Uptake and retention of radio-caesium in earthworms cultured in soil contaminated by the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident

To understand the effects of radionuclides on non-human biota and the environment, it is essential to study the intake and metabolism of radio-isotopes in earthworms which are among the most important soil organisms, and Eisenia fetida, which were used in this study, are known to be sufficiently sensitive to chemicals and representative of common earthworms. In this study, we assessed the concentration ratios, uptake and retention, absorbed dose rate, and distribution of radio-caesium in earthworms. The concentration ratios of (137)Cs (i.e., the concentrations of radio-caesium in earthworms relative to those in dry soil) were higher early in the culturing period and decreased gradually over the experimental period. (137)Cs taken up by E. fetida was cleared rapidly after the worms were cultured in radio-caesium-free soil, suggesting that the metabolism of radio-caesium in earthworms is very rapid. Autoradiography demonstrated that the concentration of radio-caesium within the digestive tract was as high as that in the soil, while radio-caesium in the body tissue was lower than radio-caesium in the soil and was almost uniformly distributed among earthworm tissues. The highest absorbed dose rate of total exposure to radio-caesium ((137)Cs + (134)Cs) was calculated to be 1.9 × 10(3) (μGy/day) in the earthworms.

Culture of the green microalga Botryococcus braunii Showa with LED irradiation eliminating violet light enhances hydrocarbon production and recovery

The green microalga Botryococcus braunii (B. braunii), race B, was cultured under light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation with and without violet light. This study examined the effect of violet light on hydrocarbon recovery and production in B. braunii. C34 botryococcene hydrocarbons were efficiently extracted by thermal pretreatments at lower temperatures when the alga was cultured without violet light. The hydrocarbon content was also higher (approximately 3%) in samples cultured without violet light. To elucidate the mechanism of effective hydrocarbon recovery and production, we examined structural components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The amounts of extracellular carotenoids and water-soluble polymers extracted by thermal pretreatment from the ECM were decreased when the alga was cultured without violet light. These results indicate that LED irradiation without violet light is more effective for hydrocarbon recovery and production in B. braunii. Furthermore, structural ECM components are closely involved in hydrocarbon recovery and production in B. braunii.

ITPA genetic variants influence efficacy of PEG-IFN/RBV therapy in older patients infected with HCV genotype 1 and favourable IL28B type

Inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) genetic variants are strongly associated with ribavirin (RBV)-induced anaemia during pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus RBV therapy. However, the treatment efficacy of ITPA genetic variants has not been fully explored. We enrolled 309 individuals infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1, who were treated with PEG-IFN plus RBV for 48 weeks. The ITPA SNP: rs1127354 and IL28B SNP: rs8099917 were genotyped. We examined the risk factors for severe anaemia up to week 12 after the start of treatment and treatment efficacy. The incidence of severe anaemia, ≥ 3 g/dL reduction or <10 g/dL of haemoglobin (Hb) up to week 12, was more frequent in patients with CC at rs1127354 [65% (145/224), 33% (73/224)] than in those with CA/AA [25% (21/85), 6% (8/85)] (P < 0.0001). ITPA genotype, pretreatment Hb level and age were independent predictive factors for severe anaemia: Hb < 10 g/dL. In IL28B favourable type, the sustained virologic response rate was higher in ≥ 60-year-old patients with CA/AA than in those with CC [71% (22/31) vs 40% (26/65), P = 0.005], although there was no significant difference in treatment efficacy according to ITPA genetic variants in the <60-year-old patients. The proportion of patients administered ≥ 80% of the dosage of RBV was significantly higher in the patients with CA/AA than in those with CC (P = 0.025), resulting in a lower relapse rate. In conclusion, ITPA genetic variants were associated with severe RBV-induced anaemia and could influence the efficacy of PEG-IFN plus RBV treatment among elderly patients with IL28B favourable type.

Cold-nuclear-matter effects on heavy-quark production at forward and backward rapidity in d + Au collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV

The PHENIX experiment has measured open heavy-flavor production via semileptonic decay over the transverse momentum range 1 < p(T) < 6  GeV/c at forward and backward rapidity (1.4 < |y| < 2.0) in d+Au and p + p collisions at √sNN = 200  GeV. In central d+Au collisions, relative to the yield in p + p collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, a suppression is observed at forward rapidity (in the d-going direction) and an enhancement at backward rapidity (in the Au-going direction). Predictions using nuclear-modified-parton-distribution functions, even with additional nuclear-p(T) broadening, cannot simultaneously reproduce the data at both rapidity ranges, which implies that these models are incomplete and suggests the possible importance of final-state interactions in the asymmetric d + Au collision system. These results can be used to probe cold-nuclear-matter effects, which may significantly affect heavy-quark production, in addition to helping constrain the magnitude of charmonia-breakup effects in nuclear matter.

Azimuthal-angle dependence of charged-pion-interferometry measurements with respect to second- and third-order event planes in Au+Au collisions at √[S(NN)]=200 GeV

Charged-pion-interferometry measurements were made with respect to the second- and third-order event plane for Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. A strong azimuthal-angle dependence of the extracted Gaussian-source radii was observed with respect to both the second- and third-order event planes. The results for the second-order dependence indicate that the initial eccentricity is reduced during the medium evolution, which is consistent with previous results. In contrast, the results for the third-order dependence indicate that the initial triangular shape is significantly reduced and potentially reversed by the end of the medium evolution, and that the third-order oscillations are largely dominated by the dynamical effects from triangular flow.

Phase III placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial of radiotherapy for stage IIB-IVA cervical cancer with or without immunomodulator Z-100: a JGOG study

BACKGROUND

Based on the result of our previous study showing better overall survival (OS) at the lower dose (0.2 µg) of immunomodulator Z-100 than higher dose (40 µg) in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who received radiotherapy, we conducted a placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients of stages IIB-IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were randomly assigned to receive Z-100 at 0.2 µg (Z) or placebo (P). The study agent was given subcutaneously twice a week during the radiotherapy, followed by maintenance therapy by administering once every 2 weeks until disease progression. Primary end point was OS, and secondary end points were recurrence-free survival, and toxicity.

RESULTS

A total of 249 patients were randomized. Death events occurred extremely slower than expected, and Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended to analyze the survival result prematurely. The 5-year OS rate was 75.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 66.4% to 82.8%] for Arm Z and 65.8% (95% CI 56.2% to 73.8%) for Arm P (P = 0.07); hazard ratio was 0.65 (95% CI 0.40-1.04). Survival benefit in Arm Z was observed regardless of chemoradiation or radiation alone. There was no trend in recurrence-free survival between the two arms. Side-effects were not different between two arms.

CONCLUSION

Z-100 showed a trend of improvement on OS in locally advanced cervical cancer, although the statistical power was less than anticipated because survival rates were unexpectedly higher than expected for both arms. Validation of potential survival benefit of immune modulation should be made.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

umin.ac.jp/ctr Identifier: C000000221.

Light-induced systemic regulation of photosynthesis in primary and trifoliate leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris: effects of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) versus spectrum

The objectives of this work using Phaseolus vulgaris were to examine whether the light spectrum incident on mature primary leaves (PLs) is related to leaf-to-leaf systemic regulation of developing trifoliate leaves (TLs) in photosynthetic characteristics, and to investigate the relative importance of spectrum and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in light-induced systemic regulation. Systemic regulation was induced by altering PPFD and the spectrum of light incident on PLs using a shading treatment and lighting treatments including either white, blue, green or red light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Photosynthetic characteristics were evaluated by measuring the light-limited and light-saturated net photosynthetic rates and the amounts of nitrogen (N), chlorophyll (Chl) and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco; EC 4.1.1.39). Shading treatment on PLs decreased the amounts of N, Chl and Rubisco of TLs and tended to decrease the photosynthetic rates. However, we observed no systemic effects induced by the light spectrum on PLs in this study, except that a higher amount of Rubisco of TLs was observed when the PLs were irradiated with blue LEDs. Our results imply that photoreceptors in mature leaves have little influence on photosynthetic rates and amounts of N and Chl of developing leaves through systemic regulation, although the possibility of the action of blue light irradiation on the amount of Rubisco cannot be ruled out. Based on these results, we concluded that the light spectrum incident on mature leaves has little systemic effect on developing leaves in terms of photosynthetic characteristics and that the light-induced systemic regulation was largely accounted for by PPFD.

The proposal of subgroups for grade V on World Federation of Neurologic Surgeons grading for subarachnoid hemorrhage

AIM

Some of cases suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs) in grade V on World Federation of Neurologic Surgeons (WFNS) grading can gain a good prognosis. The outcome of patients of SAH in grade V on WFNS grading in their institute was here investigated.

METHODS

Between April 2007 and July 2012, consecutive 37 patients had SAH diagnosed on CT scan and were classified in grade V on WFNS grading in Kosei General Hospital. There were seventeen male and twenty female patients. We were assigned to patients with spontaneous respiration and without oculomotor palsy (N group, N.=11), and patients with oculomotor palsy (O group, N.=26). Patients were evaluated by mRS.

RESULTS

The prognosis in N group was significantly better than in O group (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Surgical treatments should be considered for SAH patients without oculomotor palsy. It is necessary to make subgroups in grade V on WFNS grading in order to decide operative indication and evaluate the treatment results of SAH in grade V.

Quadrupole anisotropy in dihadron azimuthal correlations in central d+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV

The PHENIX collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) reports measurements of azimuthal dihadron correlations near midrapidity in d+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV. These measurements complement recent analyses by experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) involving central p+Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV, which have indicated strong anisotropic long-range correlations in angular distributions of hadron pairs. The origin of these anisotropies is currently unknown. Various competing explanations include parton saturation and hydrodynamic flow. We observe qualitatively similar, but larger, anisotropies in d+Au collisions at RHIC compared to those seen in p+Pb collisions at the LHC. The larger extracted v2 values in d+Au are consistent with expectations from hydrodynamic calculations owing to the larger expected initial-state eccentricity compared with that from p+Pb collisions. When both are divided by an estimate of the initial-state eccentricity the scaled anisotropies follow a common trend with multiplicity that may extend to heavy ion data at RHIC and the LHC, where the anisotropies are widely thought to arise from hydrodynamic flow.

Nuclear modification of ψ', χc, and J/ψ production in d+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV

We present results for three charmonia states (ψ', χc, and J/ψ) in d+Au collisions at |y|<0.35 and sqrt[s(NN)]=200  GeV. We find that the modification of the ψ' yield relative to that of the J/ψ scales approximately with charged particle multiplicity at midrapidity across p+A, d+Au, and A+A results from the Super Proton Synchrotron and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In large-impact-parameter collisions we observe a similar suppression for the ψ' and J/ψ, while in small-impact-parameter collisions the more weakly bound ψ' is more strongly suppressed. Owing to the short time spent traversing the Au nucleus, the larger ψ' suppression in central events is not explained by an increase of the nuclear absorption owing to meson formation time effects.

Medium modification of jet fragmentation in Au+Au collisions at √[s(NN)]=200 GeV measured in direct photon-hadron correlations

The jet fragmentation function is measured with direct photon-hadron correlations in p+p and Au+Au collisions at √[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The p(T) of the photon is an excellent approximation to the initial p(T) of the jet and the ratio z(T)=p(T)(h)/p(T)(γ) is used as a proxy for the jet fragmentation function. A statistical subtraction is used to extract the direct photon-hadron yields in Au+Au collisions while a photon isolation cut is applied in p+p. I(AA), the ratio of hadron yield opposite the photon in Au+Au to that in p+p, indicates modification of the jet fragmentation function. Suppression, most likely due to energy loss in the medium, is seen at high z(T). The associated hadron yield at low z(T) is enhanced at large angles. Such a trend is expected from redistribution of the lost energy into increased production of low-momentum particles.

Molecular Orientation and Modulus of a Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Copolyester

The relationship among processing parameters, molecular orientation, and modulus of a thermotropic liquid crystalline copolyester synthesized from poly(ethylene terephthalate) and 60 mol.-% p-hydroxybenzoic acid was systematically investigated so that the dominant processing factors to result in high orientation and high modulus were elucidated. Solid filaments were prepared by shear flow in capillaries and elongational flow by spinning from the liquid crystalline phase of the copolyester at various processing conditions. Superstructure, especially molecular orientation, of the filaments was analyzed by wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and polarizing optical microscope (POM). Also, tensile modulus of the filaments was determined. Although filaments prepared by means of shear flow in capillaries had the Hermans orientation function of about 0.3, tensile modulus and morphology by SEM and POM did not exhibit the evidence of high orientation of the filaments even at high ratios of length over diameter and high shear rates. In the elongational flow by spinning, the dominant processing parameters for molecular orientation and increasing of tensile modulus are a spin-draw ratio and an initial diameter of the filament. The small diameter results in high orientation and high modulus. Enhancement of modulus was independent of the processing conditions related to a relaxation process of molecular orientation, such as spinning temperature, strain rate, and cooling. These results imply that there exists a size effect for the orientation process.