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The 10-year renal survival rate in adult-onset IgAN is approximately 80-85%, while the 10-year renal survival rate in patients with childhood-onset IgAN is more than 90% (Fig. Etiology Although the etiology of IgAN remains unclear, mucosal immunity is involved in the etiology of IgAN due to its genetic background and disease progression due to upper respiratory tract infection. Treatment options Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy is expected to improve urinary findings, including clinical remission, in patients with IgAN with CKD stage G1-G2 and proteinuria of up to 1 g/day. In 2020, the Research for Intractable Renal Diseases of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan established the Committee of Guideline for IgA Nephropathy, which published (A Digest from Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for IgA Nephropathy 2020) on the website (jin-shogai.jp/policy/index.html). [Extracted from the article]

During the past decade, investments in large-scale irrigation development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have come back. Given past experiences, this revival is controversial. This paper examines whether large-scale irrigation construction in SSA is economically viable by estimating how much it would cost if the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kenya, one of the best performing irrigation schemes in SSA, were to be constructed today. The results show that constructing the Mwea Scheme today may be economically viable if the shadow price of rice is as high as the world price that prevailed during the mini-rice crisis in 2008–2013; however, the viability is marginal, not robust. There is certainly untapped physical potential in SSA for large-scale irrigation development, but the economically viable potential remains limited. International donor agencies and national governments wanting to construct large-scale irrigation projects are recommended to assess seriously whether their plan is economically profitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Podocyte depletion, which drives progressive glomerulosclerosis in glomerular diseases, is caused by a reduction in podocyte number, size or function in the context of increasing glomerular volume. Methods: Kidneys obtained at autopsy from premature and mature infants who died in the first year of life ( n = 24) were used to measure podometric parameters for comparison with previously reported data from older kidneys. Results: Glomerular volume increased 4.6-fold from 0.13 ± 0.07 μm x10 in the pre-capillary loop stage, through 0.35 μm x10 at the capillary loop, to 0.60 μm x10 at the mature glomerular stage. Podocyte number per glomerulus increased from 326 ± 154 per glomerulus at the pre-capillary loop stage to 584 ± 131 per glomerulus at the capillary loop stage of glomerular development to reach a value of 589 ± 166 per glomerulus in mature glomeruli. Thus, the major podocyte number increase occurs in the early stages of glomerular development, in contradistinction to glomerular volume increase, which continues after birth in association with body growth. Conclusions: As glomeruli continue to enlarge, podocyte density (number per volume) rapidly decreases, requiring a parallel rapid increase in podocyte size that allows podocyte foot processes to maintain complete coverage of the filtration surface area. Hypertrophic stresses on the glomerulus and podocyte during development and early rapid growth periods of life are therefore likely to play significant roles in determining how and when defects in podocyte structure and function due to genetic variants become clinically manifest. Therapeutic strategies aimed at minimizing mismatch between these factors may prove clinically useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data obtained from a series of nation-wide market surveys in Uganda, this article attempts to document and assess the domestic rice market at all stages in the post-harvest marketing chain from the farm gate to metropolitan area retail outlets. The criteria used are quantities marketed, prices, marketing margins, marketing costs and net returns to traders. The results show that the regional rice markets are integrated into the national market and that on average little surplus is left for rice traders at all market stages if marketing costs are accounted for. The spontaneously developed indigenous crop market works reasonably well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: How dialysis affects the survival of patients with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is not fully understood. The present long-term cohort study quantifies the survival rates and incidence of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) among such patients in Japan. Methods: Fifty-two of 433 patients with IgAN who had reached end-stage kidney disease underwent renal replacement therapy (RRT) between 1981 and 2010. The overall survival rate and incidence of CCVDs in these patients were evaluated during follow-up for 11.3 ± 6.4 years. Results: The mean age at starting RRT was 42.8 ± 13.3 years. Only seven patients died during follow-up (mortality rate, 1.2/100 person-years) and Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed favorable survival rates of 93.3% and 65.1% at 10 and 20 years, respectively, compared with that of patients with glomerulonephritis in the registry of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy who required RRT. Malignancy and CCVDs were causes of death at 13.6 ± 4.8 and 3.9 ± 1.3 years, respectively, after starting RRT. Fatal and non-fatal CCVDs developed in 15 (incidence, 2.7/100 person-years) patients and acute coronary syndrome and cerebral hemorrhage developed relatively soon after starting RRT. Cox proportional hazards models revealed that age at the time of starting RRT was a significant factor affecting the onset of CCVDs. Meanwhile, a history of having had corticosteroid as an initial treatment did not affect the onset of events. Conclusion: Although the survival of patients with IgAN is favorable after dialysis, the onset of CCVDs during the early phase of dialysis should be carefully monitored. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines three phases of agricultural development experienced by the rice sector in the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Development phases of irrigated agriculture; Overview of the development of rice production in both countries between 1948-52 and 1993-97; Cost benefit analysis of alternative development paths; Trends in irrigation investment.

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) rods with spiral surface indentations have been developed as tension elements in prestressed concrete and as anchor tendons in place of conventional prestressing steels. The indented type CFRP rods have sufficient bonding strength to concrete without sacrificing the high tensile strength. As a low cost manufacturing process of the advanced composite, the pultrusion processing method was applied to make CFRP rods continuously. New ground anchors using the pultruded CFRP rods were installed for slope stabilization at Fukuchiyama, Kyoto in March this year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flame spread behavior over a filter paper in opposed flow was investigated on the ISS/Kibo, and the results were compared with the flammability map predicted in advance by scale analysis for a two-dimensional flame. The on-orbit experiments were conducted in the solid combustion experimental module (SCEM) as the first combustion test of the FLARE project by JAXA. A filter paper with a length of 130 mm, a width of 40 mm or 20 mm, and a thickness of 0.12 mm was used as the specimen. The opposed flow velocity and the oxygen concentration were varied from 0 cm/s to 25 cm/s, and from 13.5% to 34%, respectively. The ambient pressure is 101.3 kPa. The predicted limiting curve reasonably agreed with the minimum limiting oxygen concentration observed. On the other hand, in extremely slow flows, very robust flames were observed beyond the limiting curve. When the condition reached the limit of two-dimensional flame, the flame front changed from a linear shape to a spherical shape (flamelet) to shorten the preheat zone length, reducing the radiative heat loss to survive. In these cases, the flamelet was sustained for a long time (> 100 s), and a large amount of decomposed gas was released at the periphery of the pyrolysis zone generating a combustible vapor cloud around the spherical flame font. The presence of a long-life robust flamelet and the accumulation of such combustible mist can be fire hazards in microgravity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously described the discovery of Big angiotensin‐25 (Bang‐25), an angiotensin‐related peptide isolated from human urine. Bang‐25 consists of the first 25 amino acids of the N‐terminus of angiotensinogen (Aogen), with N‐linked glycosylation on the 14th amino acid and a cysteine conjugated to the 18th amino acid. Bang‐25 is rapidly converted into angiotensin II (Ang II) by chymase. Because Bang‐25 is widely distributed in human tissues, including islet cells in the pancreas and podocytes in the kidney, we hypothesized that it may participate in the Ang II production system in these tissues. To test this hypothesis, we developed a specific assay for Bang‐25 and used it to examine the urinary concentrations of Bang‐25 in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The assay used the Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay (Alpha)‐based ELISA method (AlphaLISA) of PerkinElmer Japan and included antibodies specific to the N‐terminus of Ang II and the C‐terminus of Bang‐25. The AlphaLISA ImmunoAssay specifically recognized Bang‐25 and had no cross‐reactivity with Aogen or Ang I. Bang‐25 was detected in healthy volunteers' urine samples but not in their plasma samples. In patients with DM, the urinary Bang‐25 concentration was significantly higher than in healthy volunteers. Moreover, the results indicated that the Bang‐25 concentration in the urine may offer a different perspective on disease status from that provided by urinary albumin. This assay could provide a useful tool for determining urinary Bang‐25, which may prove an important biomarker for diabetic kidney disease. SUMMARY AT A GLANCE: Nagata and colleagues measure the concentration of Big angiotensin‐25 (Bang‐25) in urine by a novel Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay‐based ELISA method, which uses antibodies specific to the N‐terminus of Ang II and the C‐terminus of Bang‐25. In a validation cohort, urinary Bang‐25 levels inversely correlated with kidney function and directly with urinary albumin excretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative image analysis of infrared (IR) measurements are compared to visible color images for simultaneous upstream and downstream flame spread over thermally thin cellulose samples in low speed forced flow in microgravity. These results are a unique set of data that provide a wealth of information to guide future modeling efforts. Test conditions at ambient pressure were conducted in 21–50% O2 by volume (N2 balance) and forced flow velocities from 2 cm/s to 20 cm/s. The tests conditions encompass strictly upstream flame spread to simultaneous upstream and downstream flame spread. Steady upstream flame spread is observed while the downstream flame only begins to spread at the highest flow velocities due to the oxygen shadow cast by the upstream flame (oxygen depleted region downstream of the flame). Blackbody surface temperature gradients for the upstream flame are an order of magnitude larger than the downstream gradients. Upstream preheat lengths decrease with flow while downstream preheat lengths increase. Downstream pyrolysis lengths reach steady state for most cases and increase with convective heating while upstream pyrolysis lengths increase with time. Surface thermocouple (TC) histories were non-dimensionalized to obtain a characteristic surface temperature profile using new scaling analyses. Applying the ellipticity of the leading edge to the scaling reveals the local flow velocity at the leading edge is on the order of diffusive velocities and the flame thermal expansion acts as a significant barrier to divert the flow. A surface energy balance reveals that the peak heat flux for both upstream and downstream flames increases with oxygen concentration and forced flow velocity. The upstream flame heat flux is equally divided between fuel heat up and surface radiation. The downstream heat flux goes almost exclusively to surface radiation. Comparisons of these results to previous applicable research are provided throughout the text and generally agree well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis (ANCA-GN) is a critical kidney disease that sometimes results in an unfavorable renal outcome. Cellular crescent formation is a hallmark of ANCA-GN and is associated with renal prognosis, response to treatment, and it was reportedly associated with podocyte detachment. Because there is a need to explore non-invasive biomarkers for the evaluation of ANCA-GN activity, we tested whether urinary podocyte mRNA might be a potent non-invasive biomarker. Methods: We measured two different types of urinary podocyte mRNA, including podocin mRNA in relation to urine creatinine concentration (U-PodCR) and urinary podocin mRNA in relation to nephrin mRNA (U-PNR), which were reportedly associated with the activity of various glomerular diseases. Results: In ANCA-GN patients (n = 19), we discovered that U-PodCR was positively correlated with the percent of crescent formation until 50% crescent was reached because of podocyte depletion; U-PNR was correlated with the percent of crescent formation in all patients. Furthermore, patients with high levels of urinary podocyte mRNA exhibited a favorable renal outcome compared with the outcomes of patients with low levels of urinary podocyte mRNA. The levels of urinary podocyte mRNA were correlated with the rate of improvement in estimated glomerular filtration rate. Conclusions: U-PodCR, U-PNR or a combination of these parameters might serve as a non-invasive potential biomarker in patients with ANCA-GN to predict the percent of crescent formation and renal prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Several investigators have described the effect of tonsillectomy on urinary abnormalities and long-term renal survival rates in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), especially during the early stage of the disease. However, whether tonsillectomy affects the rate of IgAN progress, even when the disease is in the advanced stage, remains obscure. Methods: Of 365 patients who were histologically diagnosed with IgAN, 46 eventually reached end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) between 1981 and 2006. The periods from diagnosis to ESKD with renal replacement therapy (RRT) were compared between patients with ESKD who had undergone tonsillectomy ( n == 15) as initial therapy for IgAN or not ( n == 31). Relationships among risk factors, initial treatment, and rates of progression to ESKD were also examined using multivariate analysis in a retrospective cohort study of the 46 patients. Results: The duration between renal biopsy and initiation of RRT was significantly extended for patients with, than without, tonsillectomy (9.8 ± 6.0 vs. 5.8 ± 4.0 years, p == 0.007; unpaired t-test). The RRT-free survival advantage in patients with tonsillectomy was also evident in Kaplan-Meier curves ( p == 0.007 by log-rank test). Logistic regression analysis showed that a high serum creatinine value at biopsy and severe histological damage were risk factors affecting rapid progression (within 7 years from diagnosis) to ESKD, whereas tonsillectomy apparently delayed disease progression [odds ratio, 0.09; 95%% confidence interval (CI), 0.01-0.75; p == 0.026]. Conclusion: Tonsillectomy might delay the rate of progression even when IgAN is relatively advanced, although this study could not confirm whether it prevents progression to ESKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Uroguanylin, isolated from human and opossum urine, is a candidate intestinal natriuretic hormone that controls the sodium and water balance between the intestine and the kidneys. Levels of immunoreactive (ir)-uroguanylin in the plasma and urine are increased in rats and humans with nephrotic syndrome, which is physiologically characterized by sodium retention with massive proteinuria. The present study evaluates the effect of natriuresis induced by uroguanylin on nephrotic rats. Methods: Normal rats and rats rendered nephrotic by injections of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) were treated with uroguanylin (0.5 nmol/h, delivered by an osmotic pump) or with vehicle during the sodium retention phase. All rats consumed the same quantity of sodium. Results: Uroguanylin did not increase urinary excretion of sodium and water in normal rats, but significantly increased urinary sodium excretion during the sodium retention phase in nephrotic rats (untreated vs uroguanylin-treated nephrotic rats in mmol/mmol creatinine; 2.92 ± 0.65 vs 8.93 ± 2.53 on day 6, P < 0.05; 3.55 ± 0.47 vs 10.37 ± 1.73 on day 7, P < 0.01; 14.88 ± 2.32 vs 24.47 ± 2.86 on day 8, P < 0.05). Plasma levels of ir-uroguanylin in uroguanylin-treated nephrotic rats on day 6 were significantly increased compared with those in uroguanylin-treated control and untreated nephrotic rats. Conclusion: Uroguanylin increased urinary sodium excretion in rats with PAN-induced nephrosis, and might be useful for treating sodium retention in patients with nephrotic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasturtium is a popular herbal plant, widely cultivated as culinary and medicinal plants all over the world. However, the seed propagation of nasturtium is inefficient, and in-vitro propagation is sophisticated and high-cost. In this study, the cutting propagation method was employed to produce nasturtium seedlings. We aimed to determine the optimal conditions for cutting propagation of nasturtium seedlings by investigating the effects of node position and electric conductivity (EC) of nutrient solution on the root formation of the cuttings. Cuttings from five node positions (apical bud, 2nd node, 3rd node, 4th node, and 5th node) were subjected to water and five EC (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 dS m−1) treatments with a hydroponic cultivation system in a plant factory. Results showed that all cuttings rooted successfully within two weeks. The cuttings from the apical bud position rooted earliest and produced the most roots regardless of EC level. Cuttings from other node positions produced longer roots and heavier root fresh and dry weights than those from the apical bud position. The cuttings under EC of 1.0 dS m−1 had the greatest root number, the longest root length, and the heaviest root fresh and dry weights regardless of node positions. The EC of 1.0 dS m−1 is considered the best condition for nasturtium cuttings for the range of EC tested in this study, and the cuttings from all the five node positions can be used as seedling materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier detection of progression risk in diabetic nephropathy will allow earlier intervention to reduce progression. The hypothesis that urinary pellet podocyte mRNA is a more sensitive progression risk marker than microalbuminuria was tested. A cross sectional cohort of 165 type 2 diabetics and 41 age and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Podocyte stress (Urinary pellet podocin:nephrin mRNA ratio), podocyte detachment (Urinary pellet podocin mRNA:creatinine ratio: UPPod:CR) and a tubular marker (Urinary pellet aquaporin 2:creatinine ratio) were measured in macro-albuminuric, micro-albuminuric and norm-albuminuric groups. eGFR was reassessed after 4 years in 124 available diabetic subjects. Urinary pellet podocyte and tubular mRNA markers were increased in all diabetic groups in cross-sectional analysis. After 4 years of follow-up univariable and multivariate model analysis showed that the only urinary markers significantly related to eGFR slope were UPPod:CR (P < 0.01) and albuminuria (P < 0.01). AUC analysis using K-fold cross validation to predict eGFR loss of ≥ 3 ml/min/1.73m2/year showed that UPPod:CR and albuminuria each improved the AUC similarly such that combined with clinical variables they gave an AUC = 0.70. Podocyte markers and albuminuria had overlapping AUC contributions, as expected if podocyte depletion causes albuminuria. In the norm-albuminuria cohort (n = 75) baseline UPPod:CR was associated with development of albuminuria (P = 0.007) and, in the tertile with both normal kidney function (eGFR 84 ± 11.7 ml/min/1.73m2) and norm-albuminuria at baseline, UPPod:CR was associated with eGFR loss rate (P = 0.003). In type 2 diabetics with micro- or macro-albuminuria UPPod:CR and albuminuria were equally good at predicting eGFR loss. For norm-albuminuric type 2 diabetics UPPod:CR predicted both albuminuria and eGFR loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proportion of elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) appears to be increasing, with outcomes varying widely because of the patients' heterogeneity. Geriatric assessment is used to predict prognosis in elderly patients with DLBCL, but the utility of two simple screening tools for patients with DLBCL, the Flemish version of the Triage Risk Screening Tool (fTRST) and G8, has remained to be elucidated. We retrospectively assessed patients using fTRST and G8, and evaluated the impacts of the scores on survival outcomes in older patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL. A total of 59 patients aged 65 years or older and who were diagnosed with DLBCL were included. The median age was 77 years (range, 65-91 years), and the initial treatments were R-CHOP (63%) and R-THPCOP (31%). The estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) rate was significantly lower in patients with abnormal fTRST scores (≥ 2; N = 17) than in those with normal fTRST scores (< 2; N = 42): (50.5% (95% CI, 22.7-73.0%) vs. 82.2% (95% CI, 63.8-91.8%), P = 0.007). The estimated 2-year OS rate was significantly lower also in patients with abnormal G8 scores (≤ 14; N = 38) than in those with normal G8 scores (> 14; N = 21): (66.1% (95% CI, 46.7-79.5%) vs. 86.8% (95% CI, 55.7-96.7%), P = 0.03, respectively). These associations were independently significant after adjusting for other significant factors by multivariate analysis. These results suggest that the easy-to-use geriatric screening tools, fTRST and G8, have strong prognostic value for OS in older patients with DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between dry weight (DW) change and survival in long-term maintenance prevalent dialysis patients. Methods: We conducted a prospective data collection study with retrospective analysis of the registered data. Patients were followed up for 5 years (1-year observation of DW changes and subsequent 4-year follow-up). The outcome was all-cause mortality. The predictors were 1-year DW change rates. The hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality were calculated using multivariable Cox regression analysis, fully adjusted for age, sex, basal kidney disease, dialysis vintage, current smoking, past cardiovascular events, serum albumin, DW at enrollment, serum creatinine, mean predialysis systolic blood pressure, and cardiothoracic ratio or 1-year cardiothoracic ratio change rate. Propensity score (PS) analysis was also conducted using the same covariates of Cox regression analysis. Results: In total, 899 dialysis patients (mean dialysis vintage: 101.2 months) were followed up, and 180 deaths were recorded, of which 90 were of cardiovascular origin. Each 2% decrement of DW showed adjusted HR, and the 95% confidence interval was 1.24 [1.16–1.33]. According to the 1-year DW change rate, participants were divided into five groups (group A, ≥+3%; group B, +1 to +2.9%; group C, -0.9 to +0.9%; group D, -2.9 to -1.0%; and group E, ≤-3%). For survival curves based on grouping, group B had the best and group E had the worst survival rate (p<0.01, log-rank test). Therefore, we set group B as a reference; adjusted risks for death of groups D and E were 2.16 [1.23–3.79] and 2.66 [1.54–4.58], respectively. However, this relation was blunted in patients of heavier DW. The PS-matched cohort showed a poorer prognosis in patients with diminishing DW divided by DW change rate at -0.635% (mean value of DW change rate). Conclusion: In the long-term maintenance hemodialysis cohort, 1-year DW decrement, especially ≤-3.0%, was significantly associated with all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular disease-related death was prominent in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the effect of Lewis number on the extinction boundary, flame regimes, and the formation of sporadic flames, microgravity experiments on counterflow flames for CH 4 /O 2 /Kr ( Le  ≈ 0.7–0.8) and CH 4 /O 2 /Xe ( Le  ≈ 0.5) mixtures, and three types of computations, which are one-dimensional computations with a PREMIX-based code using detailed chemistry, and three- and one-dimensional computations with the thermal-diffusion model using an overall one-step reaction were conducted. In the microgravity experiments, planar flames, planar flames with propagating edges, planar flames with receding edges, star-shaped flames, cellular flames, and sporadic flames were identified, and their regions of existence in the equivalence ratio-stretch rate plane were obtained. Sporadic flames were formed for Xe mixtures but not for Kr mixtures in the experiments. Similarly, sporadic flames were formed at Le  = 0.50 but not at Le  = 0.75 in the three-dimensional computations with the thermal-diffusion model. Also, the flame regime of sporadic flames extended far beyond the extinction boundaries obtained in the one-dimensional computations in both experiments and the three-dimensional computations. Furthermore, a comparison of the sporadic flames and flame balls in the three-dimensional computations showed that sporadic flames are intermediate combustion modes that segue flame balls to propagating flames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain an accurate and comprehensive understanding on the fuel-lean combustion limit, near-limit extinction boundary and flame regimes, experimental and numerical investigations using premixed counterflow flames were conducted for low-Lewis-number mixtures. Counterflow flame experiments were conducted under microgravity (2.2 ≦ a ≦ 12.9 s −1 ) and under normal gravity (35 ≦ a ≦ 150 s −1 ) using fuel-lean CH 4 /O 2 /CO 2 mixtures ( Le = 0.75) where a is the stretch rate. The mole fraction ratio of O 2 to CO 2 in the mixtures was 0.40. Microgravity experiments at a = 2.7–3.2 s −1 showed that transitions from planar flames to ball-like flames occurred near extinction for the investigated mixture. In addition to planar flames and ball-like flames, multi-dimensional flames such as cellular flames and twin-curved flames were also observed at a = 2.2–5.5 s −1 in microgravity experiments. In conjunction with experimental results under normal gravity, experimental flame regimes for overall stretch rates were obtained for the first time and the region where ball-like flames were observed showed a qualitative agreement with our previous study based on the 3-D transient computations with the diffusive-thermal model. Extinction points obtained by microgravity experiments were found to scatter at very low stretch rates where multi-dimensional flames such as ball-like flames and cellular flames were observed, indicating the existence of a flame regime at lower stretch rates leaner than the planar counterflow flame extinction boundary. In addition, flame bifurcation at low stretch rates and at ϕ = 0.58 and 0.60 were experimentally observed for the present low-Lewis-number mixture, indicating the validity of the previous computational and theoretical studies on the G-shaped extinction curve of planar counterflow flames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new rig for microgravity experiments was used for the study flame spread of parallel polyethylene-coated wires in concurrent and opposed airflow. The parabolic flight experiments were conducted at small length- and time scales, i.e. typically over 10 cm long samples for up to 20 s. For the first time, the influence of neighboring spread on the mass burning rate was assessed in microgravity. The observations are contrasted with the influence characterized in normal gravity. The experimental results are expected to deliver meaningful guidelines for future, planned experiments at a larger scale. Arising from the current results, the issue of the potential interaction among spreading flames also needs to be carefully investigated as this interaction plays a major role in realistic fire scenarios, and therefore on the design of the strategies that would allow the control of such a fire. Once buoyancy has been removed, the characteristic length and time scales of the different modes of heat and mass transfer are modified. For this reason, interaction among spreading flames may be revealed in microgravity, while it would not at normal gravity, or vice versa. Furthermore, the interaction may lead to an enhanced spread rate when mutual preheating dominates or, conversely, a reduced spread rate when oxidizer flow vitiation is predominant. In more general terms, the current study supports both the SAFFIRE and the FLARE projects, which are large projects with international scientific teams. First, material samples will be tested in a series of flight experiments (SAFFIRE 1-3) conducted in Cygnus vehicles after they have undocked from the ISS. These experiments will allow the study of ignition and possible flame spread in real spacecraft conditions, i.e. over real length scale samples within real time scales. Second, concomitant research conducted within the FLARE project is dedicated to the assessment of new standard tests for materials that a spacecraft can be composed of. Finally, these tests aim to define the ambient conditions that will mitigate and potentially prohibit the flame spread in microgravity over the material studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Although infection is the second leading cause of death in maintenance haemodialysis patients, the effects of glycaemic control on infection in diabetic haemodialysis patients have not yet been examined in detail. We examined the relationship between diabetes or glycemic control and infection-related hospitalization (IRH) in haemodialysis patients. Methods Patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis ( n = 1551, 493 diabetic patients) were enrolled in this prospective cohort study in December 2009 and followed-up for 3 years. IRH during the follow-up period was abstracted from medical records. Kaplan- Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between diabetes or glycaemic control and IRH. Results The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the risk of IRH was significantly higher in haemodialysis patients with diabetes, particularly in those with poorly controlled HbA1c levels ( HbA1c ≥ 7.0%), than in haemodialysis patients without diabetes. When patients with ≥ HbA1c 7.0% were divided into two groups using a median value of HbA1c, the risk of IRH was significantly higher in those with the poorest glycaemic control ( HbA1c ≥ 7.4%), an older age, or lower albumin levels. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for the risk of IRH was not higher in the second criteria of HbA1c ( HbA1c 7.0-7.3%), but was significantly higher in the group with the poorest glycaemic control ( HbA1c ≥ 7.4%) than in those in the good control criterion ( HbA1c < 7.0%). Conclusions Although diabetes is a risk factor for IRH among maintenance haemodialysis patients, the relationship between glycaemic control and the risk of infection is not linear. Therefore, the risk of infection may increase in a manner that is dependent on the glycaemic control threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic behavior and 3D spatial structure of low-Lewis-number counterflow premixed flames are numerically studied in the frame of thermo-diffusive model with one-step chemical reaction. The diverse combustion regimes are described and regions of existence of these regimes in equivalence ratio/stretch rate plane are identified. Qualitative comparison between numerical results and results of microgravity experiments are discussed. Experiments and numerical simulations demonstrate that at small stretch rate conditions lean low-Lewis-number counterflow flames can appear as a set of separate ball-like flames in a state of chaotic motion. The extension of extinction limits associated with existence of sporadic combustion regimes is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] 3D-ET was applied to investigate the interaction between precipitate and dislocation. [•] Number density, intervals, critical angles were measured three-dimensionally. [•] Macroscopic tensile test and yield stress by precipitates were compared directly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Extinction characteristics of CH4/O2/Xe radiative counterflow premixed flames and their transition to ball-like flames were examined by computations and microgravity experiments. First, the flammability limit of flame ball for the mixture was estimated to be leaner than that of counterflow premixed flame by one-dimensional computations with detailed chemistry. Extinction experiments under microgravity showed that there was a ball-like flame prior to total extinction in the vicinity of the stagnation-plane in the low-speed counterflow field at stretch rate of 1.6–3.2s−1. Formation of such a ball-like flame occurred subsequent to the extinction of counterflow flames and the ball-like flame was finally extinguished when the equivalence ratio was further decreased. Two-dimensional computations indicated that the temperature of the ball-like flame increased with the decrease of equivalence ratio in the near-limit condition when it approached extinction. The temperature distribution of the computational ball-like flame was in qualitative agreement with that of the flame ball. The ball-like flame in the counterflow field was considered to be stable based on steady-state two-dimensional computation at an equivalence ratio slightly richer than the limit of a transient ball-like flame. Such a stable computational ball-like flame is not perfectly spherical. The ball-like flame observed in this study is thought to have a close correlation with the ideal flame ball which is generally established in a quiescent mixture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Formation of M23C6 carbides and chromium-depleted zones in commercially available type 304L stainless steel were investigated by in situ transmission electron microscopy and analytical transmission electron microscopy. It was found that each individual small M23C6 carbide starts to grow with a clear orientation relationship with the matrix, and film-like carbide was subsequently observed at the interfaces with asymmetric Cr-depleted zones. From these experimental results, a model describing the precipitation of M23C6 and the formation of the Cr-depleted zone was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well-known that major irrigation projects have a strong scale economy, handicapping irrigation development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) because of the difficulty in formulating large-scale projects. Using project-level investment cost and performance data of major and minor irrigation projects, this paper examines the causes of the economy of scale phenomenon. We find that strong scale economy exists not only for major but also for minor projects, i.e., small- and micro-scale, projects. This is largely because of the existence of indivisible overhead costs such as high-opportunity-cost human resources for planning, designing and engineering management and supervision. We also find that large differences between major and minor projects in the absolute level of overhead as well as construction costs creates a strong scale diseconomy and results in better performance of minor projects. The advantage of minor projects holds even when their higher risk associated with the water source is taken into consideration. We argue that there is an urgent need to promote irrigation development in SSA through developing minor projects, and to reduce the heavy burden of overhead costs by developing the capacity of human resources at the national, local and farmer levels in the fields of irrigation engineering, irrigation agronomy, institutional development, and micro water management technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new tetrahydrofuranoid lignan glycosides, (7 S,8 R,7′ R,8′ S)-4,9,4′,7′-tetrahydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-7,9′-epoxylignan 9- O- β--glucopyranoside (), (7 R,8 S,7′ S,8′ R)-4,9,4′,7′-tetrahydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-7,9′-epoxylignan 9- O- β--glucopyranoside (), (7 R,8 S,7′ R,8′ S)-4,9,4′,9′-tetrahydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-7,7′-epoxylignan 9- O- β--glucopyranoside (), and rel-(7 R,8 S,7′ S,8′ R)-4,9,4′,9′-tetrahydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-7,7′-epoxylignan 9- O- β--glucopyranoside (), and ten known lignan glycosides, and -, were isolated from the leaves of Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus . Their structures were established on the basis of spectral and chemical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common disease in females of childbearing age. Although iron supplementation quickly improves laboratory-measured parameters, its effect on health-related quality of life is unknown. Here, we conducted a prospective follow-up study to evaluate health-related quality of life in pre-menopausal women diagnosed with IDA. A convenience sample of 92 patients who visited Tokai University Hospital and three other affiliated hospitals were asked to fill out the Medical Outcome Study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) during the course of treatment (baseline, and 1 and 3 months after the start of treatment). At baseline, vitality and general health scores were significantly lower than the Japanese national norms. After the start of therapy, however, a significant improvement was seen in all domain scores except role emotional (RE), and at 3 months all eight scores were comparable to or greater than the national norms. In particular, physical functioning and vitality scores of patients with a lower hemoglobin level ( < 9.0 g/dl) at baseline showed a dramatic improvement. Iron supplementation in IDA patients improves not only hemoglobin levels, but also physical function, vitality, and general health perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Microgravity experiments on droplet-array combustion were conducted under high-ambient-temperature conditions. n-Decane droplet arrays suspended on SiC fibers were inserted into a high-temperature combustion chamber and were ignited at one end to initiate the flame spread in high-temperature air. Flame-spread modes, burning behavior after the flame spread, and flame-spread rate were examined at different ambient temperatures. Experimental results showed that the appearance of flame-spread modes and the flame-spread rate were affected by the ambient temperature. The flame-spread rate increased with the ambient temperature. These facts are discussed based on the temperature effects on the droplet heating and the development of a flammable-mixture layer around the next droplet. A simple model was introduced to analyze these effects. The effects of the ambient temperature on the appearance of group combustion of the array after the flame spread and the scale effect in the flame spread are also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new droplet-array generation technique achieved high quality and high reliability in microgravity experiments on multiple-droplet combustion. Each fuel droplet formed at the intersection of fine, X-shaped SiC fibers when liquid fuel was supplied through a fine glass tube. We aligned several sets of these X-shaped fibers and their corresponding fine glass tubes to form a droplet array. All the droplets in the array were simultaneously generated in a short time. In flame-spread experiments, a hot-wire igniter ignited an end droplet to initiate the flame spread along the array. We demonstrated microgravity experiments of droplet array combustion using the new droplet-array generation technique at a drop-experiment facility, MGLAB, in Japan. We successfully generated large droplets, which often fell off the fiber intersection in normal gravity, by using this method in microgravity. This technique is also effective in droplet-array combustion experiments using high-volatility fuel, where prevaporization is substantial. We compared the flame-spread rate and the flame-spread limit of these linear droplet arrays with results of an existing experiment, and discussed the effects of the suspending fiber on the flame spread. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report a new family with hereditary factor X deficiency. The propositus had a markedly prolonged prothrombin time, a mild prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time and a clotting time activated by Russell's viper venom. Factor X activity in plasma was 3 u/dl (normal range 56–138 u/dl). Factor X antigen level was 61 u/dl. Molecular analysis revealed a homozygous mutation, Glu (GAG) to Gln (CAG) at residue 32 which normally undergoes γ-carboxylation within the γ-carboxyglutamic acid rich domain. The genotypes of family members completely correlated with their factor X activities. It is suggested that the Glu32 to Gln mutation is the molecular basis for the abnormal factor X in this family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterisation of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in chronic haemodialysis patients and its prognostic significance in age stratification have not been addressed. A prospective cohort study with cross-sectional analyses at baseline was performed. Outcomes were all-cause mortality, non-malignancy-related mortality, and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality. NT-proBNP was significantly higher in elderly, female, and low dry weight patients. Study patients were divided into two groups: Group-O (≥75 years) and Group-Y (<75 years). The 7-year follow-up receiver operating curve analysis showed that NT-proBNP significantly predicted all outcomes. All-cause mortality cut-off points were significantly different among the groups (total cohort, 5375 pg/mL; Group-Y, 3682 pg/mL; Group-O, 11750 pg/mL). Cox regression analysis showed risks for all outcomes by tertile NT-proBNP significantly higher in the total cohort and Group-Y as adjusted by potential confounders. For all-cause mortality, hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were T2 1.70 (0.89 to 3.25), p = 0.11, T3 2.95 (1.54 to 5.67), p < 0.01 in Group-Y; and T2 1.00 (0.64 to 1.58), p = 1.00; T3 1.50 (0.94 to 2.40), p = 0.09 in Group-O. In conclusion, NT-proBNP was significantly higher in elderly, female, and low dry weight chronic dialysis patients. NT-proBNP was significantly associated with all outcomes. However, this association was reduced in elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionCu is always present in the matrix when ferritic steels were prepared from ferrous scrap. When the ferritic steels are aged thermally, Cu precipitates start appear and disperse finely and homogeneously [1], which may make the steels strengthened by precipitation hardening. In this study, the interaction between Cu precipitates and dislocations was exmined via high-temperature in-situ TEM straining.ExperimentalCu-added ferritic stainless steel (Fe-18.4%Cr-1.5%Cu) was used in the present study. Specimen was aged at1073 K for 360 ks. Samples for TEM observation were prepared by focused ion beam (FIB; Quanta 3D 200i) method. Microstructure of specimen was analyzed by JEM-3200FSK and high-temperature in-situ TEM straining was conducted using JEM-1300NEF.Results and discussionInteraction between Cu precipitates and dislocation is seen from consecutive TEM images acquired by in-situ TEM straining at 1073 K, as shown in Fig.1. The size of Cu precipitates was about 70 nm and several dislocations were present within the field of view. In particular, progressing dislocations contacted with the Cu precipitate at right angle, as indicated by arrows in Fig.1 (b) to (d). This result implies that there is an attractive interaction between dislocations and the Cu precipitate. This is attributed to the fact that Stress field of dislocations was easily relaxed in interface between the Cu precipitate and matrix because of lattice and interface diffusion as well as slip in the interface [2,3]. Furthermore, dislocations pass through the particle after contacting it, so that the interaction with dislocations and particles should be explained by Srolovitz mechanism [4].Fig. 1.TEM images foucused on interaction with dislocations and partticles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Six new secoiridoids, named isoligustrosidic acid (I), 6′-O-trans-cinnamoyl- 8-epikingisidic acid (IIa), 6′-O-cis-cinnamoyl-8-epikingisidic acid (IIb), oleopolynuzhenide A, nuzhenal A (III) and nuzhenal B (IV) are isolated and their structures are established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]