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A total of 111 samples from Southern Hemisphere blue whales were sequenced for 420 base pairs of the mitochondrial control region and all but one of those were genotyped over seven microsatellite loci. Comparisons were made between samples from three broad geographic regions: the southeast Pacific Ocean; Indian Ocean; and around the Antarctic continent. Each of these strata was found to be highly differentiated from the others, in both mitochondrial and nuclear data. The genetic differentiation between the geographic ranges of the nominal subspecies (i.e. true blue whales in Antarctica vs. pygmy blues in Pacific and Indian Oceans) was not markedly greater than between the populations of pygmy blue whales. Assignment tests using the microsatellite data provide some insight into detection of feeding-season mixing, although existing methods have some limitations.

Chicken (Gallus gallus) MHCY class I molecules are highly polymorphic yet substantially different from polymorphic MHC class I molecules that bind peptide Ags. The binding grooves in MHCY class I molecules are hydrophobic and too narrow to accommodate peptides. An earlier structural study suggested that ligands for MHCY class I might be lipids, but the contents of the groove were not clearly identified. In this study, lysophospholipids have been identified by mass spectrometry as bound in two MHCY class I isoforms that differ substantially in sequence. The two isoforms, YF1*7.1 and YF1*RJF34, differ by 35 aa in the α1 and α2 domains that form the MHC class I ligand binding groove. Lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine (lyso-PE) 18:1 was the dominant lipid identified in YF1*7.1 and YF1*RJF34 expressed as recombinant molecules and renatured with β2-microglobulin in the presence of a total lipid extract from Escherichia coli. Less frequently detected were lyso-PE 17:1, lyso-PE 16:1, and lysophosphatidylglycerols 17:1 and 16:0. These data provide evidence that lysophospholipids are candidate ligands for MHCY class I molecules. Finding that MHCY class I isoforms differing substantially in sequence bind the same array of lysophospholipids indicates that the amino acid polymorphism that distinguishes MHCY class I molecules is not key in defining ligand specificity. The polymorphic positions lie mostly away from the binding groove and might define specificity in interactions of MHCY class I molecules with receptors that are presently unidentified. MHCY class I molecules are distinctive in bound ligand and in display of polymorphic residues.

Magnetic skyrmions are candidates for information carriers in Brownian and stochastic computers. Developing a technique for fabricating a film with a suitable potential landscape, wherein the information carrier may diffuse freely, is essential for these probabilistic computers. In this study, to build the desired local potential into magnetic films, a 1.2 nm-thick Co-Fe-B film with a 5.2 nm-thick cap layer was irradiated by a focused ion beam (FIB) using Ga+ as the ion source under a low acceleration voltage of 5 keV. The fluences ranged from 0 to 25 × 1012 ions/cm2. Consequently, the critical temperature at which skyrmions appear or disappear is shifted by several 1–10 K depending on the ion fluence. The origin of this effect is discussed by observing the ion implantation profile and the surface sputtering depth using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results of TOF-SIMS measurements show that most of the Ga atoms exist in the Co–Fe–B layer. If all Ga atoms exist in the Co–Fe–B layer, the Ga concentration is 7 × 10−3 at. % after irradiation of 0.8 × 1012 ions/cm2. The AFM results show a sputtered pattern with 0.2 nm depth after irradiation of 16 × 1012 ions/cm2. Finally, the effect of irradiation on the diffusion coefficient was examined. It was determined that small fluences of 1.6 × 1012 and 0.8 × 1012 ions/cm2 can construct a potential barrier controlling skyrmions while maintaining diffusion coefficients as high as 10 μm2/s. The FIB process can be used to draw a circuit of probabilistic computers with skyrmions as information carriers.

STUDY QUESTION Is there a relation between specific Na+/K+ ATPase isoform expression and localization in human blastocysts and the developmental behavior of the embryo? SUMMARY ANSWER Na+/K+ ATPase α1, β1 and β3 are the main isoforms expressed in human blastocysts and no association was found between the expression level of their respective mRNAs and the rate of blastocyst expansion. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY In mouse embryos, Na+/K+ ATPase α1 and β1 are expressed in the basolateral membrane of trophectoderm (TE) cells and are believed to be involved in blastocoel formation (cavitation). STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A total of 20 surplus embryos from 11 patients who underwent IVF and embryo transfer at a university hospital between 2009 and 2018 were analyzed. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS After freezing and thawing Day 5 human blastocysts, their developmental behavior was observed for 24 h using time-lapse imaging, and the expression of Na+/K+ ATPase isoforms was examined using quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). The expressed isoforms were then localized in blastocysts using fluorescent immunostaining. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE RT-qPCR results demonstrated the expression of Na+/K+ ATPase α1, β1 and β3 isoforms in human blastocysts. Isoforms α1 and β3 were localized to the basolateral membrane of TE cells, and β1 was localized between TE cells. A high level of β3 mRNA expression correlated with easier hatching (P = 0.0261). LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The expression of mRNA and the localization of proteins of interest were verified, but we have not been able to perform functional analysis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Of the various Na+/K+ ATPase isoforms, expression levels of the α1, β1 and β3 mRNAs were clearly higher than other isoforms in human blastocysts. Since α1 and β3 were localized to the basolateral membrane via fluorescent immunostaining, we believe that these subunits contribute to the dilation of the blastocoel. The β1 isoform is localized between TE cells and may be involved in tight junction formation, as previously reported in mouse embryos. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the JSPS KAKENHI (https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/index.html), grant number 17K11215. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Objectives The aim of this AFIRE (Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Events With Rivaroxaban in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease) trial subgroup analysis was to examine rivaroxaban monotherapy benefits and their relation to the time between stenting and enrollment among patients after coronary stenting. Background Of 2,215 patients with atrial fibrillation and stable coronary artery disease in the AFIRE trial, rivaroxaban monotherapy was noninferior to rivaroxaban plus antiplatelet therapy (combination therapy) in terms of efficacy and superior for safety endpoints. However, thrombotic risk after antiplatelet therapy cessation remained a concern among 1,444 patients who had undergone coronary stenting >1 year before enrollment. Methods The benefits of rivaroxaban monotherapy in coronary stenting subgroups were assessed for efficacy (a composite of stroke, systemic embolism, myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring revascularization, or death of any cause), safety (major bleeding defined according to International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria), ischemic endpoints, net adverse clinical event, and time between stenting and enrollment. Results Efficacy and safety endpoints for monotherapy were superior to combination therapy, with HRs of 0.70 for efficacy (95% CI: 0.50-0.98; P = 0.036) and 0.55 for safety (95% CI: 0.33-0.92; P = 0.019). For ischemic endpoints, the HR was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.58-1.15; P = 0.240). The HR became smaller with longer time between stenting and enrollment (efficacy, P for interaction = 0.158; safety, P = 0.097). Conclusions In patients with atrial fibrillation after coronary stenting, the benefits of rivaroxaban monotherapy for efficacy and safety endpoints were consistent with those in the whole AFIRE trial population. The benefits became apparent with longer time between stenting and enrollment. (Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Events With Rivaroxaban in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease Study [AFIRE]; UMIN000016612 , NCT02642419 )

Molecular subtyping in gastrointestinal stromal tumours is a useful method for predicting the efficacy of treatment using tyrosine kinase inhibitors in humans. However, owing to the paucity of reports on mutational analyses, the association between genetic mutations and the therapeutic response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors remains unclear in feline gastrointestinal stromal tumours. In this report, we describe the case of a cat with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour which was unresponsive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. A mutational analysis revealed that the cat lacked mutations in both the KIT and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRA) genes. Our findings are consistent with the fact that KIT/PDGFRA wild-type gastrointestinal stromal tumours are less responsive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in humans. This signifies the need for further evaluation and possibly individualised treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumours in cats on the basis of mutational analyses.

MHCY is a second major histocompatibility complex-like gene region in chickens originally identified by the presence of major histocompatibility complex class I-like and class II-like gene sequences. Up to now, the MHCY gene region has been poorly represented in genomic sequence data. A high density of repetitive sequence and multiple members of several gene families prevented the accurate assembly of short-read sequence data for MHCY. Identified here by single-molecule real-time sequencing sequencing of BAC clones for the Gallus gallus Red Jungle Fowl reference genome are 107 MHCY region genes (45 major histocompatibility complex class I-like, 41 c-type-lectin-like, 8 major histocompatibility complex class IIβ, 8 LENG9-like, 4 zinc finger protein loci, and a single only zinc finger-like locus) located amid hundreds of retroelements within 4 contigs representing the region. Sequences obtained for nearby ribosomal RNA genes have allowed MHCY to be precisely mapped with respect to the nucleolar organizer region. Gene sequences provide insights into the unusual structure of the MHCY class I molecules. The MHCY class I loci are polymorphic and group into 22 types based on predicted amino acid sequences. Some MHCY class I loci are full-length major histocompatibility complex class I genes. Others with altered gene structure are considered gene candidates. The amino acid side chains at many of the polymorphic positions in MHCY class I are directed away rather than into the antigen-binding groove as is typical of peptide-binding major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Identical and nearly identical blocks of genomic sequence contribute to the observed multiplicity of identical MHCY genes and the large size (>639 kb) of the Red Jungle Fowl MHCY haplotype. Multiple points of hybridization observed in fluorescence in situ hybridization suggest that the Red Jungle Fowl MHCY haplotype is made up of linked, but physically separated genomic segments. The unusual gene content, the evidence of highly similar duplicated segments, and additional evidence of variation in haplotype size distinguish polymorphic MHCY from classical polymorphic major histocompatibility complex regions.

The world was astounded by the emergence of the deadly virus COVID-19 at the end of 2019. In March 2020, Malaysia’s first Movement Control Order (MCO) was initiated to stop the spread of the virus that ended in June 2021. Hence, this paper was initiated to study the impact of the pandemic and MCO on the generation of waste in Pasar Awam Maharani Muar (PAMM). The waste generation rate and the trend of waste accumulation according to different categories were recognised. The PAMM operates 8 hours daily, and the area strictly observes Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) established by the government. The compositional study was performed two times for 14 days in a month. The solid waste was segregated, and the weight were measured accordingly. The average total solid waste generated from 30 stalls was around 1.5 tonnes daily. It was further established that 38.5% of the waste comprised of chicken and fish waste, 36.3% formed inorganic waste, and 25.2% constituted vegetable and fruit waste. Several limitations were acknowledged in this research which was the short operational time, unpredictable weather, public holidays, and the closure of PAMM on Sundays. Observations also showed that some stall owners were highly mindful of the solid waste segregation and some of the organic wastes were reused as ruminant feed and some for composting.

Waste biomass are highly valuable and have potential to be converted to organic fertilizers or compost. This is a great alternative to replace the uses of commercial chemical fertilizers towards sustainable agriculture. However, due to its complex molecular structure and high lignin content, it hinders full decomposition of these wastes into mature compost. Therefore, subcritical water (SCW) pre-treatment was studied to enhance the hydrolytic degradation of biomass waste such as rice straw, banana peel, and chicken feathers to be converted into mature compost within a shorter time. Validation on the maturity of the treated substrates and measurements of the level of phytotoxicity in the compost were studied based on the germination index (GI) of Japanese mustard seeds. Results showed that all treated substrates provided high GI of more than 60% at its optimum concentration which indicates the significant contribution of SCW pre-treatment to produce effective mature compost.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: With the increasing use of the Pipeline Embolization Device for the treatment of aneurysms, predictors of clinical and angiographic outcomes are needed. This study aimed to identify predictors of incomplete occlusion at last angiographic follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our retrospective, single-center cohort study, 105 ICA aneurysms in 89 subjects were treated with Pipeline Embolization Devices. Patients were followed per standardized protocol. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were analyzed. We introduced a new morphologic classification based on the included angle of the parent artery against the neck location: outer convexity type (included angle, 200°), and lateral wall type (160° ≤ included angle ≤200°). This classification reflects the metal coverage rate and flow dynamics. RESULTS: Imaging data were acquired in 95.3% of aneurysms persistent at 6 months. Complete occlusion was achieved in 70.5%, and incomplete occlusion, in 29.5% at last follow-up. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that 60 years of age or older (OR, 5.70; P = .001), aneurysms with the branching artery from the dome (OR, 10.56; P = .002), fusiform aneurysms (OR, 10.2; P = .009), and outer convexity–type saccular aneurysms (versus inner convexity type: OR, 30.3; P

The role of turbulence in setting boundary plasma conditions is presently a key uncertainty in projecting to fusion energy reactors. To robustly diagnose edge turbulence, we develop and demonstrate a technique to translate brightness measurements of HeI line radiation into local plasma fluctuations via a novel integrated deep learning framework that combines neutral transport physics and collisional radiative theory for the $3^3 D - 2^3 P$ transition in atomic helium. The tenets for experimental validity are reviewed, illustrating that this turbulence analysis for ionized gases is transferable to both magnetized and unmagnetized environments with arbitrary geometries. Based upon fast camera data on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, we present the first 2-dimensional time-dependent experimental measurements of the turbulent electron density, electron temperature, and neutral density revealing shadowing effects in a fusion plasma using a single spectral line., 16 pages, 14 figures

Spectroscopic studies of emissions released from tungsten ions combined with a pellet injection technique have been conducted in the Large Helical Device. The tungsten Unresolved Transition Array (UTA) spectrum was observed in the wavelength ranges of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) 6–60 Å and 130–340 Å, and the electron temperature dependence of the UTA spectral shape was investigated in the electron temperature region < 4.3 keV. The UTAs of W24+–W33+ at 20–33 Å, W37+–W42+ at 45–47 Å, W27+–W29+ at 48–55 Å, and W7+– W27+ at 170–210 Å were observed. Unidentified UTAs were also found at 230–270 Å and 280–320 Å. As the electron temperature increased further above 4 keV, the W37+–W42+ UTA at 45–47 Å was maintained, while the other UTAs became less intense.

MHCY is a candidate region for influencing immune responses in chickens. MHCY contains multiple specialized, polymorphic MHC class I loci along with loci belonging to 4 additional gene families. In this study, MHCY haplotypes were tested for association with cecal colonization after Campylobacter jejuni infection of a backcross [(Line 61 × Line N) × Line N] population derived from 2 White Leghorn research lines, Line 61 and Line N, that were previously shown to exhibit heritable differences in colonization. Samples were obtained for 51 birds challenged with 108 CFU Campylobacter jejuni at 3 wk of age. Viable C. jejuni in the ceca were enumerated 5 d postinfection and counts were log-transformed for analysis. Birds were assigned to either low or high colonization groups based on the individual count being below or above the mean bacterial count for all birds. The mean bacterial count of the low infection group differed significantly from the high infection group. Sex and MHCB haplotype had similar distributions within the 2 groups. Overall, 7 MHCY haplotypes were found to be segregating. Two were significantly associated with C. jejuni colonization. MHCY Y18 was associated with low colonization (P = 3.00 × 10−5); whereas MHCY Y11a was associated with high colonization (P = 0.008). The MHCY haplotype impacted the mean bacterial count among all birds with MHCY Y18 having the lowest bacterial count compared with MHCY Y11a and all other MHCY (Y5, Y7, Y8, Y11b, and Y11c) haplotypes. These findings support further investigation of the contribution of chicken MHCY in resistance to Campylobacter colonization.

Totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) is a large species of croaker, endemic to the upper Gulf of California in Mexico, which has been under extreme poaching pressure due to its highly valuable swim bladder, or buche. For more than 20 years, totoaba aquaculture has been developing as one, among many, conservation strategies in the ongoing management of the species. Competing with illegally poached buche requires farming high quality product. This study provides the first report of the influence of alternative aquaculture feeds – fishmeal versus soy protein concentrate (SPC) – on key cultured totoaba traits that affect the market value of its swim bladder. Since the price of farmed buche is key to the successful displacement of illegally poached product, options for replacing expensive fishmeal are key to conservation success. A variety of characteristics related to buche size and quality were affected by diet composition, but partial inclusion of soy protein as a substitute for fishmeal can produce buche of comparable quality to product grown from more expensive fishmeal diets. These findings highlight a path for diet changes to produce high value totoaba swim bladders from aquaculture at substantially lower costs.

Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) is defined as lymph node metastasis without a detectable origin until after the initial treatment has been performed. The most common occult primary site in the head and neck, as revealed by a review of the published literature, is the oropharynx. An occult primary site in the oral region is extremely rare. We report a rare case of head and neck CUP (HNCUP) in a 69-year-old female patient, wherein the occult primary lesion was a primary intraosseous carcinoma (PIOC) invading the anterior maxilla. During the course of the initial diagnostic workup, no primary lesion could be identified; however, cervical lymph node metastasis to left levels IB and IIA were observed in the patient. A neck dissection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy was performed. However, the PIOC of the anterior maxilla was identified 6 months after neck treatment and was confirmed as the occult primary tumour of the HNCUP. This case is quite rare and required a comprehensive workup to guide optimal treatment. Careful follow-up or active biopsy should be considered if osteolytic changes are observed in the jaw.

Toward real-time wall conditioning, impurity powder dropping experiments with boron powder were performed in the 22nd experimental campaign of the Large Helical Device. To examine the deposition and desorption process of boron, we focus on boron hydride (BH) molecules which presumably populate near plasma-facing components. We performed spatially-resolved spectroscopic measurements of emission by boron ions and BH molecules. From the measurement, we found that BH and B+ were concentrated on the divertor viewing chord, which suggest boron deposition in the divertor region. By comparing Hγ emissions with and without boron injection, neutral hydrogen shows uniform reduction in the SOL region, whereas less reduction of neutral hydrogen is confirmed in the divertor region. Although emissions from BH and B+ increased linearly, emissions by B0 and B4+ became constant after the middle of the discharge. Continuous reduction of carbon density in the core plasma was confirmed even after B0 and B4+ became constant. The results may show reduction of hydrogen recycling and facilitation of impurity gettering by boron in the divertor region and thus effective real-time wall conditioning.

An energy transfer phenomenon between energetic ions, which cannot be explained only considering the Coulomb scattering process, was observed on a large helical device (LHD). This phenomenon often occurs in fusion reactivity enhancement and fast-ion slowing-down process that can be observed as a delay in the decay time of the D(d,n)3He neutron generation rate. The transferred energy required to induce such a reactivity enhancement or delay in the fast-ion slowing-down time (neutron decay time) was examined based on the Boltzmann−Fokker−Planck analysis in which a discrete energy transfer process, called nuclear elastic scattering (NES), is included. It was shown that even though the cross section of the NES is smaller than that of the Coulomb scattering, enough knock-on population appears in the energetic region in ion distribution function to induce the observable NES effects; thus, enough energy is transferred from beam ions to fast component of bulk ion distribution function indirectly and the transferred energy per unit time via NES is comparable to the Coulomb scattering rate. This study analytically demonstrates that the observed phenomena on LHD can be explained smoothly by considering the alternative indirect energy transfer channel between energetic ions, which can be comparable with the one via Coulomb scattering.

Cs-Bi and Cs-Sb absorbed graphite samples (Cs-Bi/graphite and Cs-Sb/graphite) were synthesized and their high temperature chemical stabilities were tested up to 1500 °C by TG and analyzed by TEM-EDS for the development of Cs trap material in high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) fuel particles. It was observed that Cs was stabilized by Sb but not by Bi in the specimens after the TG test. A rapid weight loss from 800 to 1000 °C may be caused by evaporation of Cs (boiling point: 671 °C) was seen in the TG result of both specimens. Precipitated Cs-Sb substance in the graphite matrix were not resolved even after the 1500 °C heating. The chemical composition of the Cs-Sb was specified as Cs3Sb. The experimental results suggest that Sb have potential to be a Cs getter material in graphite matrix. Long term heating test should be performed to confirm adaptability of Sb for Cs trap material in HTGR fuel particles.

The fast deuteron (non-Maxwellian component) diagnostic method, which is based on the higher resolution optical spectroscopic measurement, has been developed as a powerful tool. Owing to a decrease in the D-H charge-exchange cross section, the diagnostic ability of conventional optical diagnostic methods should be improved for ∼MeV energy deuterons. Because the

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) started the Research and Development (R&D) to improve nuclear prediction techniques for High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs). The objectives are to introduce a generalized bias factor method to avoid full mock-up experiment for the first commercial HTGR and to introduce reactor noise analysis to High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) experiment to observe sub-criticality. To achieve the objectives, the reactor core of graphite-moderation system named B7/4”G2/8”p8EUNU+3/8”p38EU(1) was newly composed in the B-rack of Kyoto University Critical Assembly (KUCA). The core is composed of the fuel assembly, driver fuel assembly, graphite reflector, and polyethylene reflector. The fuel assembly is composed of enriched uranium plate, natural uranium plate and graphite plates to realize the average fuel enrichment of HTTR and it’s spectrum. However, driver fuel assembly is necessary to achieve the criticality with the small-sized core. The core plays a role of the reference core of the bias factor method, and the reactor noise was measured to develop the noise analysis scheme. In this study, the overview of the criticality experiments is reported. The reactor configuration with graphite moderation system is rare case in the KUCA experiments, and this experiment is expected to contribute not only for an HTGR development but also for other types of a reactor in the graphite moderation system such as a molten salt reactor development.

A swing-type guide vane is the most popular in a cross-flow turbine, which controls the water flow rate into the turbine. The flow under the guide vane may turn away from the optimum direction in partial load operation by the flow separation from the guide vane leading edge. Maintaining the ideal velocity triangle at the runner inlet is essential to improve the turbine efficiency and to avoid noise and vibration for partial load operation. It is essential to reveal how the angle and shape of those guide vanes affect the flow behavior at the runner inlet and turbine performance. Therefore, this study focuses on the flow characteristics around the guide vane and at the cross-flow runner inlet. The authors verify the evaluation by CFD simulation and compare turbine performance and internal flow between different operating conditions with two guide vanes, the swing-type, and circular segment type. As a result, it is revealed that the swing-type guide vane affects the flow direction, and especially the flow angle is far from the optimum at partial operation. The circular segment type shows superior performance at partial load than the swing-type guide vane.

The chicken MHCY region contains members of several gene families including a family of highly polymorphic MHC class I genes that are structurally distinct from their classical class I gene counterparts. Genetic variability at MHCY could impart variability in immune responses, but robust tests for whether or not this occurs have been lacking. Here we defined the MHCY genotypes present in 2 sets of chicken lines selected for high or low antibody response, the Virginia Tech (VT) HAS and LAS, and the Wageningen University (WU) HA and LA lines. Both sets were developed under long-term bidirectional selection for differences in antibody responses following immunization with the experimental antigen sheep red blood cells. Lines in which selection was relaxed (VT HAR and LAR) or lacking (WU C) provided controls. We looked for evidence of association between MHCY genotypes and antibody titers. Chickens were typed for MHCY using a recently developed method based on a multilocus short tandem repeat sequence found across MHCY haplotypes. Five MHCY haplotypes were found segregating in the VT HAS and LAS lines. One haplotype was present only in HAS chickens, and another was present only in LAS chickens with distribution of the remaining 3 haplotypes differing significantly between the lines. In the WU HA and LA lines, there was a similar MHCY asymmetry. The control populations lacked similar asymmetries. These observations support the likelihood of MHCY genetics affecting heritable antibody responses and provide a basis for further investigations into the role of MHCY region genes in guiding immune responses in chickens. Rosalina Lonergan in the City of Hope Integrated Genomics Core; US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) National Research Initiative Competitive Grant [2017-67017-26570]; City of Hope donor Published version The authors acknowledge the excellent support for STR typing provided by Rosalina Lonergan in the City of Hope Integrated Genomics Core. This work was supported in part by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) National Research Initiative Competitive Grant Nos. 2017-67017-26570 and funds from a City of Hope donor.

A heating source with off-axis electron cyclotron heating (ECH) alone produced a plasma with a quasi-steady-state hollow electron-temperature profile in the Large Helical Device. The clear formation of this quasi-steady-state hollow electron-temperature profile can be explained by adding the outward heat convection term to the diffusion term, as a simple model to describe the electron heat flux, using the energy conservation equation. In addition, we directly observed the non-locality of the non-diffusive (convective) contribution in transient electron thermal transport in the condition that power-modulated on-axis ECH was applied to the plasma sustained by off-axis ECH. The experimentally evaluated flux-gradient relation shows two different positive values of the electron heat flux at zero temperature gradient by going back and forth between positive and negative temperature gradient regions in the transport hysteresis phenomenon.

No standard treatment is available for 2nd line, especially for patients who experience anaphylaxis to platinum, or develop early recurrence. Previously, we reported 4 cases treated with 50 mg of oral cyclophosphamide daily and 15 mg/kg of intravenous bevacizumab every 3 weeks (mCPA-BEV). Here, we report follow up of the 4 cases and the additional cases. Methods Patients with cervical cancer who had anaphylaxis to platinum or who recurred less than 6 months after the last administration of cisplatin, and treated with mCPA-BEV were retrospectively reviewed. Adverse events and response rate were recorded according to CTCAE ver 5.0 and RECIST ver 1.1, respectively. Results During 2016 and 2020, 11 patients were enrolled. Histology of the tumor were SCC in 6, adeno in 3, adeno-SCC in 1, and LCNEC in 1. Two patients had platinum anaphylaxis, 7 patients had progressive disease during previous chemotherapy, and 2 patients recurred within 6 months. One patient suffered from grade 3 neutropenia; however, no grade 2 or higher non-hematological toxicities were observed. Median duration of chemotherapy was 4.1M (range 0.2–30.6 M). One patient had CR in RECIST criteria, and none had PR. Median PFS was 4.1 months (95%CI: 2.1–11.3M), and median OS was 33.7M (95%CI: 13.5–33.7M, figure 1). Conclusion The tumor dormancy was probably maintained by long administration with mild toxicities. These cases demonstrate the use of mCPA-BEV with minimal toxicity and expected anti-cancer activity and indicate that this regimen could be considered for the second-line chemotherapy in advanced recurrent cervical cancer.

Objective The purpose of chemotherapy for recurrent cancer is to get survival benefit, relieve symptoms, and improve quality of life. We used oral cyclophosphamide (CPA) and bevacizumab (BEV) combination therapy in cases of recurrent ovarian and peritoneal cancer, where standard chemotherapy was difficult to conduct. We subsequently evaluated the safety and efficacy of this treatment. Methods Between August 2014 and June 2020, subjects who provided informed consent received the following regimen: oral CPA 50 mg daily and intravenous BEV15 mg/kg every 3 weeks as 1 cycle. Data from the two facilities were retrospectively studied. Result Twenty-two patients were enrolled (20 with ovarian cancer and 2 with peritoneal cancer). The median follow-up period was 18.9 months (range, 5.0–51.5), and median age was 60 years (range 37–81). Sixteen patients had platinum resistance. The median number of previous chemotherapy regimens was 2.5 (range 0–5). The median implementation cycle was 5 (range 2–14). Eighteen patients discontinued treatment: three due to side effects, and fifteen due to disease progression. Grade 2 toxicities included neutropenia (1), protein urea (1), hypertension (2), and esophagitis (1). Two patients had a complete response, and one patient had a partial response. Five patients had stable disease. The response rate was 13.6%. Median PFS was 5.3 months (range, 0.8–23.5). The median OS from the initiation of CPA/BEV was 9.2 months (range, 4.8–51.5+). Conclusions The combination therapy of oral cyclophosphamide and bevacizumab had relatively effective, and can be used safely in patients who have become difficult to treat after second-line chemotherapy.

In a recent publication [J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, 2019 230, 48], Zafar et al. have reported on the use of Doppler-free spectroscopy of helium 414 nm line for the determination of electron density in helium plasmas. This was done by fitting their experimentally obtained Doppler-free line profiles with spectral profiles constructed using a Stark broadening model. But in this model, authors have assumed a closed two-level system for the 21P-61D transition, an approximation which results in considering an order of magnitude smaller homogeneous spectral width for the 414 nm line. This assumption of Zafar et al. also leads to 3 orders of magnitude underestimated saturation factor of the line. In this work, we report the correct procedure for the reconstruction of Doppler-free 414 nm line profiles and apply it for the electron densities measurements, as considered in Zafar et al’s paper. It is concluded that the minimum electron densities measurable by this technique is in the range of 1 × 1018 m−3, rendering questionable the possibility of measuring by this technique lower electron densities, which was reported in the above cited publication.

To clarify the effect of rice bran (RB) and fermented RB (FRB) in a high-sucrose and low-dietary fibre diet on the gut microbiome, the

On Cu-Ni-Si alloy with high solute concentrations, overaging brings a decrease in strength because of formation of discontinuous precipitate (DP) phases. Recently, it has been shown that both electrical conductivity and tensile strength of mechanically deformed Cu-Ni-Si alloy with fully DP-structure were 1.3 times greater than those of conventional precipitate-strengthened Cu-Ni-Si counterparts. This throws a new light on the usage of DP phases. However, there are less studies on the fatigue behavior of DP phases. In addition, cold- and hot-rolling before solution heat treatment (SHT) are commonly conducted to eliminate defects in a casting slab and reduce the thickness of casting slab before SHT. However, the effect of rolling before SHT on the fatigue strength of DP-structure is unclear. In the present study, fatigue tests of Cu-6Ni-1.5Si alloy smooth specimens with DP-structure fabricated through different rolling processes before SHT were conducted. The fatigue strength, crack initiation and propagation behavior of DP-structure Cu-Ni-Si alloy were discussed.

Described here is a new, more efficient method for defining major histocompatibility complex-Y (MHC-Y) genotypes in chickens. The MHC-Y region is genetically independent from the classical MHC (MHC-B) region. MHC-Y is highly polymorphic and potentially important in the genetics of disease resistance. MHC-Y haplotypes contain variable numbers of specialized MHC class I-like genes, along with members of four additional gene families. Previously, MHC-Y haplotypes were defined by patterns of restriction fragments (RF) generated in labor-intensive procedures that were difficult to use to define MHC-Y genotypes for large numbers of samples. The method reported here is much simpler. MHC-Y genotypes are distinguished via patterns of PCR products generated from heritable short tandem repeat (STR) regions found immediately upstream of the MHC class I-like genes located throughout MHC-Y haplotypes. To validate the method, fully pedigreed families were analyzed for STR-defined haplotypes in light of haplotypes defined previously by RF patterns. STR-defined MHC-Y patterns segregate in fully pedigreed families as expected and correspond with haplotypes assigned by RF patterns. The patterns provided in STR chromatograms generated by capillary electrophoresis are distinct for different haplotypes and can be scored easily. Investigations into the influence of MHC-Y genetics on immune responses can now realistically be conducted with large sample sets.

Multi-recycling HTGR has been investigated by JAEA in order to reduce the environmental burden and non-proliferation of Pu. In the previous study, it is found that all actinoids except neptunium, which is not problematic from the viewpoint of toxicity and proliferation, can be recycled. However, the cycle length is slightly decreased compared with uranium fueled core due to the cumulated fertile TRU in the fuel composition. In the present study, Pu recycling HTGR is designed to incorporate with MA burning. As a result, the cycle length is increased by approximately 15% compared with TRU multi-recycling core, and if the MA burner can be achieved by IFR, the cost is decreased by 0.14 yen/kWh.