Structural characterization of the Fddd phase in a diblock copolymer thin film by electron microtomography

A 3-dimensional Fddd network structure of a polystyrene-block-polyisoprene (PS-b-PI) diblock copolymer (M(n) = 31 500, f(PI) = 0.645) was observed for the first time in real space by transmission electron microtomography (TEMT). In a 650 nm thick film of the PS-b-PI thin film on a silicon wafer, the Fddd phase was developed after annealing at 215 degrees C for 24 h. The single network structure consists of the connected tripodal units of minor PS block domains. The {111}(Fddd) plane, the densest plane of the minor PS phase, was found to orient parallel to the film plane. The transitional structure from the wetting layer at the free surface to the internal {111}(Fddd) plane via a perforated layer structure was also observed.X111313sciescopu

Investigation of environmental change pattern in Japan

The author has identified the following significant results. A detailed land use classification for a large urban area of Tokyo was made using MSS digital data. It was found that residential, commercial, industrial, and wooded areas and grasslands can be successfully classified. A mesoscale vortex associated with large ocean current, Kuroshio, which is a rare phenomenon, was recognized visually through the analysis of MSS data. It was found that this vortex affects the effluent patterns of rivers. Lava flowing from Sakurajima Volcano was clearly classified for three major erruptions (1779, 1914, and 1946) using MSS data

Effects of fertility education on knowledge, desires and anxiety among the reproductive-aged population: findings from a randomized controlled trial

STUDY QUESTION What are the effects of fertility education on knowledge, childbearing desires and anxiety? SUMMARY ANSWER Providing fertility information contributed to greater knowledge, but increased anxiety. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Past studies have found that exposure to educational material improved fertility awareness and changed desires toward childbearing and its timing. Existing educational websites with evidence-based medical information provided in a non-judgmental manner have received favorable responses from reproductive-aged men and women. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This three-armed (one intervention and two control groups), randomized controlled trial was conducted using online social research panels (SRPs) in Japan in January 2015. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS A total of 1455 participants (726 men and 729 women) between 20 and 39 years of age who hoped to have (more) children in the future were block-randomized and exposed to one of three information brochures: fertility education (intervention group), intake of folic acid during pregnancy (control group 1) or governmental financial support for pregnancy and childbirth (control group 2). Fertility knowledge was measured with the Japanese version of the Cardiff Fertility Knowledge Scale (CFKS-J). Knowledge, child-number and child-timing desires, subjective anxiety (i.e. whether participants felt anxiety [primary outcome]), and scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were assessed immediately after exposure. Non-inferiority comparisons were performed on subjective anxiety with non-inferiority declared if the upper limit of the two-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) for risk difference did not exceed a margin of 0.15. This test for non-inferiority was only performed for subjective anxiety; all the other variables were tests of superiority. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Posttest scores on the CFKS-J (mean, SD) were higher in the intervention group than that of the control groups: intervention versus Control 1 and versus Control 2: 52.8 (28.8) versus 40.9 (26.2) (P< 0.001) versus 45.1 (27.1) (P = 0.003) among men and 64.6 (26.0) versus 50.8 (26.9) (P< 0.001) versus 53.0 (26.4) (P< 0.001) among women. The percentage of participants who felt subjective anxiety after exposure to the intervention brochure was significantly higher than that of the control groups: intervention versus Control 1 and versus Control 2: 32.6 versus 17.8% (risk difference [RD] = 0.149, 95% CI: 0.073–0.225) versus 14.5% (RD = 0.182, 95% CI: 0.108–0.256) among men, and 50.2 versus 26.3% (RD = 0.239, 95% CI: 0.155–0.322) versus 14.0% (RD = 0.362, 95% CI: 0.286–0.439) among women. Non-inferiority of the intervention was inconclusive (i.e. the CI included 0.15) among men whereas inferiority was declared among women. The incidence of anxiety was higher in the intervention group than that of the control groups especially among men aged 30 and older and among women aged 25 and older. No difference existed in childbearing desires between groups after exposure. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The possibility of selection bias associated with the use of SRPs (higher socioeconomic status and education) and volunteer bias toward those more interested in fertility may limit the generalizability of these findings. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS In addition to education targeting a younger generation, psychological approaches are needed to alleviate possible anxiety caused by fertility information. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by National Center for Child Health and Development, Seiiku Medical Study Grant (24-6), the Daiwa Foundation Small Grants and Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows (26-1591). No competing interest declared. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER UMIN Clinical Trials Registry. Trial registration number, 000016168. TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE 13 January 2015. DATE OF FIRST PATIENT'S ENROLMENT 15 January 2015

Detecção de Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli e fungos em sementes de feijão produzidas no Estado de São Paulo.

Foi pesquisada a presença de Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli e de fungos em sementes certificadas de feijão produzidas pela Secretaria da Agricultura do Estado de São Paulo nas safras da seca e inverno de 1991 e 1993. A bactéria foi detectada através do método de inoculação em planta indicadora de feijoeiro da cultivar CNF 0010. A incidência de fungos foi determinada pelo método do papel de filtro. Quanto a bactéria, foram examinadas amostras de 188 lotes em 1991 e 124 em 1993. Para os fungos foram analisadas amostras de 147 lotes no ano de 1991. Em 1991, a bacteria foi detectada somente nas amostras de Aracatuba (16,7%), Paraguacu Paulista (18,2%) e Sao Jose do Rio Preto (4%) com incidental mínima de (0,5%). No ano de 1993, X. camperstris pv. phaseoli foi encontrada nas amostras de Araçatuba (6,3%), Bauru (20%), Fernandópolis (12,7%), Lucelia (33,3%), Marilia (12,5%), Paraguacu Paulista (50,0%), Presidente Prudente (46,7%), Ribeirao Preto (16,7%), Santo Anastacio (66,7%), Sao José do Rio Preto (40,0%). Em 1991, a bactéria foi detectada em apenas 5,3% das amostras analisadas, ocorrendo em 1993 um aumento da incidência do patogeno, que foi detectado em 30,6% das amostras, provavelmente devido as condicoes climaticas favoraveis ao crestamento bacteriano. Foram encontrados os fungos Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Phaeoisariopsis griseola e Alternaria spp.. As regiões de Aguaí, Aracatuba, Avaré e Lucélia apresentaram maior incidência destes fungos. Entre as 147 amostras analisadas, R. solani foi detectada em Araçatuba em 28,6% das amostras, Bauru (50,0%), Fernadópolis (8,7%), Lucélia (27,0%) e Marília (7,5%) e C. lindemuthianum em Araçatuba (3,3%), Avaré (25,0%) e Lucélia(5,5%). Os demais fungos foram detectados em baixas incidências podendo-se concluir que com relação a presença de fungos, os lotes analisados apresentaram boa qualidade sanitária. Os resultados mostraram que houve alta contaminação das sementes por X. campestris pv. phaseoli em 1993, o que ocorreu aumento do inoculo nas sementes de 1991 para 1993, destacando-se os municípios P. Paulista, S. José da Rio Preto, Santo Anastácio e Presidente Prudente como os que apresentam maior infecção das sementes

Successful treatment of Trichosporon fungemia in a patient with refractory acute myeloid leukemia using voriconazole combined with liposomal amphotericin B

Trichosporon fungemia is a rare and fatal fungal infection that occurs in patients with prolonged neutropenia associated with hematologic malignancies. A 21-year-old male developed Trichosporon fungemia during remission induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although two courses of induction therapy failed to induce a remission of AML, combination therapy with voriconazole and liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) followed by monocyte colony-stimulating factor ameliorated the Trichosporon fungemia and enabled the patient to receive reduced-intensity bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from his human leukocyte antigen-A one-locus mismatched mother. The patient achieved a durable remission after BMT without exacerbation of Trichosporon fungemia. The combination therapy with voriconazole and L-AmB may therefore be useful in controlling Trichosporon fungemia associated with prolonged neutropenia after remission induction therapy for AML

Serum carotenoids and vitamins and risk of cervical dysplasia from a case–control study in Japan

The relationships between risk of cervical dysplasia and dietary and serum carotenoids and vitamins were investigated in a case–control study. Cases were 156 women who attended Papanicolaou test screening in nine institutes affiliated with Japan Study Group of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer and had cervical dysplasia newly histologically confirmed. Age-matched controls were selected from women with normal cervical cytology attending the same clinic. Blood sample and cervical exfoliated cells were obtained for measuring serum retinol, α-carotene, β-carotene, zeaxanthin/lutein, cryptoxanthin, lycopene and α-tocopherol and for HPV detection. Higher serum level of α-carotene was significantly associated with decreased risk of cervical dysplasia after controlling for HPV infection and smoking status (odds ratio (OR) = 0.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04–0.62 for the highest as compared with the lowest tertile). Decreased risk for the highest tertile of serum lycopene (OR = 0.28) was marginally significant. Decreased risks observed for the highest tertiles of β-carotene (OR = 0.65) and zeaxanthin/lutein (OR = 0.53), were not statistically significant. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Ultraconserved Elements in the Olig2 Promoter

. basal promoter and found that it represses expression in undifferentiated embryonic stem cells. expression during development