Search

Although palliative radiotherapy for gastric cancer may improve some symptoms, it may also have a negative impact due to its toxicity. We investigated whether symptoms improved after radiotherapy with adjustment for the Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) considering that patients with limited survival tend to experience deterioration of symptoms.This study was an exploratory analysis of the Japanese Radiation Oncology Study Group study (JROSG 17-3). We assessed six symptom scores (nausea, anorexia, fatigue, shortness of breath, pain at the irradiated area and distress) at registration and 2, 4 and 8 weeks thereafter. We tested whether symptoms linearly improved after adjusting for the baseline PPI. Shared parameter models were used to adjust for potential bias in missing data.The present study analysed all 55 patients enrolled in JROSG 17-3. With time from registration as the only explanatory variable in the model, a significant linear decrease was observed in shortness of breath, pain and distress (slopes, -0.26, -0.22 and -0.19, respectively). Given that the interaction terms (i.e. PPI × time) were not significantly associated with symptom scores in any of the six symptoms, only PPI was included as the main effect in the final multivariable models. After adjusting for the PPI, shortness of breath, pain and distress significantly improved (slope, -0.25, -0.19 and -0.17; P0.001, 0.002 and 0.047, respectively). An improvement in fatigue and distress was observed only in patients treated with a biologically effective dose ≤14.4 Gy.Shortness of breath, pain and distress improved after radiotherapy. Moreover, a higher PPI was significantly associated with higher symptom scores at all time points, including baseline. In contrast, PPI did not seem to influence the improvement of these symptoms. Regardless of the expected survival, patients receiving radiotherapy for gastric cancer can expect an improvement in shortness of breath, pain and distress over 8 weeks. Multiple-fraction radiotherapy might hamper the improvement in fatigue and distress by its toxicity or treatment burden.

PDF file - 9.7MB, Hematoxylin and eosin stained sections of ovarian tumors in Gclm+/+ and Gclm-/- F1 females prenatally exposed to BaP

Background Strut coverage of drug-eluting stents (DES) is one of the important factors for the duration of dual anti-platelets therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention. Several studies have reported percent coverage of struts assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT), however, the timing of endothelial coverage of the latest second- and third-generation DES has not been revealed histologically. Methods and results From CVHills stent autopsy registry of 171 stented lesions, a total of 56 lesions from 39 autopsy cases with less than 370 days after second- and/or third-generation DES implantation was evaluated histologically. The lesions were stratified by duration: 1–30 days (n=39), 31–60 days (n=4), 61–90 days (n=5), 91–180 days (n=2), and 181–370 days (n=6), and percent coverage of struts, which was defined as neointimal coverage overlying with endothelial cells, was evaluated for each lesion. In addition, difference of coverage within 90 days after implantation between second-generation DES with circumferentially coated polymer and third-generation DES with abluminally coated polymer was also evaluated. Percent strut coverage increased with time [1–30 days vs. 31–60 days vs. 61–90 days vs. 91–180 days vs. 181–370 days: median (interquartile range) 0.0% (0.0–0.3), 6.3% (1.0–11.7), 16.7% (8.0–32.6), 64.2% (55.6–72.9), and 86.5% (63.5–92.5), respectively, p25% per section was higher in third-generation DES and the difference was more obvious in 61–90 days after stent implantation (0.0 vs. 1.0%, p=0.15 in 1–30 days, 7.7 vs. 14.3%, p=0.65 in 31–60 days, and 10.0 vs. 36.3%, p=0.04 in 61–90 days). Conclusions The current pathological analysis has demonstrated that the process of endothelial strut coverage in second- and third-generation DES proceeds over time, however, the speed was slower than reported in the previous studies evaluated with OCT. Furthermore, endothelial strut coverage of third-generation DES was faster than that of second-generation DES, suggesting a positive roll of abluminal coating on healthy endothelial coverage and safety de-escalation of DAPT at earlier timepoint. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Background Among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and stable coronary artery disease, bleeding events increased the cardiovascular events and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the effect of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) on the risk of bleeding events in these patients. Methods In the AFIRE (Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Events With Rivaroxaban in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease), patients with non-valvular AF and coronary artery disease were recruited and randomized to receive the rivaroxaban monotherapy or combination therapy with rivaroxaban plus antiplatelet drug. The present sub-analysis evaluated the risks of any bleeding events. Results Among 2,225 patients, 1,357 (61.3%) were receiving a PPI at baseline. During follow-up, 384 bleeding events were occurred, and incidence of bleeding events were significantly lower in patients with PPI compared with those without PPI (p=0.03). Among combination therapy with rivaroxaban plus antiplatelet, effect of PPI for cumulative incidence of bleeding events were significantly different between groups (p=0.01), however, these differences were not shown among rivaroxaban monotherapy patients (p=0.50, Figure 1). Multivariate Cox hazard analysis showed that PPI use had significantly lower risk of bleeding events (hazard risk 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.64–0.97, p=0.03). In addition to PPI, male, heart failure and combination therapy with rivaroxaban plus antiplatelet drug were independent predictors of bleeding events. Conclusions PPI use was significantly associated with lower risk of bleeding events among patients with AF and stable coronary artery disease. Especially, for patients at high bleeding risk, such as receiving both anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, PPI is useful to reduce bleeding events. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): The Japan Cardiovascular Foundation through a contract with Bayer Yakuhin.

Fisheries are highly complex social-ecological systems that often face 'wicked' problems from unsustainable resource management to climate change. Addressing these challenges requires transdisciplinary approaches that integrate perspectives across scientific disciplines and knowledge systems. Despite widespread calls for transdisciplinary fisheries research (TFR), there are still limitations in personal and institutional capacity to conduct and support this work to the highest potential. The viewpoints of early career researchers (ECRs) in this field can illuminate challenges and promote systemic change within fisheries research. This paper presents the perspectives of ECRs from across the globe, gathered through a virtual workshop held during the 2021 World Fisheries Congress, on goals, challenges, and future potential for TFR. Big picture goals for TFR were guided by principles of co-production and included (i) integrating transdisciplinary thinking at all stages of the research process, (ii) ensuring that research is inclusive and equitable, (iii) co-creating knowledge that is credible, relevant, actionable, and impactful, and (iv) consistently communicating with partners. Institutional inertia, lack of recognition of the extra time and labour required for TFR, and lack of skill development opportunities were identified as three key barriers in conducting TFR. Several critical actions were identified to help ECRs, established researchers, and institutions reach these goals. We encourage ECRs to form peer-mentorship networks to guide each other along the way. We suggest that established researchers ensure consistent mentorship while also giving space to ECR voices. Actions for institutions include retooling education programs, developing and implementing new metrics of impact, and critically examining individualism and privilege in academia. We suggest that the opportunities and actions identified here, if widely embraced now, can enable research that addresses complex challenges facing fishery systems contributing to a healthier future for fish and humans alike.

Statistical imputation applied to genome-wide array data is the most cost-effective approach to complete the catalog of genetic variation in a study population. However, imputed genotypes in underrepresented populations incur greater inaccuracies due to ascertainment bias and a lack of representation among reference individuals, further contributing to the obstacles to study these populations. Here we examined the consequences due to the lack of representation by genotyping in a large number of self-reported Native Hawaiians (N = 3693) a functionally important, Polynesian-specific variant in the CREBRF gene, rs373863828. We found the derived allele was significantly associated with several adiposity traits with large effects (e.g. ~ 1.28 kg/m2 per allele in body mass index as the most significant; P = 7.5 × 10−5), consistent with the original findings in Samoans. Due to the current absence of Polynesian representation in publicly accessible reference sequences, rs373863828 or its proxies could not be tested through imputation using these existing resources. Moreover, the association signals at the entire CREBRF locus could not be captured by alternative approaches, such as admixture mapping. In contrast, highly accurate imputation can be achieved even if a small number (

Forest management affects carbon sequestration (mitigation) and resilience of forest ecosystems (adaptation) under climate change. Therefore, the efforts to integrate these two approaches have been made by the political arrangements to seek the synergy effects and deal with trade-offs. To study the state of the art linkages and forest policies to realize both adaptation and mitigation, we systematically review the literature highlighting the topic (136 publications) and outline two different approaches from Germany and Japan as countries with substantial forest resources and high influences on international forest policies and wood trade. We identify three linkages: (1) an ecosystem (based) approach assuming that a resilient ecosystem (adaptation), has high potential as a carbon sink (mitigation), (2) a sustainable forest management (SFM) aiming for enhancing forests’ resilience and carbon sink potential simultaneously, and (3) a cross-sectoral approach generating synergies among multiple sectors of agriculture, forestry, urban design, and nature conservation. We find that a significant objective is still SFM for sustaining the forest area andwood production, where SFM examples in Germany and Japan exemplify contributions to carbon sinks and ongoing disaster risk management, respectively. Overall, the current differentiated objectives of SFM do not underpin the twofold approach and their synergy effects.

This paper describes a new radio frequency timer of keV energy electrons. It is based on a helical deflector, which performs circular or elliptical sweeps of keV electrons, by means of 500 MHz radio frequency field. By converting a time distribution of incident electrons to a hit position distribution on a circle or ellipse, this device achieves extremely precise timing. Streak Cameras, based on similar principles, routinely operate in the ps and sub-ps time domain, but have substantial dead time associated with the readout system. Here, we report a new type of RF timing technique, where the position sensor, consisting of microchannel plates and a delay-line anode, produces ~ns duration pulses with small dead time. Measurements made with sub-ps duration laser pulses, synchronized to the radio frequency power, produced a timing resolution of ~10 ps. This ultra-high precision technique has potential applications in a large variety of scientific devices, and in all cases, electrons are timed and detected simultaneously in the same device., 12 pages, 7 figures

BackgroundThe mortality rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) is as high as approximately 10% [1]. Therefore, vaccination promotion is a critical issue. However, there are few reports on the psychological aspects of patient vaccine acceptance.ObjectivesTo investigate the intention of patients with RMD to receive the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine and explore the psychological factors related to vaccine acceptance.MethodsWe conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 406 outpatients with RMD at Shiga General Hospital from July to October 2021. The questionnaire included the following sections: (1) vaccination status; (2) expectation of susceptibility to severe COVID-19; (3) expectation of vaccine efficacy; and (4) anxiety about the vaccine, which included concerns on I) the diminishing effect of the vaccine due to current treatment and II) the influence of vaccination on: i) primary disease status, ii) treatment, and iii) adverse reaction.ResultsThere were 305 vaccinated and 101 unvaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated individuals were classified into the acceptance group (n=60) and hesitancy group (n=41) according to their vaccination status (Figure 1).Figure 1.SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (n=406)We compared the backgrounds and awareness of the patients on vaccination between the two groups. Univariate analysis did not show any difference in the backgrounds. The expectation of susceptibility to severe COVID-19 was similar in both groups. There were also no significant differences in the vaccine-related anxiety levels. However, the expectation of vaccine efficacy was higher in the acceptance group and significantly influenced vaccination intention as revealed by multivariate analyses (Table 1).Table 1.Awareness towards COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine associated with vaccination intentionAwareness towards COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 vaccineAcceptance(N=60)Hesitancy(N=41)UnivariateAnalysis§Multivariate Analysis||Median[IQR]Median[IQR]p-valuep-valueExpectation of susceptibility to severe COVID-19*2.0[1.0-3.0]2.0[1.5-2.5]0.84720.3440Expectation of vaccine efficacy†3.0[3.0-3.0]2.0[1.0-3.0]¶**Concerns about the diminishing effect of the vaccine due to current treatment‡2.0[1.0-3.0]3.0[2.0-3.0]0.04750.3600Concerns about the effect of vaccination on treatment‡3.0[1.0-3.0]3.0[2.0-4.0]0.01280.6232Concern about the effect of vaccination on primary disease status‡3.0[1.0-3.0]3.0[2.0-3.0]0.05760.7134Concern about the effect of vaccination on adverse reaction‡3.0[3.0-3.0]3.0[3.0-4.0]0.00930.8335*0: Less likely to become severe~3: Very likely to become severe, †0: Not expected at all~4: Highly expected, ‡0: Not concerned at all ~4:Very concerned§Pearson’s chi-square test or Wilcoxon test, ||Nominal logistic regression analysis, ¶ ppConclusionThe perception of vaccine efficacy is strongly correlated with vaccine acceptance. In order to promote vaccination in patients with RMDs, this study suggests that emphasizing the efficacy of the vaccine may be more effective than alleviating anxiety about the adverse effects of the vaccine.References[1]Strangfeld, A. et al. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2021; 80: 930–942.Disclosure of InterestsHaruka Sugawara: None declared, Hiroshi Doi: None declared, Takeshi Iwasaki: None declared, Yoichi Nakayama: None declared, Yuri Nishida: None declared, Yoshie Gon: None declared, Masaki Kamakura: None declared, Kenshi Ohbori: None declared, Naoko Sakane: None declared, Naomi Nakamura: None declared, Takahiko Utsumi: None declared, Akio Morinobu Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Pfizer Inc., UCB Japan, AbbVie G.K., Asahi Kasei Pharma., and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Grant/research support from: Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Pfizer Inc., UCB Japan, AbbVie G.K., Asahi Kasei Pharma., and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

RI-RICH, a ring-imaging Cherenkov counter for radioactive ions, has been developed to measure the velocity of the ions at intermediate energies. Our RI-RICH system consists of six multi-anode photomultiplier tubes covered with 360-nm bandpass filters and a radiator made of quartz or BK7. For the primary 132Xe beam with a velocity of β = 0 . 712 , a velocity resolution of Δ β ∕ β = 4 . 9 × 1 0 − 4 (one standard deviation σ ) and a detection efficiency of more than 99.99% were achieved. For the secondary beams with Z = 44 – 55 and β ≃ 0 . 70 , we successfully performed particle identification using the B ρ - Δ E - β method. The velocity resolutions of RI-RICH for these nuclides were equivalent to a more than 6 σ separation for the mass number.

The ΛN interaction is able to be studied with Λ hypernuclei. A missing mass spectroscopy with the (e, e′K+) reaction was developed and established at Jefferson Lab. The (e, e′K+) experiment achieved the best precision and accuracy in reaction spectroscopy of hypernuclei. In this article, we introduce the latest results of JLab E05-115 with a discussion of the ΛN charge symmetry breaking in p-shell hypernuclei. In addition, an analysis status of the nnΛ search experiment (JLab E12-17-003) is presented. An overview of one of future plans in which we aim to accurately measure the hypertriton binding energy (JLab C12-19-002) is also shown.

We present a precise measurement of the cross section, proton and $\rm ^3He$ analyzing powers, and spin correlation coefficient $C_{y,y}$ for $p$-$\rm ^3He$ elastic scattering near 65 MeV, and a comparison with rigorous four-nucleon scattering calculations based on realistic nuclear potentials and a model with $\Delta$-isobar excitation. Clear discrepancies are seen in some of the measured observables in the regime around the cross section minimum. Theoretical predictions using scaling relations between the calculated cross section and the $\rm ^3 He$ binding energy are not successful in reproducing the data. Large sensitivity to the $NN$ potentials and rather small $\Delta$-isobar effects in the calculated cross section are noticed as different features from those in the deuteron-proton elastic scattering. The results obtained above indicate that $p$-$\rm ^3He$ scattering at intermediate energies is an excellent tool to explore nuclear interactions not accessible by three-nucleon scattering., Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures

Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is an invasive procedure, globally most often used for the monitoring of heart transplant rejection. In addition, EMB can have an important complementary role to the clinical assessment in establishing the diagnosis of diverse cardiac disorders, including myocarditis, cardiomyopathies, drug-related cardiotoxicity, amyloidosis, other infiltrative and storage disorders, and cardiac tumors. Improvements in EMB equipment and the development of new techniques for the analysis of EMB samples has significantly improved the diagnostic precision of EMB. The present document is the result of the Trilateral Cooperation Project between the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America, and the Japanese Heart Failure Society. It represents an expert consensus aiming to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date perspective on EMB, with a focus on the following main issues: (1) an overview of the practical approach to EMB, (2) an update on indications for EMB, (3) a revised plan for heart transplant rejection surveillance, (4) the impact of multimodality imaging on EMB, and (5) the current clinical practice in the worldwide use of EMB.

We present acoustic signatures of the electric quadrupolar degrees of freedom in the honeycomb-layer compound UNi$_4$B. The transverse ultrasonic mode $C_{66}$ shows softening below 30 K both in the paramagnetic phase and antiferromagnetic phases down to $\sim0.33$ K. Furthermore, we traced magnetic field-temperature phase diagrams up to 30 T and observed a highly anisotropic elastic response within the honeycomb layer. These observations strongly suggest that $\Gamma_6$(E$_{\rm 2g}$) electric quadrupolar degrees of freedom in localized $5f^2$ ($J = 4$) states are playing an important role in the magnetic toroidal dipole order and magnetic-field-induced phases of UNi$_4$B, and evidence some of the U ions remain in the paramagnetic state even if the system undergoes magnetic toroidal ordering., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures + Supplemental Materials (11 pages, 9 figures)

We measured the cross section and the proton analyzing power A_yAy for pp–^33He elastic scattering at the angles \theta = 26.9^{\circ}θ=26.9∘–170.1^{\circ}170.1∘ in the center of mass system with a 65 MeV polarized proton beam. We compared the data with the rigorous numerical calculations based on the various nucleon–nucleon potentials. For the cross section, clear discrepancy is seen at the angles where the cross section takes minimum. For the proton analyzing power A_yAy, the calculations have moderate agreements with the data. In this proceedings, we show only the experimental results.

We performed the measurement of the cross section and the proton analyzing power \(A_y\) for p–\(^3\)He elastic scattering with a 65 MeV polarized proton beam at Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), Osaka University. The proton analyzing power \(A_y\) data are compared with the theoretical calculations based on the nucleon–nucleon potential (INOY04).

Missing-mass spectroscopy with the 3H(e, e′K+) reaction was carried out at Jefferson Lab’s (JLab) Hall A in Oct–Nov, 2018. The differential cross section for the 3H(γ∗, K+)Λnn was deduced at ω = Ee − Ee′ = 2.102 GeV and at the forward K+-scattering angle (0° ≤ θγ∗K ≤ 5°) in the laboratory frame. Given typical predicted energies and decay widths, which are (BΛ, Γ) = (−0.25, 0.8) and (−0.55, 4.7) MeV, the cross sections were found to be 11.2 ± 4.8(stat.)+4.1−2.1(sys.) and 18.1 ± 6.8(stat.)+4.2−2.9(sys.) nb/sr, respectively. The obtained result would impose a constraint for interaction models particularly between Λ and neutron by comparing to theoretical calculations.

The J-PARC Hadron Experimental Facility was constructed with an aim to explore the origin and evolution of matter in the universe through experiments with intense particle beams. In the past decade, many results from particle and nuclear physics experiments have been obtained at the present facility. To expand the physics programs to as yet unexplored regions, the extension project of the Hadron Experimental Facility has been extensively discussed. This contribution presents the physics of the extension of the Hadron Experimental Facility to resolve issues related to strangeness nuclear physics, hadron physics, and flavor physics.

JLab E12-19-002 Experiment is planned to measure the Λ-binding energies of 3ΛH [Jπ = 1/2+ or 3/2+(T = 0)] and 4ΛH (1+) at JLab Hall C. The expected accuracy for the binding-energy measurement is |ΔBtotal Λ | ≃ 70 keV. The accurate spectroscopy for these light hypernuclei would shed light on the puzzle of the small binding energy and short lifetime of 3ΛH, and the chargesymmetry breaking in the ΛN interaction. We aim to perform the experiment in 2025.

A high-precision hypernuclear experiment has been commissioned at the Mainz Microtron (MAMI) to determine the hypertriton Λ binding energy via decay-pion spectroscopy. The method has been successfully pioneered with 4ΛH studies in the last decade. The experiment makes use of a novel high luminosity lithium target with a length of 45mm while being only 0.75mm thick to keep momentum smearing of the decay pions low. The target-to-beam alignment as well as the observation of the deposited heat is achieved with a newly developed thermal imaging system. Together with a precise beam energy determination via the undulator light interference method a recalibration of the magnetic spectrometers will be done to obtain a statistical and systematic error of about 20 keV. The experiment started in the summer of 2022 and initial optimization studies for luminosity and data quality are presented.

The hyperon puzzle, the observation that the two-solar-mass neutron star existence is hardly explained by all models predicting the appearance of hyperons in the neutron star core, is currently one of the unsolved key issues in the physics of compact stars. To solve the hyperon puzzle an experimental program has been proposed by the Jefferson lab hypernuclear collaboration and approved by the Jefferson Lab (JLab) PAC. This program consists in the study of the reaction (e, e’K) on 40Ca and 48Ca nuclei, aimed at investigating the isospin dependence of hyperon dynamics, and in the study of the reaction (e, e’K) on 208Pb nucleus, which is the subject of this paper and which will take advantage of the fact that 208Pb properties largely reflects those of the uniform nuclear matter present in the interior of the neutron stars making it the ideal tool to investigate neutron star features. The proposal of the study of the reaction (e, e’K) on 208Pb was approved by the Jlab PAC in 2020.