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The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the ability of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor-A short isoforms (pVEGF-Asi) to predict bevacizumab (BV) efficacy and to explore other circulating biomarkers in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients treated with modified FOLFOX6/XELOX plus BV (mFOLFOX6/XELOX + BV).Pre-treatment plasma samples were collected from 100 mCRC patients receiving first-line chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6/XELOX + BV. The plasma levels of 11 angiogenesis-associated molecules, including pVEGF-Asi and 22 cancer-associated gene mutations in circulating tumor DNA, were analyzed. For the primary endpoint, we assumed that the hazard ratio (HR) for progression-free survival (PFS) calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model was1.15, comparing patients with a high versus those with a low pVEGF-Asi level divided according to the median pVEGF-Asi value.The median value of pVEGF-Asi was 37 (range 6.5-262) pg/ml. The HR for PFS between the high and low pVEGF-Asi patient groups was 1.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-2.1; log rank, P = 0.25], which was larger than the predefined threshold of 1.15. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that PFS was significantly associated with plasma intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (pICAM-1) (≥190.0 versus190.0 ng/ml; HR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3-3.5), RAS (mutant versus wild; HR 2.5; 95% CI 1.5-4.3), and FBXW7 (mutant versus wild; HR 2.8; 95% CI 1.2-6.8), whereas overall survival was significantly associated with pICAM-1 (HR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1-3.7) and RAS (HR 2.6; 95% CI 1.5-4.6).The addition of BV was unable to compensate for the poor PFS associated with a high pVEGF-Asi level, suggesting that pVEGF-Asi is unlikely to be a good predictive biomarker of the efficacy of mFOLFOX6/XELOX + BV therapy. The clinical significance of circulating ICAM-1, mutant RAS, and mutant FBXW7 levels should be studied further.

Summary The purpose of this paper is to report on the relationship between lymphoscintigraphic findings and the operative results of lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) as well as the resection of genital acquired lymphangiectasia (GAL). Seventeen patients with GAL who underwent lymphoscintigraphy between April 2012 and June 2016 were included in this retrospective study. LVA and GAL resections were performed for 14 patients. The GALs were resected in a spindle shape to the full thickness of the genital skin, and the wounds were closed primarily. Following the procedure, we investigated the recurrence rate and compared the results with the lymphoscintigraphic findings. The average follow-up period was 19.2 months. Six patients were without recurrence, and eight patients experienced a small recurrence of GAL. The average period from operation to recurrence was 16.8 months (range: 1–41 months). Of the six patients who had genital accumulation in lymphoscintigraphy, two patients experienced recurrence (33.3%), whereas six of the eight patients without genital accumulation experienced recurrence (75.0%). The frequency of cellulitis was observed to be reduced postoperatively in all patients, and recurrence was observed in one patient at 11 months postoperatively. In conclusion, lower limb LVA combined with genital skin tumor resection was effective for preventing the recurrence of GAL in patients who demonstrated communication between the lymphatic vessels in the lower limb and genitals. This procedure also had the benefit of reducing the frequency of cellulitis for an average of 19.2 months of follow-up.

The dry micro-blasting effects on the fracture resistance of PVD-AlTiN coated cemented carbide cutting tools were studied. The AlTiN coatings with the composition of (Al0.60Ti0.40)N were deposited using cathodic arc evaporation method. The two types of coatings, which had a compressive residual stress of 0.1 GPa (Low-σ) and 2.6 GPa (High-σ), were prepared. The coated samples were subjected to the dry micro-blasting treatment by Al2O3 grains at pressures of 0.11 MPa, 0.14 MPa, and 0.17 MPa. A milling test using AISI 4140 (42CrMo4) steel as the workpiece material was carried out for evaluating the fracture resistance of the prepared samples. The tool life cutting distance of Low-σ sample micro-blasted at 0.14 MPa and 0.17 MPa was 2.9 m and 7.2 m, respectively, largely extended as compared to that of as-deposited Low-σ sample, 1.0 m. On the other hand, the tool life of High-σ sample micro-blasted at 0.14 MPa was 8.6 m, almost same with that of as-deposited High-σ one, 8.8 m. Those results indicate that the dry micro-blasting effect on the fracture resistance is larger for the Low-σ coating than for the High-σ one.

Energies, E1, M1, E2, M2 transition rates, oscillator strengths, and lifetimes from relativistic configuration interaction calculations are reported for the states of the 2p 6 , 2p 5 3s, 2p 5 3p, and 2p 5 3d, configurations in all Ne-like ions between Mg III and Kr XXVII. Core-valence and core-core correlation effects are accounted for through SD-expansions to increasing sets of active orbitals. The Breit interaction and leading QED effects are included as perturbations. The results are compared with experiments and other recent benchmark calculations. In Mg III, Al IV, Si V, P VI, S VII, and Ar IX, for which experimental energies are known to high accuracy, the mean error in the calculated energies is only 0.011%.

Background TAS-117 is a novel highly potent and selective oral allosteric AKT inhibitor. This study investigated the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenomics profiles of TAS-117 in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors, for whom no standard treatment remains. Methods The primary objective was to evaluate the safety profile of TAS-117, including the identification of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the recommended dose (RD) with regimen (RR) in a 21-day cycle. Dose escalation was assessed in a once-daily repeated dosing regimen (QD), starting at 4 mg/day, with an accelerated titration design. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was evaluated in a first cycle. After RD and RR were determined, pts with endometrial cancer (EC) harboring PIK3CA or AKT gene alterations or ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCC) were enrolled for further safety evaluation. Results TAS-117 was administered QD (n = 12) and in a 4 days on/3 days off regimen (4d/3d) (n = 10). The dose was escalated to 24 mg/day in QD dosing and 32 mg/day in 4d/3d; the MTD was not reached. The DLT was a grade 3 rash maculo-papular at 32 mg/day in 4d/3d dosing. The RD and RR were determined as TAS-117 24 mg/day and 4d/3d. As of 24 Apr 2019, 42 pts (15 with PIK3CA-mutated (mt) EC, 7 with AKT-altered EC, and 20 with OCC) were enrolled, and safety profiles were investigated. The common (≥30%) treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were rash maculo-papular (grade 3, observed in 42.5% of pts), stomatitis, hyperglycemia, white blood cell decrease, and neutrophil count decreased. Common TRAEs, especially rash maculo-papular, were manageable with dose reduction, dose interruption, or symptomatic therapy. TAS-117 exposure tended to increase in a dose-dependent matter. In efficacy-evaluable pts, objective responses were observed in 1 pt with PIK3CA-mt EC and 5 pts with OCC. The disease control rate was 61.5% in 13 pts with PIK3CA-mt EC, 80.0% in 5 pts with AKT-altered EC, and 37.5% in 16 pts with OCC. Conclusions TAS-117 had a manageable safety profile with clinical antitumor activity in pts with advanced solid tumors. Further investigation of the drug in a combination therapy is in preparation. Clinical trial identification JapicCTI-152780. Legal entity responsible for the study Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure S. Takahashi: Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (self): Eisai; Honoraria (self): Bristol-Myers-Squibb; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (self): Taiho; Honoraria (self): Bayer; Research grant / Funding (self): MSD; Research grant / Funding (self): Astrazeneka; Research grant / Funding (self): Quintiles; Research grant / Funding (self): IQVIA; Research grant / Funding (self): Daiichi-Sankyo; Research grant / Funding (self): Ono pharmaceutical. D. Aoki: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca K.K.; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: MSD K.K.. K. Yonemori: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Eisai; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Taiho; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Ono; Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai; Research grant / Funding (institution): Daiichi Sankyo; Research grant / Funding (institution): Eli Lilly; Research grant / Funding (institution): ICON Japan; Research grant / Funding (institution): Kissei; Research grant / Funding (institution): Kyowa Hakko Kirin; Research grant / Funding (institution): MSD; Research grant / Funding (institution): Nippon Kayaku; Research grant / Funding (institution): Sanofi; Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda; Research grant / Funding (institution): 3D MATRIX. H. Hara: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai Pharma; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Taiho Pharmaceutical; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck Serono; Honoraria (self): Yakult Honsha; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Ono Pharmaceutical; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda; Honoraria (self): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): MSD; Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (institution): Boehringer Ingelheim; Research grant / Funding (institution): Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma; Research grant / Funding (institution): Daiichi Sankyo; Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Research grant / Funding (institution): LSK BioPharma; Research grant / Funding (institution): Eisai; Research grant / Funding (institution): Incyte. K. Hasegawa: Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (self): Daiichi-Sankyo; Honoraria (self): Chugai; Honoraria (self): Nippon Kayaku; Honoraria (self): Bayer; Honoraria (self): AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Research grant / Funding (self): OncoTherapy Science; Research grant / Funding (self): Yakult Honsha. K. Takehara: Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Kyowa Kirin; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Taiho; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Nippon Kayaku; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Janssen; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Treumo; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Ono; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Daiichi Sankyo; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Chugai Pharma; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Eisai. K. Harano: Honoraria (self): Eisai; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Taiho; Honoraria (self): AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Non-remunerated activity/ies: Chugai; Advisory / Consultancy: Takeda. E. Noguchi: Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Nippon Kayaku; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai; Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Daiichi Sankyo; Research grant / Funding (institution): Eisai; Research grant / Funding (institution): Eli Lilly; Research grant / Funding (institution): ICON Japan; Research grant / Funding (institution): Kissei; Research grant / Funding (institution): Kyowa Hakko Kirin; Research grant / Funding (institution): MSD; Research grant / Funding (institution): Ono; Research grant / Funding (institution): Sanofi; Research grant / Funding (institution): Taiho; Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda; Research grant / Funding (institution): 3D MATRIX. T. Doi: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck Serono; Advisory / Consultancy: Otsuka; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Kyowa Hakko Kirin; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer; Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneka; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): MSD; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Daiichisankyo; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Dainippon Sumitomo; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Abbvie; Research grant / Funding (institution): Taiho, Zenyaku Kogyo, Astellas; Research grant / Funding (institution): Janssen, Eisai, Sanofi; Research grant / Funding (institution): NanoCarrier, Quintiles, Pfizer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-myers; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers-Squibb. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Mg germanide nanorods were successfully fabricated by interdiffusion of the Mg into Ge nanorods on Si substrates at 425 oC for 0.5 h. It was observed that the Mg2Ge nanorod structures were formed by an interdiffusion process between the deposited Mg atoms and the Ge nanorods. Moreover, Mg2Si nanorods were formed by additional interdiffusion between the Mg2Ge nanorods and the Si substrates at 425 oC for 4 h. The structural properties of the Mg2Ge and Mg2Si nanorods were characterized, and the growth evolution of the structural and morphological properties of the nanorods was discussed.

In Hawaii, the extremely loud mating calls of invasive Puerto Rican coquis ( Eleutherodactylus coqui Thomas) depress real estate values in infested areas and reduce tourist appeal, with significant economic repercussions. Measures required to prevent inter-island transport of frogs also result in substantial costs for the floriculture industry. Classical biological control has been used successfully for over 100 years to combat invasive insects in Hawaii, and there is considerable interest in developing similar controls for coquis. Since Hawaii lacks native amphibian and reptile faunas (with the exception of marine species), the risk of unintended effects of a biological control agent on non-target species would be minimal. We identified Rhabdias elegans Gutierrez, a helminth parasite of native Puerto Rican populations of E. coqui that is not found in introduced Hawaiian populations, as a prime candidate for investigation as a potential biological control. We conducted laboratory experiments to evaluate overt effects of R. elegans on growth, survival, and locomotory performance of E. coqui from Hawaii. Experimental infection with R. elegans did not directly affect growth, survival, or endurance of E. coqui maintained under optimal laboratory conditions, but significantly reduced initial locomotory burst performance. We suggest that R. elegans holds limited potential as a biological control agent for eradication of E. coqui , but warrants additional investigation under more natural conditions of its potential for use as a management tool.

Hot water and hot air treatments were evaluated for disinfesting anthurium, Anthurium andraeanum Lind., stem cuttings of the bacterial blight pathogen, Xanthomonas axonopodis pathovar dieffenbachiae ( Xa pv. dieffenbachiae), and burrowing nematodes, Radopholus similis , and their effect on viability of the cuttings. Xa pv. dieffenbachiae suspended in distilled water in 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tubes, lost at least 6 logs of viability when exposed to hot water at 50 °C for 12 min or hot air at 50 °C, 60% RH for 35 min administered in commercial-sized heat treatment facilities. Stem cuttings exposed to hot air at 50 °C, 60% RH were disinfested of R. similis when their core temperatures attained 50 °C. Plant response to heat treatments varied among cultivars; however, all evaluated cultivars exhibited high tolerance to hot water at 50 °C for up to 24 min with equal or enhanced sprouting rates as compared to untreated checks. Sprouting rates of three of the four cultivars treated with hot air at 50 °C, 60% RH for up to 125 min were equal to or higher than untreated checks, while cuttings from the less tolerant cultivar ‘Tropic Fire’ registered lower sprouting rates for all hot air treatment durations as compared to untreated checks, Flower quality parameters, including average spathe size, stem diameter and number of flowers harvested from plants heat-treated as cuttings, were comparable to or higher than untreated checks for all treatments and cultivars. Disinfestation of anthurium stem cuttings for bacterial blight and the burrowing nematode can be achieved in hot water at 50 °C for 24 min without loss of sprouting rate or flower quality.

Recently, distance measurements by pulsed ESR (electron spin resonance) have been obtained using pulsed DEER (double electron-electron resonance) and DQC (double quantum coherence) in SDSL (site directed spin labeling) proteins. These methods can observe long range dipole interactions (15-80A). We applied these methods to human ubiquitin proteins. The distance between the 20th and the 35th cysteine was estimated in doubly spin labeled human ubiquitin. Pulsed DEER requires two microwave sources. However, a phase cycle is not usually required in this method. On the other hand, DQC-ESR at X-band ( approximately 9GHz) can acquire a large echo signal by using pulses of short duration and high power, but this method has an ESEEM (electron spin echo envelope modulation) problem. We used a commercial pulsed ESR spectrometer and compared these two methods.

A method of describing a scale free behavior of complex systems is proposed. The nonlinearity is formulated as the curvature of the spacetime surface on which random walks are described. In the random walks the memory effect is included by using the fractional derivatives. To clarify a physical meaning of the curvature and the nonlinearity, a virtual force is introduced. The curved spacetime surface is constructed as a net of curvilinear coordinates. On the basis of the formulation, a nonlinear and fractional Fokker-Planck (FP) equation is obtained from the corresponding linear FP equation on the curved spacetime surface. Using a method similar to the formulation, we compute the sliding motion of a block on the irregular surface filmed by lubrication.

The behaviors of oxygen vacancies, which dominate electrical conduction within the grains of Zr 0.85 Y 0.15 O 2 − δ (non-doped YSZ) ceramics, were investigated by dielectric measurements as a function of temperature. Trials were carried out to identify the trapping center for oxygen vacancies at low temperatures by partially substituting Hf 4+ or Sc 3+ for Zr 4+ or Y 3+ (doped YSZ). The bulk resistance obtained by impedance analysis and the relaxation process of the dielectric loss tangent yield estimates of the migration energy of O 2− ion, E M , and the dissociation energy required to extricate an oxygen vacancy from the trapped state, E O . The dielectric results for doped YSZ suggest that the excess oxygen vacancies are preferentially bound to Zr 4+ rather than Y 3+ in non-doped YSZ. In Zr 0.85 Y 0.15 O 2 − δ , intragranular electrical conduction results from O 2− migrations with E M = 1.01 ± 0.02 eV, which require the assistance of free mobile oxygen vacancies that are thermally dissociated from their bound state by Zr 4+ with E O = 50 ± 1 meV.

Novel carbon aerogel supported Pt catalysts with different pore size distributions and Pt content have been synthesized and tested in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operation. Characterization of the aerogel supported Pt catalyst has been performed in respect to the total surface area of Pt using HRTEM and BET methods, and was compared to the electrochemical surface area of Pt in a cathode layer of the PEMFC by means of cyclic voltammetry. The effect of pore size distribution of the novel aerogel supported Pt catalyst on the performance of the PEMFCs, and kinetic parameters of the catalysts at different temperatures, is discussed in terms of the microstructure of the support and perfluorosulfonate-ionomer distribution. The PEMFC with a low Pt loading (0.1 mg/cm 2 ) of a new porous aerogel catalyst has shown high power densities up to 0.8 mW/cm 2 in fuel cell operation conditions in air and at ambient pressure.

A beam duct with an antechamber scheme for high-current accelerators was designed and the test chambers were studied experimentally. The duct consists of two channels, i.e., a beam channel where a beam circulates and a Synchrotron Radiation (SR) channel (antechamber) aside where the SR passes through. By using the antechamber scheme, the maximum power density of SR can be diluted at the side wall. The impedance is small owing to the pumping ports not being at the beam channel, but at the SR channel. Photoelectrons inside the beam channel are also expected to be reduced, which would be a big merit for a positron ring to suppress the electron cloud effect since the photoelectron is a major source of electrons composing the cloud. Two copper test chambers were manufactured with different methods, by pressing and by drawing. These chambers showed a good static vacuum property, i.e., gas desorption rates with less than 3.5 × 10 - 9 Pa m 3 s - 1 m - 2 after baking. After the installation to the positron ring of the KEK B-factory (KEKB), electron numbers in the beam channel, temperatures and pressures were measured during beam operation. The electrons in the beam channel were found to be reduced by a factor of 4 at 1.5 A compared to the case of the usual circular chamber. The reduction, however, was much larger, about 1/300, at a beam current of about 20 mA where the photoelectrons were dominant and the multiplication of electrons by the multipactoring was small. The temperatures were almost in agreement with the expectation. Vacuum scrubbing by photons proceeded almost smoothly, although pressure bursts were sometimes observed, especially for one test chamber, which was possibly due to discharges at the transverse joints in the beam chamber. Various instructive information had been obtained for future practical beam ducts for high-intensity accelerators.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the developmental toxicity of 1-butanol in rats. Pregnant rats were given drinking water containing 1-butanol at 0.2%, 1.0% or 5.0% (316, 1454 or 5654 mg/kg/day) on days 0-20 of pregnancy. A significant decrease in maternal body weight gain accompanied by reduced food and water consumption was found at 5.0%. No significant increase in the incidence of pre- and postimplantation embryonic loss was observed in any groups treated with 1-butanol. Fetal weight was significantly lowered at 5.0%. Although a significant increase in the incidence of fetuses with skeletal variations and decreased degree of ossification was found at 5.0%, no increase in the incidence of fetuses with external, skeletal and internal abnormalities was detected in any groups treated with 1-butanol. The data demonstrate that 1-butanol is developmental toxic only at maternal toxic doses. No evidence for teratogenicity of 1-butanol was noted in rats. Based on the significant decreases in maternal body weight gain and fetal weight, it is concluded that the no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) of 1-butanol for both dams and fetuses are 1.0% (1454 mg/kg/day) in rats.

Electric conductions in La 0.9 Sr 0.1 Ga 1− x Mg x O 3− δ (LSGM; x =0 and 0.1) have been elucidated by ac and dc methods as a function of temperature. Using complex-plane impedance analyses and dielectric relaxation processes along with dc results, activation energy for electric conduction, migration energy of O 2− ions ( E M ), and energy required to create a free mobile oxygen vacancy which assists O 2− migration ( E O ) within intragrains and in boundaries have been obtained separately. Dielectric dispersion due to a distribution of relaxation times in boundaries is observed. The activation energy for each electric conduction is nearly equal to sum of E M and E O . Lattice distortion due to a large difference in ionic radii of Mg 2+ and Ga 3+ brings about high migration energy within intragrains in x =0.1 specimen compared with that of x =0. Such high migration energy has an adverse effect on improvement of ionic conductivities but excess oxygen vacancies compensate this adverse effect. In boundaries, disturbances in coulombic potential fields due to disordered ionic arrangements discourage ionic conductions.

The PHENIX On-Line system takes signals from the Front End Modules (FEM) on each detector subsystem for the purpose of generating events for physics analysis. Processing of event data begins when the Data Collection Modules (DCM) receive data via fiber-optic links from the FEMs. The DCMs format and zero suppress the data and generate data packets. These packets go to the Event Builders (EvB) that assemble the events in final form. The Level-1 trigger (LVL1) generates a decision for each beam crossing and eliminates uninteresting events. The FEMs carry out all detector processing of the data so that it is delivered to the DCMs using a standard format. The FEMs also provide buffering for LVL1 trigger processing and DCM data collection. This is carried out using an architecture that is pipelined and deadtimeless. All of this is controlled by the Master Timing System (MTS) that distributes the RHIC clocks. A Level-2 trigger (LVL2) gives additional discrimination. A description of the components and operation of the PHENIX On-Line system is given and the solution to a number of electronic infrastructure problems are discussed.

The Ring-Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) and the Time-of-Flight (ToF) systems provide identification of charged particles for the PHENIX central arm. The RICH is located between the inner and outer tracking units and is one of the primary devices for identifying electrons among the very large number of charged pions. The ToF is used to identify hadrons and is located between the most outer pad chamber (PC3) and the electromagnetic calorimeter. A Time Zero (T0) counter that enhances charged particle measurements in p–p collisions is described. Details of the construction and performance of both the RICH, ToF and T0 are given along with typical results from the first PHENIX data taking run.

The green scale, Coccus viridis (Green), can be controlled effectively by irradiation at a minimum absorbed dose of 250 Gy. Reproductive capacity of irradiated gravid adults was reduced greatly and any resulting offspring were not able to develop beyond the crawler stage. Development of nymphs to the adult stage was not arrested completely nor was development of immature stages eliminated, but all survivors were sterile. Generally, higher doses of irradiation (≥400 Gy) caused faster kill of all life stages than lower doses (250 Gy). At 250 Gy, there was prolonged survival of green scale, with 8.8–11.4% of nymphs and up to 8.8% of crawlers alive 3 months after irradiation; 100% mortality of the most resistant adult stage took longer than 20 weeks post-treatment. An absorbed dose of 500, 750 or 1000 Gy caused 100% mortality in all stages of the green scale by 7, 6, and 3 weeks post-treatment, respectively. Adults appeared to be more resistant to treatments ≥500 Gy. Irradiation doses ≥500 Gy killed crawlers by 3–5 weeks post-treatment and rendered nymphs and adult green scale sterile until their eventual death. When irradiated at 250 Gy, survival of non-infested gardenia plants and green scale-infested gardenia and coffee plants were reduced by 69, 56, and 18%, respectively, as compared with non-irradiated plants. Nonreversible, sublethal phytotoxicity included tip browning of young leaves, absence of new leaf growth in gardenia plants, failure to form new leaves in coffee plants, and eventual plant death. While irradiation at 250 Gy is sufficient to provide quarantine security for crops that are hosts of green scale, product quality will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis since certain commodities, such as gardenia seedlings, have sustained phytotoxic effects.

The lasing condition and frequency stability of the single longitudinal mode oscillation of a diode laser pumped 2 μm Tm,Ho:YLF microchip laser at room temperature are reported. It is shown that the microchip laser with an output mirror of 99.0% reflectivity had better single longitudinal mode performance than that with an output mirror of 99.5% reflectivity. The frequency tuning rate when varying the crystal temperature was estimated to be 1.9 GHz/°C. Frequency stability of the microchip laser is examined by the self-beating heterodyne detection method for several delay times between 0.48 and 4.8 μs. It is indicated that the spectral fluctuation is in proportion to the delay time and the increasing rate is 2.3 kHz/μs.

A front-end readout system with a custom backplane and custom circuit modules has been developed for the RICH subsystem of the PHENIX experiment. The design specifications and test results of the backplane and the modules are presented in this paper. In the module design, flexibility for modification is maximized through the use of Complex Programmable Logic Devices. In the backplane design, a source-synchronous bus architecture is adopted for the data and control bus. The transfer speed of the backplane has reached 640 Mbyte/s with a 128-bit data bus. Total transaction time is estimated to be less than 30 μs per event when this system is used in the experiment. This result indicates that the performance satisfies the data-rate requirement of the PHENIX experiment.

A new front-end electronics (FEE) for PHENIX Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detector (RICH) has been developed. It consists of custom-made Backplane, Controller module, Readout module and AMU/ADC module, which are capable of processing signals from 5120 Photo-Multiplier Tubes (PMTs). Several tests have been carried out, and RICH FEE was proved to satisfy the requirement of PHENIX experiment. The charge spectrum due to single photo-electron was successfully observed as well.

The PHENIX experiment at RHIC is primarily a lepton and photon detector. Electron detection takes place in the two central arms of PHENIX, with the primary electron identifier in each arm being a ring imaging Cherenkov detector. This paper contains a description of the two identical RICH detectors and of their expected performance.

We searched for X-ray eruptive structures above the flare loops, whose soft X-ray flux at the peak phase ranges from class A to C in the GOES classification, using the Yohkoh soft X-ray observations in 1996 when the background corona was very weak. We found 12 plasmoid-like or loop-like ejecta out of 43 flares studied. Existence of these eruptive structures implies that the magnetic reconnection model, which was strongly supported by Yohkoh observations of flares of a narrow range of X-ray peak flux, can explain the solar flares covering more than five orders of magnitude in the soft X-ray flux. We also found that the projected outgoing velocities of the ejecta are systematically slower in small flares than in large flares.

We statistically investigate thermal characteristics of soft X-ray coronal loops in the pre-flare and flaring stages using the data observed between January 1992 and December 1992 with the soft X-ray telescope on board the Yohkoh satellite. The data cover the pre-flare phase in the periods of 30–90 minutes preceding the flares, the rising phases, and the peaks of flares in X-ray intensity, and the beginnings of the decay phases. We compare the thermal characteristics of soft X-ray coronal loops before they flare and those at the peaks of flares, and we find that the loops having higher temperatures in the pre-flare stages produce bigger and higher temperature flares later.

The RICH detector of the PHENIX experiment at RHIC is currently under construction. Its main function is to identity electron tracks in a very high particle density, about 1000 charged particles per unit rapidity, expected in the most violent collisions at RHIC. The design and construction status of the detector and its expected performance are described.

The physics emphases of the PHENIX collaboration and the design and current status of the PHENIX detector are discussed. The plan of the collaboration for making the most effective use of the available luminosity in the first years of RHIC operation is also presented., Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure. Further details of the PHENIX physics program available at http://www.rhic.bnl.gov/phenix/

Three new β-coumaranones, sparanone A, sparanone B and sparanoside B, were isolated from bulbs of Sparaxis tricolor. Their stereostructures were established on the basis of chemical evidence and spectroscopic studies.

The energy resolutions of 976 keV conversion electrons from a 207 Bi source are measured in a gridded ionization chamber filled with tetramethylsilane (TMS) and tetramethylgermanium (TMG), and are found to be about 5.7 and 5.5% (rms) for TMS and TMG, respectively. We also deduce a simple method of estimating the electron lifetime using a gridded ionization chamber. The electron lifetime, free ion yield and thermalization length for these liquids are measured by this simple method.

Thirteen molluscicides containing metaldehyde, three molluscicides containing metaldehyde plus carbaryl, one molluscicide containing metaldehyde plus methiocarb and one molluscicide containing methiocarb alone were tested for efficacy against the brown slug, Vaginula plebeia Fischer, and the two-striped slug, Veronicella cubensis (Pfeiffer). With the exception of Corry's Liquid Slug, Snail and Insect Killer against V. plebeia, all tested molluscicides caused significant mortalities against both species. Selected molluscicides were further evaluated for persistence under simulated rainfall; Deadline One Last Meal for Slugs and Snails, Deadline 40, Deadline Bullets and Slug and Snail AG Pelleted Bait, all of which contain metaldehyde as the active ingredient, consistently produced high mean percentage mortalities against both species. Efficacy of certain molluscicides decreased steadily with time, whereas efficacy of other molluscicides increased initially before declining. Mold grew on the majority of molluscicides after application. Liquid paste and liquid formulations were more resistant to mold development than pelleted, granule or coated granule formulations. In a separate study, physical barriers composed of copper or fiberglass screens repelled both slug species.

Vase life of red ginger flowers, Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schume, subjected to postharvest hot-air conditioning (40°C, 64% r.h.) for 2 h prior to hot-water immersion (49°C for 12 min) equaled or exceeded the vase life of red ginger treated in hot-water immersion only and control flowers in 96% of the trials conducted during a one year period. Reduced flower quality (marketability) (13% of trials) and reduced vase life (4% of trials) from hot-air and hot water treatments occurred in months with high rainfall (≥58 cm month−1) or drought (≤5 cm month−1). Flowers conditioned in hot air before hot-water immersion tolerated 49°C water for up to 13 min, exceeding a proposed 12 min treatment time with no significant loss in vase life or marketability. No apparent benefits were observed for conditioning flowers longer than 2 h in hot air. Hot-air conditioning prior to hot-water immersion increased mealybug survival by 0.4–40%.

We investigated the effect of lomerizine, an anti-migraine drug, on the Ba2+ current through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells using a whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. Lomerizine inhibited the Ba2+ current with an IC50 value of 1.9 microM. Lomerizine and nicardipine were4 times more potent than flunarizine, diltiazem, verapamil and dimetotiazine. The time course of inactivation induced by lomerizine was similar to that induced by nicardipine and flunarizine. These data indicate that lomerizine may inhibit the Ca2+ channel in a similar manner to nicardipine and flunarizine, and its potency is almost equal to that of nicardipine.

Purpose: Ex vivo heart perfusion (EVHP) has been proposed as a means improving heart preservation and expanding the donor pool. Current clinical EVHP protocols involve preservation in an unloaded and non-working state; however, the impact of this approach on the preservation of donor heart function is unknown. We sought to determine if myocardial load during EVHP impacts the preservation of donor heart function. Methods: Donor porcine hearts were perfused ex vivo in a beating state for 12 hours. Loaded hearts (N= 4) were perfused in a working mode (left atrial pressure= 6 mmHg, heart rate= 100 beats/minute) for the entire EVHP interval. Unloaded hearts (N= 4) were briefly transitioned into a working mode at hours 1 (T1), 5 (T5), and 11 (T11) for metabolic and functional assessments, but were otherwise perfused in a resting mode (left atrial pressure= 0 mmHg). Results: Myocardial function (T11 cardiac index (mL/minute/gram): loaded= 6.9±1.0 vs. unloaded= 2.0±1.2, p= 0.02) and mechanical efficiency (T11: loaded= 11±1 vs. unloaded= 2±1 %, p< 0.01) were better preserved in loaded hearts. Myocardial injury (T11 troponin I (ng/mL): loaded= 11.6±0.4 vs. unloaded= 12.1±0.3, p= 0.39) and edema formation (% weight gain: loaded= 14±8 vs. unloaded= 24±3 %, p= 0.15) did not account for these differences. Free fatty acids were rapidly depleted in both groups; however, triglycerides were continually consumed by loaded hearts and secreted by unloaded heats (Figure 1). Conclusion: EVHP in a loaded state improves the preservation of myocardial function. Uncoupling of fatty acid oxidation may contribute to the decline in myocardial function observed in unloaded hearts; however, further research is required to elucidate the mechanism underlying these observations. These results highlight the need for an EVHP device capable of preserving the donor heart in a physiologic working mode.

The commerce of floricultural commodities is very important to the economy of the producing locations. To protect the agriculture of consumer countries, import regulations require that the product be free of insects. Successful disinfestation eliminates the pest without damage to the commodity. Current postharvest approaches to disinfestation are hand removal, irradiation, fumigation, insecticidal dips, temperature treatments, and the use of biological control agents. In this review, the advantages, disadvantages and status of each method are discussed with examples provided.

Two kinds of experiment have been conducted to study the effect of the initial droplet diameter on the burning behavior of a single free droplet with a spherical flame. One is performed under microgravity, which is realized in a freely falling chamber to establish a spherical flame around a large droplet of about 400-μm initial diameter. The other is to investigate the combustion of small droplet under normal gravity, whose initial diameter is about 70 μm. The small droplet is injected up vertically and ignited by an electric spark after passing through the apex of its trajectory. Even under normal gravity, for such a small droplet, a spherical flame can be observed through the image intensifier. In this study, the fuel used is n -heptane as sooting fuel. The time dependence of the squared droplet diameter is categorized into two types with the initial droplet diameter. (1) The so-called d 2 law is established for the entire period of burning, except for the initial period, where the droplet diameter is not changed markedly. This type can be observed for large droplets in the microgravity experiment. (2) The evaporation constant decreases at the later period of burning after the d 2 law is held. This type can be observed for small droplets in the expeirment under normal gravity. It is recognized that extinction occurs around the time when the evaporation constant begins to decrease. Soot formation tends to be enhanced as the initial droplet diameter is increased, and the no-soot formationcan be observed for a small droplet of about 70-μm initial diameter.

We investigated the role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in cell cycle-dependent alterations of endogenous prostacyclin (PGI2) syntehsis in aortic smooth muscle cells in culture (VSMC) from Wistar Kyoto rats. Randomly cycling VSMC generated more PGI2 than the stationary cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that PGI2 production capacity was increased from the G0/G1 through the early DNA synthetic (S) phases. Enzyme analysis revealed that, although there were different mechanisms underlying this increase in the PGI2 production during the G0/G1, the peak at 4 hours coincided with a sharp increase in PLA2 activity. This increase in PLA2 activity was preceded by an increased expression of functional PLA2 messenger RNA, and protein synthesis inhibition prevented most of the increase in PGI2 production at 4 hours. These data indicate that endogenous PGI2 generation is mainly increased during the G0/G1 period and that this event is secondary to de novo synthesis of PLA2 and probably, at least in part, to cyclooxygenase induction. This mechanism provides a negative feedback regulating VSMC proliferation.

A new alanine-polystyrene (PS) dosimeter prepared with simplified molding procedure and an automatic desk-top dose-reader of alanine dosimeter were developed for the purpose of routine use. Combination of these two allows us to apply a reliable alanine/ESR dosimetry system to routine dosimetric process control in industrial gamma radiation processing.