieties were planted in separate plots that were contiguous to each other, and in this experiment Beni-masari preferentially attracted weevils away from Kyushu 166 within 3 m distance, and tuber damage in Kyushu 166 within that zone was reduced owing to the attractiveness of Beni-masari. We discuss the potential of the intra-crop interplanting in pest management.

In southern Vietnam, citrus is interplanted with guava (Psidium guajava L.) for the management of citrus greening disease. Guava seedlings exhibited decline symptoms including leaf browning, growth inhibition, leaf drop, and death. These symptomatic seedlings were accompanied by severely galled roots, possibly attributable to root-knot nematodes. We collected second-stage juveniles from the soil and picked adult females from roots to perform morphological observations. The perineal patterns of most specimens were similar to those in the original description of Meloidogyne enterolobii (3). However, some were similar to that of M. incognita. Such variability among perineal patterns precluded unequivocal identification. Therefore, DNA was extracted from these nematodes and their sequences were compared with those in the DNA sequence database. For the comparison, we employed the primer sets of Powers and Harris (1) to amplify a region between cytochrome oxidase II and the 16S ribosomal DNA gene of mitochondria by PCR. An approximate 700-bp fragment was obtained and analyzed, revealing more than 99.6% homology to M. mayaguensis, a synonym of M. enterolobii (2), when aligned with sequence data of isolates from France (GenBank Accession No. AJ421396), the United States (GenBank Accession No. AY446978), and China (GenBank Accession No. AY831967). These results indicate that the nematode species responsible for guava damage in southern Vietnam is M. enterolobii. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. enterolobii in Vietnam. References: (1) T. O. Powers and T. S. Harris. J. Nematol. 25:1, 1993. (2) J. Xu et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:309, 2004. (3) B. Yang and J. D. Eisenback. J. Nematol. 15:381, 1983.

A six-pole Q-band waveguide filter with a notch frequency above the Q-band has been developed for plasma diagnostics. The previous paper [Nishiura et al., J. Instrum. 10, C12014 (2015)] reported that the notch frequency exists within the standard band. In this study, the newly required notch filter extends the function, which prevents a thorny wave from being mixed into an instrument beyond the standard bandwidth of the waveguide. The mode control technique for cavities realizes a deep and sharp filter shape for Q-band notch filters with 56 and 77 GHz notches, respectively. The former filter has an attenuation more than 50 dB at 56.05 GHz and a bandwidth of 1.1 GHz at -3 dB. The latter filter has an attenuation more than 55 dB at 76.95 GHz and a bandwidth of 1.6 GHz at -3 dB. The electron cyclotron emission imaging and the electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostics for the Q-band implemented a pair of the fabricated filters and demonstrated the ECE measurement successfully in the intense stray radiation from a 56 GHz gyrotron.

Supplemental material, Supplemental Material1 for Factors predictive of long-term mortality in lupus nephritis: a multicenter retrospective study of a Japanese cohort by K Ichinose, M Kitamura, S Sato, K Fujikawa, Y Horai, N Matsuoka, M Tsuboi, F Nonaka, T Shimizu, S Fukui, M Umeda, T Koga, S Kawashiri, N Iwamoto, M Tamai, H Nakamura, T Origuchi, T Nishino and A Kawakami in Lupus

Supplemental material, Supplementary Figure for The efficacy of adjunct tacrolimus treatment in pregnancy outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus by K Ichinose, S Sato, Y Kitajima, Y Horai, K Fujikawa, M Umeda, S Fukui, A Nishino, T Koga, S Y Kawashiri, N Iwamoto, M Tamai, H Nakamura, T Origuchi, I Yasuhi, H Masuzaki and A Kawakami in Lupus

Supplemental material, Supplementary Table for The efficacy of adjunct tacrolimus treatment in pregnancy outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus by K Ichinose, S Sato, Y Kitajima, Y Horai, K Fujikawa, M Umeda, S Fukui, A Nishino, T Koga, S Y Kawashiri, N Iwamoto, M Tamai, H Nakamura, T Origuchi, I Yasuhi, H Masuzaki and A Kawakami in Lupus

The novel use of SiCN underneath TEOS oxide as a bonding surface in the wafer bonding of Backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor is proposed and the mechanism of void control by SiCN is clarified. In general, high-temperature processing results in generating voids between the wafer interfaces after bonding due to the release of high-pressure H 2 O contained in TEOS. In the proposed mechanism, the SiCN exposed to high-temperature H 2 O is oxidized thereby preventing the emission of high-pressure H 2 O gas. This paper analyzes the role of SiCN in this mechanism.

The hypothesis that common carp can be used for the control of apple snails in rice fields was tested experimentally. In a rice field, 12 plots of 4 2 5 m were set and enclosed by plastic walls to ...

The preferences of the West Indian sweet potato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire), to tubers of sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.), for food and for oviposition were evaluated, and correlated to sweet potato's resistance to immatures. Adults (parent) were released in a plastic box containing tubers of sweet potato cultivars and maintained for 5 d, after which the adults on each tuber were counted. All adults were then removed and each tuber was maintained separately. New adults that emerged from the tubers were counted. Cultivars were grouped by cluster analyses using the number of parent adults on the tubers and the number of new adults emerging from the tubers, adjusted for the weight of each tuber. Cultivars were divided into five groups: average level of preference, preferred, preferred for oviposition but not for food, preferred for food but not for oviposition, and not preferred. New adults from the first two groups took less time to eclose than those from the other groups, and their body size was smaller. In a second experiment, one to five cultivars were selected from each group and inoculated each tuber with 10 weevil eggs on each cultivar. Although the proportion of eclosed adults was not significantly different between cultivars, the time to eclosion was shorter and body size was smaller on preferred cultivars. The selection of tubers by parent adults was not linearly related with larval development, and did not reduce the survival of the immatures.

A systematic NMR study of the effects of Co and Ni substitutions on the 143Nd hyperfine fields in Nd2(Fe1−xCox)14B and Nd2(Fe1−yNiy)14B has been carried out by the spin-echo method in zero external magnetic field. The substitution of Co for Fe leads that the hyperfine field first decreases and then increases, while the substitution of Ni for Fe brings about a significant reduction of the hyperfine field. This decrease, however, is recovered by further substitution of Co for Fe in the Nd2(Fe1−yNiy)14B. An analysis of the Nd hyperfine field based on the saturation magnetization of Nd2(Fe1−xCox)14B and Nd2(Fe1−yNiy)14B compounds leads to a conclusion that the Nd magnetic moment averaged over the f and g sites in the latter is reduced to 2.9 μB for y=0.1 from 3.0 μB for y=0.

Interagency planning and resource development were used to improve available services for severely emotionally disturbed special education students who were in or at-risk of being placed in residential care. Augmented local school-based and regional day treatment services were financed by a Ventura County Social Services Agency trust fund and delivered cooperatively by the County Mental Health Agency and local education agencies. Revenues generated by the new service positions were planned to restore the trust fund. Outcomes following service implementation included: (a) an average reduction of 3.5 youths in the expected number of youths in group home placement per month; (b) a total reduction of $290,011 in the expected annual cost of placement; and (c) generation of $281,238 in Medi-Cal revenue by the school-based and day treatment components of the system of care. The implications of these outcomes are discussed in terms of existing trends in numbers of identified seriously emotionally disturbed students and their service needs and the processes that were involved in planning and implementing the service augmentation.

141 Pr and 159 Tb spin-echo NMR measurements have been done on PrCo 5 and TbCo 5.1 compounds. In both compounds, domain signals have been distinguished from domain wall signals under external fields. For TbCo 5.1 , the hyperfine field and electric quadrupole interaction parameter of Tb obtained by NMR are in good agreement with those evaluated from the analysis of the magnetization of the compound on the basis of the crystalline electric field (CEF) interaction including the exchange interaction between the rare earth and Co. On the contrary, Pr hyperfine field of 2251 kOe in PrCo 5 is much smaller than that evaluated from the CEF analysis.

From time-resolved measurements of self-trapped exciton (STE) luminescence using synchroton radiation pulses, both singlet and triplet components of type-I luminescence from on-center STEs in KI and RbI were found to be depressed upon excitation of n = 1 free excitons, contrary to high efficiency of triplet luminescence of type II or III from off-center STEs.

International audience; In social insects the discrimination process of non-nestmates is generally considered to be based on detection of cuticular hydrocarbons. The required quantity of the stimulus is fundamental but unknown. In laboratory conditions, we demonstrated that Aphaenogaster senilis ants are able to discriminate the presence of heterocolonial cuticular hydrocarbons on filter papers at concentrations of 0.05 ng/mm2, the equivalent of 10-4 worker. This result does not mean that workers are not able to recognize their own colony odour at lower concentrations, but that the discrimination response appears at very low levels.

Author(s): Gottwald, T. R.; Hall, D. G.; Beattie, G. A. C.; Ichinose, K.; Nguyen, M. C.; Le, Q. D.; Bar-Joseph, M.; Lapointe, S.; Stover, E.; Parker, P. E.; McCollum, G.; Hilf, M. E.

This “dissemination” study examined the extent to which parents would read child-rearing advice booklets and use them with their children. The advice booklets focused on managing and enhancing family interactions in three potentially difficult situations that occur in everyday family life (e.g., shopping trips, meal-times, household responsibilities). A multiple baseline design was used to assess parent reports of child behavior in all three situations. Improvements in children's behavior during these situations were reported as a function of parents reading and using the advice booklets. This study supports previous research in suggesting that self-help booklets can serve as useful ad effective change agents for many families.

We investigated the effects of short-term endurance training and detraining on sweating and cutaneous vasodilatation during exercise in young women, taking into account changes in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and the phase of the menstrual cycle. Eleven untrained women participated in endurance training; cycle exercise at approximately 60% VO2max for 60 min day(-1), 4-5 days week(-1) (30 degrees C, 45% relative humidity) for three complete menstrual cycles. The standard exercise test consisted of exercise at 50% VO2max for 30 min (25 degrees C, 45% relative humidity), and was conducted before training (Pre), during training sessions (T1, T2 and T3) and after cessation of training (D1 and D2). Values of VO2max increased significantly from 32.7 +/- 1.2 to 37.8 +/- 1.2 ml min(-1) kg(-1) at the end of the training. Local sweat rate in the chest and thigh, but not in the back and forearm, were significantly greater during T1 and T2 only in women who started training from the midfollicular phase. Cutaneous blood flow did not change with training. The threshold oesophageal temperatures for heat loss responses were significantly decreased during T1 versus Pre (averaged values for each body site: sweating, 37.49 +/- 0.08 versus 37.22 +/- 0.12 degrees C; and cutaneous vasodilatation, 37.40 +/- 0.07 versus 37.17 +/- 0.10 degrees C) and maintained through T3; the sensitivities of heat loss responses were not altered. These changes returned to the Pre level by D1. Our data indicate that physical training improves heat loss responses by decreasing the threshold temperatures and that these effects occur within a month of training and disappear within a month after cessation of training. The degree of increase in sweating with training differs among body sites and might be affected by the phase of the menstrual cycle.

This review examines ecological factors that have been shown to influence the play and activity engagement of children with behavioral, cognitive, and physical handicaps. The review focuses on conditions in group-care settings (e.g., day care, institutions, hospitals) that can be arranged to promote children's play and engagement in social and non-social activities. The factors reviewed fall into three major categories: characteristics of play materials, characteristics of the play settings, and the teaching of play behavior. In addition to summarizing the findings of selected studies in these areas, the article provides (a) guidelines for practitioners seeking to promote play and activity engagement among handicapped children, and (b) suggestions for researches pursuing this line of investigation.

Actinorhodin, an antibiotic produced by Streptomyces coelicolor, is exported from the cell by the ActA efflux pump. actA is divergently transcribed from actR, which encodes a TetR-like transcriptional repressor. We showed previously that ActR represses transcription by binding to an operator from the actA/actR intergenic region. Importantly, actinorhodin itself or various actinorhodin biosynthetic intermediates can cause ActR to dissociate from its operator, leading to derepression. This suggests that ActR may mediate timely self-resistance to an endogenously produced antibiotic by responding to one of its biosynthetic precursors. Here, we report the structural basis for this precursor-mediated derepression with crystal structures of homodimeric ActR by itself and in complex with either actinorhodin or the actinorhodin biosynthetic intermediate (S)-DNPA [4-dihydro-9-hydroxy-1-methyl-10-oxo-3-H-naphtho-[2,3-c]-pyran-3-(S)-acetic acid]. The ligand-binding tunnel in each ActR monomer has a striking hydrophilic/hydrophobic/hydrophilic arrangement of surface residues that accommodate either one hexacyclic actinorhodin molecule or two back-to-back tricyclic (S)-DNPA molecules. Moreover, our work also reveals the strongest structural evidence to date that TetR-mediated antibiotic resistance may have been acquired from an antibiotic-producer organism.

Magnetic hyperfine fields and electric quadrupole splittings in RFe11Ti (R  Nd, Sm, Tb, Dy, Er, Lu) were measured by the spin-echo NMR. The magnetic moment of rare-earth and that of Fe averaged over the inequivalent sites were estimated from the hyperfine field analysis using the magnetization data of the compounds.

A report on a CMOS SRAM with a peak current of 45mA obtained through the use of an address transition activated circuit combined with a tri-level word-line circuit will be presented.

141Pr NMR measurements have been done on Pr2Fe14B and (Pr0.9Lu0.1)2Fe14B at 1.4K by the spin-echo method. The observed hyperfine fields in Pr2Fe14B are 2574 and 2803kOe for the f and g sites, respectively, and in (Pr0.9Lu0.1)2Fe14B 2560 and 2804kOe for the f and g sites, respectively. The hyperfine fields due to the 4f shell of the Pr3+ ion were evaluated taking into account the transferred hyperfine field from the Fe sublattice. The magnetic moments of Pr3+ in Pr2Fe14B were estimated to be 2.9 and 3.0μB for the f and g sites, respectively.

0.1-/spl mu/m CMOS devices for high speed logic and system LSIs have been successfully achieved. The device has an SiO/SiN stacked gate dielectric with T/sub oxinv/=2.8 nm to avoid gate direct tunneling leakage and boron penetration. It also utilizes a poly/metal stacked gate electrode to reduce gate resistance. Carefully optimized source/drain extensions and punch-through stoppers offer good short channel operation below 0.1-/spl mu/m gate length and high-drive currents of 1000 /spl mu/A//spl mu/m for NMOSs and 410 /spl mu/A//spl mu/m for PMOSs at 1.5 V voltage supply.

High-performance 0.12 /spl mu/m CMOS devices with manufacturable 0.18 /spl mu/m technology are presented. A nominal I/sub dsat/N/P of 950/410 /spl mu/A//spl mu/m at an I/sub off/ of 12 nA//spl mu/m is achieved by reducing the body effect. The double-sidewall structure developed can reduce gate-fringe capacitance without increasing the junction leakage, and the inverter delay of 11 ps/stage is achieved at a nominal L/sub gate/ of 0.12 /spl mu/m. Small 6T-SRAM cells of 3.1 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ with 0.5 /spl mu/m gate pitch are implemented using a vertical well isolation and a self-aligned contact (SAC). In the SAC process, a blanket Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ layer used as an etching stopper is optimized for the I/sub dsat/N/P ratio and the negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) reliability. The 9-level interconnection is optimized to reduce a long wire RC-delay.

A 130 nm node CMOS technology with a self-aligned contact system is demonstrated. Tensile stress of the contact etch stop increases nFET's Ids, and reduces compressive stress caused by shallow trench isolation, which enhances pFET's Ids. A 1.92 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ 6T-SRAM has been integrated with high performance transistors.

A class of Streptomyces aromatic polyketide antibiotics, the benzoisochromanequinones, all shows trans stereochemistry at C-3 and C-15 in the pyran ring. The opposite stereochemical control found in actinorhodin (3S, 15R, ACT) from S. coelicolor A3(2) and dihydrogranaticin (3R, 15S, DHGRA) from S. violaceoruber Tü22 was studied by functional expression of the potentially relevant ketoreductase genes, actIII, actVI-ORF1, gra-ORF5, and gra-ORF6. A common bicyclic intermediate was postulated to undergo stereospecific reduction to provide either the 3-(S) or the 3-(R) configuration of an advanced intermediate, 4-dihydro-9-hydroxy-1-methyl-10-oxo-3-H-naphtho[2,3-c]pyran-3-acetic acid (DNPA). Combinations of the four ketoreductase genes were coexpressed with the early biosynthetic genes encoding a type II minimal polyketide synthase, aromatase, and cyclase. gra-ORF6 was essential to produce (R)-DNPA in DHGRA biosynthesis. Out of the various recombinants carrying the relevant ketoreductases, the set of gra-ORF5 and -ORF6 under translational coupling (on pIK191) led to the most efficient production of (R)-DNPA as a single product, implying a possible unique cooperative function whereby gra-ORF6 might encode a "guiding" protein to control the regio- and stereochemical course of reduction at C-3 catalyzed by the gra-ORF5 protein. Updated BLAST-based database analysis suggested that the gra-ORF6 product, a putative short-chain dehydrogenase, has virtually no sequence homology with the actVI-ORF1 protein, which was previously shown to determine the 3-(S) configuration of DNPA in ACT biosynthesis. This demonstrates an example of opposite stereochemical control in antibiotic biosynthesis, providing a key branch point to afford diverse chiral metabolic pools.

A 78-year-old man developed isolated right atrial tamponade 15 hours following aortic valve replacement. There were excessive postsurgical bleeding, low blood pressure, and low cardiac output. Volume expansion and inotropic therapy did not increase blood pressure. There were no cardiomegaly and echo-free space. Diagnosis was made by appearance of pulsus paradoxus and transthoracic echocardiography and confirmed by surgery. The clinical picture was improved dramatically after surgical removal of the hematoma. Right atrial tamponade leads to a unique clinical conglomeration of hemodynamic and echocardiographic features. Constant attention to this entity is necessary to make a timely diagnosis.

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement through the mucous membrane of the lip was investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy with an attenuated total reflection (ATR) prism. To achieve easy attachment and easy control of attachment pressure of the ATR prism to the mucous membrane of the lip, a chalcogenide optical fiber with an ATR prism built in the tip was used. The same glucose-specific peaks at wave numbers of 1080 and 1033 cm-1 as glucose solutions were found in a spectrum through the mucous membrane of the lip. With a constant pressure of the ATR prism to the mucous membrane of the lip of 6.7 x 10(3) dyn/cm2, coefficients of variation of measurements within the day and of day-to-day measurements were 3.8 and 5.4% respectively. To eliminate baseline drifts and interference of body constituents other than glucose, the difference absorbances at 1080 cm-1 between spectra measured at the postprandial state and background spectrum obtained at the fasting state as an individual characteristic were evaluated. Following i.v. pulsatile injection of glucose, the difference absorbances at 1080 cm-1 nicely followed the changes in blood glucose concentrations with a time delay of 4 min. In daily blood glucose monitoring, a highly significant correlation between the difference absorbances and increases in blood glucose concentrations above the fasting level was obtained (r = 0.920, P0.01). From these experiments, it was suggested that FT-IR spectroscopy with a chalcogenide optical fiber could be useful clinically for non-invasive monitoring of glucose through the mucous membrane of the lip.

A 69 y-old female underwent orthopedic surgery 12 times in our hospital. A variety of agents were used for anesthesia. She developed episodes of transient increase in liver enzymes only after each of three isoflurane anesthesia (GOT : 311, 292, 328 IU.l-1, GPT: 341, 264, 274 IU.l-1). We suspected drug-induced liver dysfunction, but results of a lymphocyte stimulation test were negative. We conclude that her liver dysfunction was not severe enough to cause clinical symptoms. In such susceptible patients we should be careful of our choice of anesthetic drugs.

Magnetization measurements and 59 Co NMR have been performed for (Nd 1− x R x ) 2 Co 14 B(R=Y, Pr, Sm, Gd and Tb) compounds. Three types of the spin phase diagrams, depending on the sign of the Stevens factor of the R ion, have been established based on these measurements. The results are discussed with the crystalline electric field (CEF) approximation.

The 59 Co NMR and magnetic measurements in Sm 2 (Co 1− x T x ) 14 B (T = Mn, Fe, Ni) have been carried out at 4.2 and 77 K, respectively. The 59 Co hyperfine fields in Sm 2 (Co 1− x T x ) 14 B increase for T = Fe, and decrease for T = Mn, Ni with increasing T-concentration. These results show that the 59 Co hyperfine fields depend on nearest neighbor T atoms.

Use of a transfusion pump (BP 101, Terumo, Tokyo) makes it feasible to obtain a stable and almost constant ejection volume at a flow rate of 99 ml.min-1, with no untoward effects of the intravenously placed needle and the microfilter located in the circuit. An air sensor ensures that the pump will cease operation immediately and automatically if an air bubble occurrs in the circuit. When a blood bag is conventionally connected to a connecting tube, at the maximum flow rate, one must set up a new blood bag within a few minutes, and in emergency situations with a shortage of hands, this would be unduly troublesome. When 5-7 blood bags (400 ml) is connected to 5-7 parallel connecting tubes, the pump will continuously eject blood approximately to 2000 ml at 99 ml.min-1, without replacing the blood bags.

This article presents the California System of Care Model for youth with severe emotional disturbances as an illustration of how ongoing assessment of the costs and outcomes of service delivery can be an integral part of a service delivery model. The core of this model, developed initially in Ventura County, California, is a five-step planning process that guides care system development and implementation. The implications of each stage of the planning process for evaluation and feedback at the child, family, and system levels are highlighted. A set of principles for selecting outcome measures deriving from the planning process are also presented that, in conjunction with the planning model, serve as guidelines for establishing outcome measures within care systems. The resulting specific plan for measuring system- and client-level outcomes deriving from this process, along with challenges to the implementation of the outcome management plan, is described.

Drug delivery systems play a crucial role in cancer chemotherapy, not only in the achievement of sufficient tumoricidal effect but also in minimizing systemic side effects. We investigated the effect of liposomal adriamycin with tumor recognition molecule, 1-aminolactose (1-AL), on AH66 hepatoma transplanted into nude mice. Adriamycin (ADM) was encapsulated in liposome coating with cholesterol pullulan (CHP) to increase the stability in the blood stream. 1-AL was assembled to the outer layer of CHP-coated liposomal ADM as a tumor recognition molecule. In an in vivo therapeutic study. 1-AL/CHP-coated liposomal ADM restrained tumor growth more when compared with CHP-coated liposomal ADM. Thus, 1-AL/CHP-coated liposome seems to be a carrier of ADM to tumor cells.

Considering the management and safety of the insulin delivery route when a wearable artificial endocrine pancreas is applied to ambulatory diabetic patients on a long-term basis, we developed a s.c. insulin infusion algorithm by analyzing the dynamics of a s.c. injected short-acting insulin analog (Insulin Lispro) by a three-compartment model. Principally the insulin infusion algorithm was developed as a transfer function with the first-order delay in both proportional and derivative actions to blood glucose concentrations. The parameters for this algorithm were calculated to simulate a physiological plasma insulin profile as closely as possible. By applying this algorithm with regular insulin, diabetic patients showed a 2 h postprandial hyperglycemia and a delayed hyperinsulinemia, followed by hypoglycemic episodes 4-5 h after oral glucose load, just as observed in the computer simulation study. However, using Insulin Lispro, a near-physiological glycemic control (postprandial blood glucose of 153.1 +/- 8.3 mg/100 ml at 60 min and 90.3 +/- 7.1 mg/100 ml at 180 min, respectively) could be achieved without showing any delayed hyperinsulinemia or hypoglycemia. Daily glycemic excursions were also controlled near-physiologically and although the daily insulin requirement (731.7 +/- 160.5 mU/kg/day) was slightly higher, it was not significantly different from that with i.v. insulin infusion (622.3 +/- 142.6 mU/kg/day). These results indicate that the application of s.c. insulin infusion algorithm with Insulin Lispro is feasible for long-term glycemic control with a wearable artificial endocrine pancreas in ambulatory diabetic patients.