Impact of neoadjuvant intensity-modulated radiation therapy on borderline resectable pancreatic cancer with arterial abutment; a prospective, open-label, phase II study in a single institution

BACKGROUND: Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) is a category of pancreatic cancer that is anatomically widely spread, and curative resection is uncommon with upfront surgery. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a form of radiation therapy that delivers precise radiation to a tumor while minimizing the dose to surrounding normal tissues. Here, we conducted a phase 2 study to estimate the curability and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using IMRT (NACIMRT) for patients with BRPC with arterial abutment (BRPC-A). METHODS: A total of 49 BRPC-A patients were enrolled in this study and were treated at our hospital according to the study protocol between June 2013 and March 2021. The primary endpoint was microscopically margin-negative resection (R0) rates and we subsequently analyzed safety, histological effect of the treatment as well as survivals among patients with NACIMRT. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (59.2%) received pancreatectomy after NACIMRT. The R0 rate in resection patients was 93.1% and that in the whole cohort was 55.1%. No mortality was encountered. Local therapeutic effects as assessed by Evans classification showed good therapeutic effect (Grade 1, 3.4%; Grade 2a, 31.0%; Grade 2b, 48.3%; Grade 3, 3.4%; Grade 4, 3.4%). Median disease-free survival was 15.5 months. Median overall survival in the whole cohort was 35.1 months. The only independent prognostic pre-NACIMRT factor identified was serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) > 400 U/ml before NACIMRT. CONCLUSIONS: NACIMRT showed preferable outcome without significant operative morbidity for BRPC-A patients. NACIMRT contributes to good local tumor control, but a high initial serum CA19-9 implies poor prognosis even after neoadjuvant treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR Clinical Trial: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000011776 Registration number: UMIN000010113. Date of first registration: 01/03/2013

First demonstration of single-mode MCF transport network with crosstalk-aware in-service optical channel control

Multicore fiber (MCF) transmission is considered as one of the promising technologies for breaking the capacity limit of traditional single mode fibers (SMFs). Managing the XT and configuring optical paths adaptively based on the XT are important as well as achieving longer-distance and larger-capacity transmission, because inter-core crosstalk (XT) could be the main limiting factor for MCF transmission. In a real MCF network, the inter-core XT in a particular core is likely to change continuously as the optical paths in the adjacent cores are dynamically assigned to match the dynamic nature of the data traffic. If we configure the optical paths while ignoring the inter-core XT value, the Q-factors may become excessive. Therefore, monitoring the inter-core XT value continuously and configuring optical path parameters adaptively and flexibly are essential. To address these challenges, we develop an MCF transport network testbed and demonstrate an XT-aware traffic engineering scenario. With the help of a software-defined network (SDN) controller, the modulation format and optical path route are adaptively changed based on the monitored XT values by using programmable devices such as a real-time transponder and a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM)

EVALUATION OF SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCY ON RECYCLING OF CONSTRUCTION SLUDGES AS GROUND MATERIALS

我が国では環境意識の高まりから廃棄物リサイクルが推進されているものの，リサイクルにはコストを要するため，その市場性が問われている．一方，廃棄物リサイクルを実施する本質は環境負荷の削減である．本研究では直接コストに加え，環境負荷を環境コストとして内部化することで，廃棄物リサイクルを社会的に評価する社会環境効率性評価手法を検討・試作する．具体的に，廃棄物リサイクルには様々な不確実要素が絡み合っているため，感度分析およびモンテカルロシミュレーションを用いることで不確実性をも考慮した社会環境効率性評価を実施した．その結果，特に再資源化等率の低い建設汚泥に着目したところ，建設汚泥のリサイクルの社会環境的な有意性を定量的に評価することができた

EVALUATION OF SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCY ON RECYCLING OF CONSTRUCTION SLUDGES AS GROUND MATERIALS

我が国では環境意識の高まりから廃棄物リサイクルが推進されているものの，リサイクルにはコストを要するため，その市場性が問われている．一方，廃棄物リサイクルを実施する本質は環境負荷の削減である．本研究では直接コストに加え，環境負荷を環境コストとして内部化することで，廃棄物リサイクルを社会的に評価する社会環境効率性評価手法を検討・試作する．具体的に，廃棄物リサイクルには様々な不確実要素が絡み合っているため，感度分析およびモンテカルロシミュレーションを用いることで不確実性をも考慮した社会環境効率性評価を実施した．その結果，特に再資源化等率の低い建設汚泥に着目したところ，建設汚泥のリサイクルの社会環境的な有意性を定量的に評価することができた

Aurora B but Not Rho/MLCK Signaling Is Required for Localization of Diphosphorylated Myosin II Regulatory Light Chain to the Midzone in Cytokinesis

<div><p>Non-muscle myosin II is stimulated by monophosphorylation of its regulatory light chain (MRLC) at Ser19 (1P-MRLC). MRLC diphosphorylation at Thr18/Ser19 (2P-MRLC) further enhances the ATPase activity of myosin II. Phosphorylated MRLCs localize to the contractile ring and regulate cytokinesis as subunits of activated myosin II. Recently, we reported that 2P-MRLC, but not 1P-MRLC, localizes to the midzone independently of myosin II heavy chain during cytokinesis in cultured mammalian cells. However, the mechanism underlying the distinct localization of 1P- and 2P-MRLC during cytokinesis is unknown. Here, we showed that depletion of the Rho signaling proteins MKLP1, MgcRacGAP, or ECT2 inhibited the localization of 1P-MRLC to the contractile ring but not the localization of 2P-MRLC to the midzone. In contrast, depleting or inhibiting a midzone-localizing kinase, Aurora B, perturbed the localization of 2P-MRLC to the midzone but not the localization of 1P-MRLC to the contractile ring. We did not observe any change in the localization of phosphorylated MRLC in myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK)-inhibited cells. Furrow regression was observed in Aurora B- and 2P-MRLC-inhibited cells but not in 1P-MRLC-perturbed dividing cells. Furthermore, Aurora B bound to 2P-MRLC <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. These results suggest that Aurora B, but not Rho/MLCK signaling, is essential for the localization of 2P-MRLC to the midzone in dividing HeLa cells.</p></div

Rho signaling is not required for the localization of 2P-MRLC to the midzone.

<p>(A) Western blots for the detection of MKLP1, MgcRacGAP, and ECT2. HeLa cells were transfected with siRNA targeting luciferase, MKLP1, MgcRacGAP, or ECT2, respectively. Loading control: α-tubulin. (B) HeLa cells treated with luciferase, MKLP1, MgcRacGAP, or ECT2 siRNAs were fixed and immunostained with pLC1. Bar, 10 µm. (C) Quantitative analysis of 1P-MRLC fluorescence at the contractile ring in cells depleted of luciferase, MKLP1, MgcRacGAP, or ECT2. The averages of at least 2 independent experiments are shown. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean (±SEM). *p<0.05, **p<0.01 (<i>t</i>-test). <i>n</i> ≥15. (D) HeLa cells treated with luciferase, MKLP1, MgcRacGAP, or ECT2 siRNAs were fixed and immunostained as indicated. (E) Quantitative analysis of 2P-MRLC fluorescence at the midzone in cells depleted of luciferase, MKLP1, MgcRacGAP, or ECT2. Error bars indicate ±SEM. (F) HeLa cells treated with 10 µM Y-27632 or 10 µM ML-7 for 30 min were fixed and immunostained with CS1P pAb or 4F12. Bar, 10 µm. (G) Quantitative analysis of 1P-MRLC fluorescence at the contractile ring in cells treated as indicated. Representative data from 2 independent experiments are shown. **p<0.01 (<i>t</i>-test). <i>n</i> ≥11. (H) Quantitative analysis of 2P-MRLC fluorescence at the midzone (white bar) or contractile ring (black bar) in cells treated as indicated. Representative data from 2 independent experiments are shown. **p<0.01 (<i>t</i>-test). <i>n</i> ≥17.</p

Aurora B and Rho signaling proteins are independent regulators of the localization of F-actin to the contractile ring.

<p>HeLa cells treated with siRNAs targeting luciferase, Aurora B (A), MKLP1 (B), MgcRacGAP (C), or ECT2 (D) were fixed and immunostained as indicated. Bar, 10 µm. (E) Quantitative analysis of F-actin fluorescence at the contractile ring in cells treated as indicated. All values are presented as a percentage of the control. Error bars indicate ± SEM. *, p<0.05 (<i>t</i>-test). <i>n</i> ≥20.</p