Volcanic eruptions are caused by the release of pressure that has
accumulated due to hot volcanic fluids at depth. Here, we show that the
extent of the regions affected by pressurized fluids can be ...imaged
through the measurement of their response to transient stress
perturbations. We used records of seismic noise from the Japanese Hi-net
seismic network to measure the crustal seismic velocity changes below
volcanic regions caused by the 2011 moment magnitude (Mw) 9.0
Tohoku-Oki earthquake. We interpret coseismic crustal seismic velocity
reductions as related to the mechanical weakening of the pressurized
crust by the dynamic stress associated with the seismic waves. We
suggest, therefore, that mapping seismic velocity susceptibility to
dynamic stress perturbations can be used for the imaging and
characterization of volcanic systems.
The ATLAS trial compared axitinib versus placebo in patients with locoregional renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at risk of recurrence after nephrectomy.
In a phase III, randomized, double-blind trial, ...patients had >50% clear-cell RCC, had undergone nephrectomy, and had no evidence of macroscopic residual or metastatic disease independent review committee (IRC) confirmed. The intent-to-treat population included all randomized patients ≥pT2 and/or N+, any Fuhrman grade (FG), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status 0/1. Patients (stratified by risk group/country) received (1 : 1) oral twice-daily axitinib 5 mg or placebo for ≤3 years, with a 1-year minimum unless recurrence, occurrence of second primary malignancy, significant toxicity, or consent withdrawal. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS) per IRC. A prespecified DFS analysis in the highest-risk subpopulation (pT3, FG ≥ 3 or pT4 and/or N+, any T, any FG) was conducted.
A total of 724 patients (363 versus 361, axitinib versus placebo) were randomized from 8 May 2012, to 1 July 2016. The trial was stopped due to futility at a preplanned interim analysis at 203 DFS events. There was no significant difference in DFS per IRC hazard ratio (HR) = 0.870; 95% confidence interval (CI) : 0.660–1.147; P = 0.3211). In the highest-risk subpopulation, a 36% and 27% reduction in risk of a DFS event (HR; 95% CI) was observed per investigator (0.641; 0.468–0.879; P = 0.0051), and by IRC (0.735; 0.525–1.028; P = 0.0704), respectively. Overall survival data were not mature. Similar adverse events (AEs; 99% versus 92%) and serious AEs (19% versus 14%), but more grade 3/4 AEs (61% versus 30%) were reported for axitinib versus placebo.
ATLAS did not meet its primary end point; however, improvement in DFS per investigator was seen in the highest-risk subpopulation. No new safety signals were reported.
NCT01599754
We studied the trapping of positive and negative charges in the chemical structures of polymers under a high electric field using a space charge measurement system. Positive charges accumulated in ...low-density polyethylene (LDPE), whereas positive and negative charges accumulated in polyimide (Kapton) and also in ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) subjected to electron beam irradiation. To determine the charge-trapping sites in the chemical structures, a quantum chemical calculation was carried out using Density Function Theory (DFT) with Gaussian 09. The relationship between the energy band and the isosurface of orbital electrons at various energy levels was obtained. A three-dimensional (3D) electrostatic potential distribution map was obtained for positively and negatively charged polymers to determine the relationship between a trapping site and the charge accumulation center in the 3D potential distribution map. Positive and negative charges in Kapton and ETFE films are trapped in trapping sites in chemical structures and the positive charges in an LDPE film are trapped in physical defects.
.
The
α
+ core structure is investigated in even-even Cr isotopes from the viewpoint of the local potential model. The comparison of
Q
α
/
A
values for even-even Cr isotopes and even-even
A
=
46
,
54
...,
56
,
58
isobars indicates that
46
Cr and
54
Cr are the most favorable even-even Cr isotopes for the
α
+ core configuration. The ground state bands of the two Cr isotopes are calculated through a local
α
+ core potential containing a nuclear term with (1 + Gaussian)
×
(W.S. + W.S.
3
) shape. The calculated spectra give a very good description of most experimental
46
Cr and
54
Cr levels, including the
0
+
bandheads. The reduced
α
-widths, rms intercluster separations and
B
(
E
2) transition rates are determined for the ground state bands. The calculations reproduce the order of magnitude of the available experimental
B
(
E
2) values without using effective charges, indicate that the low-spin members of the ground state bands present a stronger
α
-cluster character, and point out that the
46
Cr ground state band has a significant degree of
α
-clustering in comparison with
44
Ti . The volume integral per nucleon pair and rms radius obtained for the
α
+
50
Ti potential are consistent with those reported previously in the analysis of
α
elastic scattering on
50
Ti.
Abstract
We report on a search for electron antineutrinos (
ν
¯
e
) from astrophysical sources in the neutrino energy range 8.3–30.8 MeV with the KamLAND detector. In an exposure of 6.72 kton-year of ...the liquid scintillator, we observe 18 candidate events via the inverse beta decay reaction. Although there is a large background uncertainty from neutral current atmospheric neutrino interactions, we find no significant excess over background model predictions. Assuming several supernova relic neutrino spectra, we give upper flux limits of 60–110 cm
−2
s
−1
(90% confidence level, CL) in the analysis range and present a model-independent flux. We also set limits on the annihilation rates for light dark matter pairs to neutrino pairs. These data improve on the upper probability limit of
8
B solar neutrinos converting into
ν
¯
e
,
P
ν
e
→
ν
¯
e
<
3.5
×
10
−
5
(90% CL) assuming an undistorted
ν
¯
e
shape. This corresponds to a solar
ν
¯
e
flux of 60 cm
−2
s
−1
(90% CL) in the analysis energy range.
Summary
Bone mineral density (BMD) is less useful for evaluating fracture risk in type 2 diabetes. This study showed for the first time that combined evaluation by serum insulin-like growth factor-I ...and BMD is useful to assess the risk of vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women and men with type 2 diabetes.
Introduction
BMD is less useful for evaluating fracture risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to examine the usefulness of combined evaluation by BMD and serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to assess the risk of vertebral fracture (VF) in T2DM.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, 412 postmenopausal women and 582 men with T2DM, whose BMD, bone turnover markers, and serum IGF-I were measured, were enrolled. The association of BMD alone, serum IGF-I alone, and combined assessment by BMD and IGF-I with the presence of VF was examined.
Results
Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that IGF-I as well as BMD T-score at lumbar (L) and femoral neck (FN) were significantly associated with VF except for IGF-I in men, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the cutoff values of IGF-I, L T-score and FN T-score were 127 ng/mL, − 1.78, and − 2.02 in postmenopausal women and 127 ng/mL, − 1.67, and − 1.24 in men. Based on the cutoff vales, the subjects were divided into four categories. The category of lower IGF-I and lower T-scores had a significant increased risk of VF compared to higher IGF-I and higher T-scores both in postmenopausal women and in men. The sensitivity and specificity of the combined assessment to detect VF were better compared to using BMD alone or IGF-I alone.
Conclusions
This is the first study to show that in addition to BMD measurement, the assessment using serum IGF-I is useful to estimate the prevalence of VF in patients with T2DM.
Aim
Recently, the accessory middle colic artery (AMCA) has been recognized as the vessel that supplies blood to the splenic flexure. However, the positional relationship between the AMCA and inferior ...mesenteric vein (IMV) has not been evaluated. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the anatomy of the AMCA and the splenic flexure vein (SFV).
Method
Two hundred and five patients with colorectal cancer who underwent enhanced CT preoperatively were enrolled in the present study. The locations of the AMCA and IMV were evaluated, focusing on the positional relationship between the vessels and pancreas – below the pancreas or to the dorsal side of the pancreas.
Results
The AMCA was observed in 74 (36.1%) patients whereas the SFV was found in 177 (86.3%) patients. The left colic artery (LCA) was the major artery accompanying the SFV in 87 (42.4%) of patients. The AMCA accompanied the SFV in 65 (32.7%) patients. In 15 (7.8%) patients, no artery accompanied the SFV. The origin of the AMCA was located on the dorsal side of the pancreas in 15 (20.3%) of these 74 patients. Similarly, the destination of the IMV was located on the dorsal side of the pancreas in 65 (31.7%) of patients.
Conclusion
The SFV was observed in most patients, and the LCA or AMCA was the common accompanying artery. In some patients these vessels were located on the dorsal side of the pancreas and not below it. Preoperative evaluation of this anatomy may be beneficial for lymph node dissection during left‐sided hemicolectomy.
The empirical Green’s function (EGF) method is used to simulate the 2004 Parkfield earthquake (
M
w
= 6.1). The strong motion generation areas (SMGA) are estimated to reproduce near-source ground ...motions in a broadband frequency range of 0.25–10 Hz. In this simulation, the EGF uses the small events that occurred in 2005 (
M
w
= 4.5), 2012 (
M
w
= 4.4), 2010 (
M
w
= 4), and 2007 (
M
w
= 4). The source spectral ratio estimates the seismic moment ratio between large and small events whose corner frequencies obey the omega-squared scaling law. The estimated SMGA is 12 km in length by 8 km in width and is located near the large slip area of the waveform inversion. The result shows that the rupture propagates radially from the southeastern bottom part of the SMGA toward the northwestern shallow direction. In addition, a characterized source model comprising two asperities and a background slip area is proposed. The rupture propagates from asperity1 toward asperity2 with 2 s time delay. The characterized source model simulates more accurately than the single SMGA. The comparison between the 5% damped pseudo acceleration response spectra of our simulations verifies a better compatibility for more than 2 Hz.
The objective of this study was to characterise the mechanism underlying acquired resistance to temsirolimus, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
A ...parental human RCC cell line, ACHN (ACHN/P), was continuously exposed to increasing doses of up to 20 μM of temsirolimus, and a cell line resistant to temsirolimus (ACHN/R), showing a sixfold higher IC50 than that of ACHN/P, was developed.
Following treatment with temsirolimus, phosphorylation of S6 kinase in ACHN/P was markedly inhibited, whereas there was no detectable expression of phosphorylated S6 in ACHN/R before and after temsirolimus treatment. However, AKT and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were constitutively phosphorylated even after temsirolimus treatment in ACHN/R, but not in ACHN/P. There was no significant difference between the sensitivities of ACHN/P and ACHN/R to KU0063794, a dual inhibitor of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2. Similar sensitivities to temsirolimus in ACHN/P and ACHN/R could be achieved by additional treatment with specific inhibitors of AKT- and MAPK-signaling pathways.
The activation of signal transduction pathways via mTORC2, but not via mTORC1, may have an important role in the acquisition of a resistant phenotype to temsirolimus in RCC.
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