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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.

Many studies have highlighted that speech disfluencies, such as stuttering, can negatively affect communication. In this study, the authors investigated listeners’ impressions of Japanese words spoken with stuttering characteristics. We investigated the manner in which different facial expressions can contribute to improving these impressions. Recordings of male and female voices of short Japanese words were modified to have stuttering characteristics by using sound editing software. Then, the listeners’ impressions of the modified voices were examined by using the semantic differential method. The impression evaluation scores of the stuttering voices were compared with those of the original voices (without stuttering). In addition, the authors conducted an experiment to investigate whether the listeners’ impressions of stuttering characteristics could be changed by facial expressions. The results of this study showed that the listeners evaluated the stuttering voices much more negatively than the ones without stuttering characteristics. However, they rated the same stuttering voices very positively when the voices were accompanied by videos of smiling facial expressions. When presented with sullen facial expressions, the listeners returned negatively rating to the stuttering voices. These results suggest that the quality of communication can be highly improved when a speaker smiles, even if the speaker’s speech is not fluent. The result can be useful not only for human–human communication but also for human–machine communication.

Many studies have suggested that the design of a tablet screen can affect the performance its users. This study was conducted in order to investigate whether different screen background colours can affect users’ brain functions when they are performing a task on a tablet computer. The experiment focused on the relationship between background colours and memory span. Thirty Japanese university students and seven elderly people participated in the experiment. A reading span task was used in the experiment in order to observe the activities of the brain areas associated with working memory. The subjects were told to read Japanese sentences aloud while memorising underlined words with three different background colours. The analysis results of the performance scores for both young and elderly people showed that percentages were lowest for a white background compared with other colours. Moreover, recorded near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) values were negative value, which indicated the lowest activity in young people’s brains while performing the task with a white background. The results may suggest that a white background might not a good choice for either performance or brain activity.

Japan’s population is aging rapidly, and the number of people who need caregivers is expected to increase dramatically. Establishing a method of educating the human resources who will meet this need is an urgent task. In this study, we visualized the differences between expert and novice caregiver behaviors and considered how to bring them to the attention of learners. We used three-dimensional computer graphics (3DCG) images of caregivers to develop web-based learning materials to support the learning of applied nursing skills. We then had the materials evaluated by nursing/caregiving professionals to confirm their effectiveness in teaching those skills.

Sn-doped and Mn-doped β-Ga2O3 single crystals were grown by the floating zone method using SnO and MnCO3·nH2O as the dopant sources, respectively. We have succeeded in investigating the local structural features of Sn and Mn doped in β-Ga2O3 by X–ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis. The XAFS analyses indicated the preference of Sn4+ at the octahedral sites in the β-Ga2O3 structure. On the other hand, the site preference for Mn is more complex, with most of the Mn present as Mn2+ substituting for Ga at the tetrahedral site. Further investigations using other spectroscopic techniques will be useful to clarify the effect and environmental structure of Mn.

TARA (Telescope Array Radar) is a cosmic ray radar detection experiment colocated with Telescope Array, the conventional surface scintillation detector (SD) and fluorescence telescope detector (FD) near Delta, Utah, U.S.A. The TARA detector combines a 40 kW, 54.1 MHz VHF transmitter and high-gain transmitting antenna which broadcasts the radar carrier over the SD array and within the FD field of view, towards a 250 MS/s DAQ receiver. TARA has been collecting data since 2013 with the primary goal of observing the radar signatures of extensive air showers (EAS). Simulations indicate that echoes are expected to be short in duration (~10 microseconds) and exhibit rapidly changing frequency, with rates on the order of 1 MHz/microsecond. The EAS radar cross-section (RCS) is currently unknown although it is the subject of over 70 years of speculation. A novel signal search technique is described in which the expected radar echo of a particular air shower is used as a matched filter template and compared to waveforms obtained by triggering the radar DAQ using the Telescope Array fluorescence detector. No evidence for the scattering of radio frequency radiation by EAS is obtained to date. We report the first quantitative RCS upper limits using EAS that triggered the Telescope Array Fluorescence Detector., Comment: 21 pages, 30 figures

As globalization continues rapidly, an effective way of learning English has been interest to non-native speakers as an international language. Our previous study revealed that English speeches with enhanced amplitudes in high frequency ranges activated brain functions in the language processing areas more than original speeches. However, it has been uncovered that the accurate effect of the enhancement and which high frequency ranges induces the activation of brain functions most. In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to examine whether English speeches with enhanced amplitudes in a certain frequency range can contribute to better comprehension of English speeches with different characteristics and to clarify frequency ranges that activate brain functions most. We observed and recorded oxy-hemoglobin (Hb) concentration changes by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and also performed an English listening test by using sentences with six different speech characteristics. The result of the experiment showed that Japanese subjects had comprehended the speeches with some of speech characteristics when amplitudes in certain frequency ranges were enlarged. The NIRS measurement also revealed that enhancement of amplitudes in high frequency ranges from 7,000 to 8,500 [Hz] raised the amount of oxy-Hb concentration in the language areas most. These results suggest that depending on combination of enhancement of amplitudes and English speech characteristics, a more effective way of English learning can be attained in terms of brain activation.

Some studies have pointed out that tablet computers can be used to enhance people‘s daily life and to strengthen their brain‘s cognitive ability. In this study, the authors conducted an experiment with elderly people as subjects in order to investigate whether different screen background colours can enhance their brain functions when performing a task on a tablet computer. In total, 17 elderly Japanese subjects participated in the experiment. We recorded haemoglobin concentration changes in the frontal lobe of the subject’s brain by using a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), while the subject performed circle counting task (CCT) and reading span task (RST) in the experiment. Each subject performed both tasks on five different background colours, which were white, blue, yellow, red, and green. All the task pages were designed in the same way for each background colour, and the order of colours were arranged randomly. As for the average scores of CCT from all the subjects, the yellow background showed the highest score while the white background showed the lowest score. However, as for the average RST scores, the score for the white background was higher than other background colours. The results indicated that the brains of the subjects received more stress while they were performing CCT on the white background whereas for RST the subjects may have already been used to the white background of a tablet screen and performed better. Brain functions should be analysed in further analysis since CCT requires attention, whereas effect of the background colours on the brain may be different from RST, which focuses on working memory.

Background In many countries, gastric cancer is not diagnosed until an advanced stage. An Internet-based e-learning system to improve the ability of endoscopists to diagnose gastric cancer at an early stage was developed and was evaluated for its effectiveness. Methods The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. After receiving a pre-test, participants were randomly allocated to either an e-learning or non-e-learning group. Only those in the e-learning group gained access to the e-learning system. Two months after the pre-test, both groups received a post-test. The primary endpoint was the difference between the two groups regarding the rate of improvement of their test results. Findings 515 endoscopists from 35 countries were assessed for eligibility, and 332 were enrolled in the study, with 166 allocated to each group. Of these, 151 participants in the e-learning group and 144 in the non-e-learning group were included in the analysis. The mean improvement rate (standard deviation) in the e-learning and non-e-learning groups was 1·24 (0·26) and 1·00 (0·16), respectively (P, Highlights • This report establishes that an e-learning system on the Internet can improve the diagnostic ability of endoscopists. • Countless endoscopists worldwide can access the system to learn how to make an endoscopic diagnosis of early gastric cancer. • The e-learning system could be modified to provide education regarding endoscopic diagnosis in other organs. This is the first report to demonstrate how an e-learning system based on the Internet can improve the diagnostic ability of gastrointestinal endoscopists worldwide. There is no limit to the number of endoscopists who can access the system and benefit from this opportunity to learn how to make an endoscopic diagnosis of early gastric cancer. This e-learning system could be modified to provide education regarding endoscopic diagnosis in other organs such as the large intestine and the esophagus, as well as the stomach. It may contribute to human welfare and health by reducing the mortality from gastrointestinal cancer.

Background VEGF and Ang2 signaling have key functions in tumor angiogenesis and have an immunosuppressive effect in the tumor microenvironment. Preclinical data show that combined inhibition of VEGF/Ang2 and PD-1 enhances the tumor microenvironment to support T-cell mediated destruction of tumor cells. BI 836880 is a humanized bispecific nanobody that targets VEGF and Ang2, and BI 754091 is an anti-PD-1 antibody. Each have shown safety and preliminary activity as monotherapy in phase I (recommended phase 2 dose [RP2D] 720 mg intravenous [iv] every 3 weeks [q3w] for BI 836880 [Caucasian pts] and 240 mg iv q3w for BI 754091 [Caucasian and Japanese pts]). An ongoing phase Ib study (NCT03468426) will determine the RP2D, safety and preliminary activity of BI 836880 + BI 754091 in Caucasian pts. The current phase I study will determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD)/RP2D of BI 836880 alone or in combination with BI 754091 in Japanese pts with advanced solid tumors. Trial design This open-label, multi-center, dose-escalation trial will enroll pts with a confirmed diagnosis of advanced, unresectable and/or metastatic solid tumors (any type) whose disease is not amenable to standard therapies or where there is no therapy of proven efficacy. Pts are required to have an ECOG PS ≤ 1 and adequate organ function. The study has 2 parts: Part 1 will assess BI 836880 monotherapy and Part 2 will assess BI 836880 + BI 754091. Pts will receive BI 836880 at a starting dose of 360 mg iv q3w in Part 1 and of 120 mg iv q3w in Part 2 (in combination with BI 754091 240 mg iv q3w). Administration will continue until progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity or other withdrawal criteria. Dose escalation will be guided by Bayesian logistic regression models with overdose control in both Parts, with oversight from a safety monitoring committee. Primary endpoint is MTD/RP2D of BI 836880 alone (Part 1) and in combination with BI 754091 (Part 2). Secondary/further endpoints will document the safety, pharmacokinetics, anti-tumor activity and immunogenic response of BI 836880 alone and in combination with BI 754091. It is planned to enroll 24 pts. Clinical trial identification NCT03972150. Legal entity responsible for the study Boehringer Ingelheim. Funding Boehringer Ingelheim. Disclosure K. Yamazaki: Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Chugai; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Takeda; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): Taiho; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Yakult; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Ono; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): Lily; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Sanofi; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Bayer; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Merck-Serono; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: MSD; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Bristol-Myers Squibb. T. Shimizu: Honoraria (self): Clinical Research Joint Scientific Committee Review Member for Phase 1 trials in Hong Kong; Honoraria (self): HKSAR China; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda Oncology; Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Research grant / Funding (institution): Eli Lilly; Research grant / Funding (institution): Daiichi-Sankyo; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Research grant / Funding (institution): Eisai; Research grant / Funding (institution): Incyte; Research grant / Funding (institution): Astellas; Research grant / Funding (institution): Chordia Therapeutics; Research grant / Funding (institution): 3D-Medicine; Research grant / Funding (institution): Symbio Pharmaceuticals; Research grant / Funding (institution): PharmaMar; Research grant / Funding (institution): Five Prime; Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (institution): AbbVie. T. Takahashi: Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca KK; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Eli Lilly Japan K.K.; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): MSD K.K.; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, INC; Honoraria (self): Roche Diagnostics K.K.; Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer Japan Inc. Y. Tanaka: Full / Part-time employment: Boehringer Ingelheim. H. Myobudani: Full / Part-time employment: Boehringer Ingelheim. N. Yamamoto: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Eisai; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda; Advisory / Consultancy: Otsuka; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy: Cimic; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): BMS; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): Eli Lilly; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): Ono; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Sysmex; Research grant / Funding (institution): Astellas; Research grant / Funding (institution): Taiho; Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Research grant / Funding (institution): AbbVie; Research grant / Funding (institution): Daiichi-Sankyo; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Kyowa-Hakko Kirin; Research grant / Funding (institution): Janssen Pharma; Research grant / Funding (institution): MSD; Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Many studies have suggested that the design of the tablet screen could give an effect to the tablet users’ performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of screen background colors on the brain functions for elderly and young people when they are performing a task on a tablet computer. Twenty university students and 10 elderly people were recruited for participating in the experiment. The subjects were told to count the number of circles on a five different background colors, which are white, blue, yellow, red, and green randomly. This step was done in a short period of time. The average percentages of correct answers for the circle counting tasks that the subjects performed were higher with all background colors for both young and elderly people compared to the white background color. The results indicate that white color may not be the best choice for a background color of a tablet screen for best performance and attention for both young and elderly people.

Pictograms are often used for situations where people often do not share the same language. The authors surveyed the comprehension of colored pictograms for emergency situations in manufacturing which can be affected by cultural and educational backgrounds. Colored pictograms for manufacturing setting, such as ‘push’, ‘step’ and ‘wheel’, were designed and presented to workers with different cultural and educational backgrounds in a factory. Their acting behavior scales were examined by conducting a questionnaire survey. Pictograms in different seven colors, such as white, black, red, yellow, green, blue and pink, were used in the survey. The questionnaire was presented to 138 factory workers in Thailand with three different nationalities: Thai, Myanmar and Cambodia. Results indicate that colors have effects on their acting behaviors. The mean values of the acting behavior scales for a group with higher educational backgrounds marked the highest of over 50% for red. On the other hand, the average value of middle and low educated groups marked the lowest of less than 3% for red color.

This study aims to promote the use and quality improvement of foot care nursing. From experimental data obtained from 15 elderly subjects aged 65 or over, we visualized and examined differences in the subjects’ cerebral blood flow between foot care massages using aroma oil and those without aroma oil via a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device. We also examined differences between male and female subjects using aroma oil, as well as differences between massages of the left and right foot, to clarify the aroma oil's relaxation effect. As a result, we confirmed that the relaxing effect of an aroma oil massage was greater than massage without aroma oil, and that the relaxing effect of an aroma oil massage for females was greater than that for males and greater for the left foot than the right.

Some studies have pointed out that music and human voice in high frequency ranges play an important role in activation of brain functions. However, the effect of the high frequency ranges to human brain has not been revealed yet completely. In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to examine whether English speech with enlarged amplitude in a certain frequency range can contribute to better comprehension of English sentences. In this study, a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system was used to measure relative hemoglobin (Hb) concentration changes in the brain while subjects were listening to English sentences with enhanced amplitude in a certain frequency range. After listening, the subjects responded to a questionnaire with five point scales about the comprehensibility of the English sentences. The NIRS measurement observed the highest brain activation near language processing areas and a portion of the left side of the prefrontal cortex when the subjects were listening to English speech with amplified amplitude in high frequency ranges. This tendency was more obvious for the subjects who had lower English proficiencies. However, questionnaire results showed that English speech with enhanced amplitude in the frequency ranges may not help English learners better comprehend English speech. These results suggest that English speech with enhanced amplitude in the high frequency ranges are more effective for the learners who have lower English proficiency and different factors can affect easier listening to speech in other languages.

The Telescope Array experiment studies ultra high energy cosmic rays using a hybrid detector. Fluorescence telescopes measure the longitudinal development of the extensive air shower generated when a primary cosmic ray particle interacts with the atmosphere. Meanwhile, scintillator detectors measure the lateral distribution of secondary shower particles that hit the ground. The Middle Drum (MD) fluorescence telescope station consists of 14 telescopes from the High Resolution Fly’s Eye (HiRes) experiment, providing a direct link back to the HiRes measurements. Using the scintillator detector data in conjunction with the telescope data improves the geometrical reconstruction of the showers significantly, and hence, provides a more accurate reconstruction of the energy of the primary particle. The Middle Drum hybrid spectrum is presented and compared to that measured by the Middle Drum station in monocular mode. Further, the hybrid data establishes a link between the Middle Drum data and the surface array. A comparison between the Middle Drum hybrid energy spectrum and scintillator Surface Detector (SD) spectrum is also shown.

A tablet computer is considered as a useful tool for elderly people to improve their everyday life and even to have training to enhance their cognitive ability. In this study, the authors conducted a preliminary experiment to see how different background colors of a tablet computer screen can affect the attention of elderly people while they are performing a task on the tablet computer. Ten Japanese subjects over sixty-five years old performed circle-counting tasks on a tablet computer screen with white, blue and light blue backgrounds. For these three background colors, three different symbols including circles were presented in black, and the subjects were directed to count the number of circles in a short period of time. The average percentages of correct answers for the circle-counting tasks that the subjects performed were higher with the blue and light blue backgrounds than with the white background. These results suggest that white color may not be the best choice for a background color of a tablet computer screen for elderly people.

Effective communication relies on the smooth exchange of information, and involves a good understanding of emotions behind the information. Emotions play an important role in language communication. In this study, the authors conducted experiments to understand whether emotional context in language sounds activates what areas of the brain. Twenty-seven Japanese subjects listened to a recording of five reversed Japanese sentences and five Malay sentences: both with emotional intonation and without emotional intonation. A near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system was used to observe the relative changes of blood Hb concentrations in the brain while the subjects were listening to the sentences with and without emotions. The results of the experiments showed that the areas related to working memory tended to be more activated when they were listening to the sentences without emotions for reversed Japanese sentences. However, for Malay sentences, working memory were more activated when the subjects were listening to the sentences with emotions.

The stability of the gain of the photomultiplier (PMT) camera for the Fluorescence Detector (FD) of the Telescope Array experiment was monitored using an 241 Am loaded scintillator pulsers (YAP) and a diffused xenon flasher (TXF) for a selected set of 35 PMT-readout channels. From the monitoring of YAP pulses over four years of FD operation, we found slow monotonic drifts of PMT gains at a rate of −1.7~+1.7%/year. An average of the PMT gains over the 35 channels stayed nearly constant with a rate of change measured at −0.01±0.31(stat)±0.21(sys)%/year. No systematic decrease of the PMT gain caused by the night sky background was observed. Monitoring by the TXF also tracked the PMT gain drift of the YAP at 0.88±0.14(stat)%/year.

Background Promising clinical activity has been reported in patients with MET-altered NSCLC treated with tepotinib, an oral, selective, potent MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor. To support clinical development, we aimed to further characterize the safety profile of tepotinib in patients with cancer. Methods In this analysis from 5 phase I and II studies of tepotinib administered 500 mg once daily, adverse events (AEs), graded by NCI CTCAE v4.03, were pooled and summarized for all patients and for the subgroup of Asian patients. Results As of 28 Sep 2018, 228 patients (81 [35.5%] Asian, 59 [25.9%] NSCLC, 121 [53.1%] HCC) had received tepotinib 500 mg/day for a median of 2.7 months (range 0–21.5); in the ongoing phase II VISION study (NCT02864992), median was 4.1 months. The most common treatment-related AE of any grade was peripheral edema occurring in 33.8% of patients overall and in 24.7% of Asian patients. Other common treatment-related AEs were diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea (Table). Dose reduction due to an AE regardless of causality occurred in 33 (14.5%) patients and discontinuation in 49 (21.5%) patients; peripheral edema led to a dose reduction in 12 (5.3%) patients and discontinuation in 7 (3.1%) patients. In the Asian population, 13 (16.0%) patients had a dose reduction and 13 (16.0%) patients discontinued due to an AE; peripheral edema led to a dose reduction in 4 (4.9%) Asian patients and to no discontinuations. Two AEs leading to death were considered by the investigator to be potentially treatment-related and occurred in patients with HCC (upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage [in an Asian patient] and hypoglycemic coma).Table67PTableAll patients (N = 228)Asian patients (N = 81)Any GradeGrade ≥3Any GradeGrade ≥3Treatment-related AE (≥10%), n (%)172 (75.4)52 (22.8)64 (79.0)26 (32.1)Peripheral edema77 (33.8)8 (3.5)20 (24.7)0Diarrhea45 (19.7)4 (1.8)27 (33.3)4 (4.9)Fatigue34 (14.9)3 (1.3)14 (17.3)3 (3.7)Nausea29 (12.7)09 (11.1)0Decreased appetite27 (11.8)012 (14.8)0Blood creatinine increased18 (7.9)1 (0.4)11 (13.6)0Hypoalbuminemia16 (7.0)1 (0.4)10 (12.3)0Amylase increased13 (5.7)4 (1.8)9 (11.1)2 (2.5) Conclusions Tepotinib demonstrated an acceptable safety profile in patients with advanced cancer, with a similar profile in Asian patients and in the overall population. Further characterization of the clinical relevance of peripheral edema is ongoing. Clinical trial identification NCT01014936, NCT01832506, NCT01988493, NCT02115373, NCT02864992. Editorial acknowledgement Medical writing assistance (funded by Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) was provided by Jen Lewis, PhD of Bioscript Science (Macclesfield, UK). Legal entity responsible for the study Merck KGaA. Funding Merck KGaA. Disclosure K. Yamazaki: Honoraria (self): Chugai; Honoraria (self): Takeda; Honoraria (self): Yakult; Honoraria (self): Daiichi‐Sankyo; Honoraria (self): Merck Serono; Honoraria (self): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self): Bayer; Honoraria (self): Eli Lilly; Honoraria (self): Taiho; Research grant / Funding (institution): BMS; Research grant / Funding (institution): Sanofi. P.K. Paik: Advisory / Consultancy: Bristol-Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Lilly; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: AbbVie; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Celgene; Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: EMD Serono; Honoraria (self): Takeda. R. Veillon: Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy: Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): BMS; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda; Research grant / Funding (institution): AbbVie; Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck. T. Decaens: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: BMS; Honoraria (self), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Bayer; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Ipsen; Honoraria (self), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Gilead; Honoraria (self), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: AbbVie; Honoraria (self): Sanofi; Advisory / Consultancy: BTG; Advisory / Consultancy: Sirtex; Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Roche; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: MSD; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Merck Serono; Research grant / Funding (institution): ArQule; Research grant / Funding (institution): Genoscience Pharma. S. Faivre: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Blueprint; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Bristol-Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Bayer Pharma; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Eli Lilly; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Ipsen; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Merck Serono; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: MSD; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Novartis. G.S. Falchook: Licensing / Royalties: Wolters Kluwer; Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Fujifilm; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: EMD Serono; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Bristol-Myers Squibb; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Millennium; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Total Health Conferencing; Research grant / Funding (institution): 3-V Biosciences; Research grant / Funding (institution): AbbVie; Research grant / Funding (institution): ADC Therapeutics; Research grant / Funding (institution): Aileron; Research grant / Funding (institution): American Society of Clinical Oncology; Research grant / Funding (institution): Amgen; Research grant / Funding (institution): ARMO; Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (institution): BeiGene; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bioatla; Research grant / Funding (institution): Biothera; Research grant / Funding (institution): Celldex; Research grant / Funding (institution): Celgene; Research grant / Funding (institution): Ciclomed, Curegenix, Curis, DelMar, eFFECTOR, Eli Lilly, Exelixis, Fujifilm, Genmab, GlaxoSmithKline, Hutchison MediPharma, Ignyta, Incyte, Jacobio, Jounce, Kolltan, Loxo, MedImmune, Millennium, Merck, miRNA Therapeutics, National Institutes of Health, No. J. Scheele: Full / Part-time employment: Merck KGaA. R. Bruns: Full / Part-time employment: Merck KGaA. K. Berghoff: Full / Part-time employment: Merck KGaA. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Foot care is attracting attention as a medically effective treatment of the foot lesions caused by diabetes or aging. In this study, we experimentally examined how aromatherapy affects the functions of the human brain during foot care by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Four female subjects received foot care massages and aroma oil massages. We analyzed the changes in their oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations based on their brain activity by t-tests, and the t-test results showed significant differences between the foot and aroma oil massages. Our questionnaire results obtained from our subjects showed that they felt more comfortable and relaxed while receiving foot care with aroma oils. These results suggest that aroma oil massages are an effective foot care tool.

In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to see how the background color of Web-based tests (WBTs) can affect the brain activities of Web-based test takers in relation to their performance. Thirty subjects in their twenties took Web-based English grammar tests and also performed circle-counting tasks on a computer screen with white and light blue backgrounds. For both background colors, text and symbols were presented in black. Two-dimensional images of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration changes in the brain of each subject were recorded by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). On both the English tests and the counting tasks, the scores of the subjects were higher on average with the light blue background than with the white background. The NIRS signals obtained in the experiment showed that areas in the brain associated with linguistic tasks tended to have higher Hb concentrations for the light blue background than for the white background, and indicated that the linguistic area was more active when the subjects took the tests with the light blue background. These results suggest that a light blue color may be a better choice for the background color of a WBT, even though a white background is often used for WBTs.

High-resolution X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) was applied to Ti-deposited Si(0 0 1) surfaces, which were structurally characterized by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Negative chemical shift of Si due to Ti deposition was assigned to the distorted Ti Si bonds formed on the surface. The shift was reduced when a Ti sank beneath a Si dimer. Silicidation resulted in a positive shift to the Ti Si bonding. The charge on the Si atoms near Ti was estimated through preliminary natural bonding orbital (NBO) calculation. We show that the shifts can be explained in terms of the sensitivity of charges of Si near Ti to the local structure near the dimer.

We present a measurement of the energy spectrum of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays performed by the Telescope Array experiment using monocular observations from its two new FADC-based fluorescence detectors. After a short description of the experiment, we describe the data analysis and event reconstruction procedures. Since the aperture of the experiment must be calculated by Monte Carlo simulation, we describe this calculation and the comparisons of simulated and real data used to verify the validity of the aperture calculation. Finally, we present the energy spectrum calculated from the merged monocular data sets of the two FADC-based detectors, and also the combination of this merged spectrum with an independent, previously published monocular spectrum measurement performed by Telescope Array’s third fluorescence detector [T. Abu-Zayyad et al., The energy spectrum of Telescope Array’s middle drum detector and the direct comparison to the high resolution fly’s eye experiment, Astroparticle Physics 39 (2012) 109-119, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.astropartphys.2012.05.012 , Available from: ]. This combined spectrum corroborates the recently published Telescope Array surface detector spectrum [T. Abu-Zayyad, et al., The cosmic-ray energy spectrum observed with the surface detector of the Telescope Array experiment, ApJ 768 (2013) L1, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/768/1/L1 , Available from: ] with independent systematic uncertainties.

Previous studies conducted by Yamazaki and Eto on the background colors of on-line tests indicated that a combination of black text and a white background color was not considered preferable for Web-based tests (WBTs). In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to see if a background color can affect the scores of a Web-based English listing test. Thirty three subjects in their twenties took Web-based English listening tests and non-linguistic tests with blue and white background colors with black text. The average test scores of the subjects showed no significant differences between the blue and white backgrounds. The brain functions of the subjects were also examined by observing relative changes in hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations in their brains with near-infrared spectroscopy. Two dimensional images of the Hb concentration changes obtained in the experiment indicated that areas in the brain associated with language processing tended to have higher Hb concentrations while the subjects were taking the listening test with both background colors. On the other hand, areas in the brain related to the frontal eye field were observed to be more active while they were taking the test with the white background than with the blue background, even though the questionnaire result obtained from the subjects showed that they felt more tired when they took the tests with the combination of black text and a blue background.

Sumitomo Electric has been developing the silver-sheathed Bi2223 multi-filamentary wires since the discovery of Bi-based superconductors. DI-BSCCO (Dynamically-Innovative BSCCO) is the high performance wires produced with the controlled-overpressure (CT-OP) sintering technique. The recent R&D activities have enabled to produce the 1000 m-long wires with I c of 200 A and the maximum I c reached 250 A at 77 K by short sample. Besides, the fine control of the carrier density with the non-stoichiometric oxygen enhanced the in-field I c performances at lower temperature. At a magnetic field of 3 T applied normal to wire surface, the I c of 280 A at 30 K, and 420 A at 20 K were successfully achieved. To meet the growing needs for various high temperature superconducting applications, Type HT wire with high mechanical strength and Type G wire with low thermal conductivity have been developed.

For some applications, short unit lengths of HTS wires should be spliced if longer lengths are necessary and short unit lengths of HTS wires should be utilize by applying the splice technology to reduce the total wire cost in the application. The splice technology has been developed for DI-BSCCO Type HT-CA tapes by Sumitomo Electric and spliced tapes were tested in Russian Cable Institute. The test program included: measurements of splice's resistance, critical current anisotropy, thermo cycling tolerance, mechanical properties, overload tests and magnetization measurements. In the paper the results of tests are presented and discussed. The test results demonstrated that splices can be used for cable production if twisting and bending limitations are taken into account.