The behavior of the cusp in various solar wind conditions

The Tenth Symposium on Polar Science/Ordinary sessions: [OS] Space and upper atmospheric sciences, Wed. 4 Dec. /Entrance Hall (1st floor) at National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR

Roles of bulk γ(L)-Bi₂MoO₆ and surface β-Bi₂Mo₂O₉ in the selective catalytic oxidation of C₃H₆

γ(L)-Bi₂MoO₆ (L: low temperature phase) catalysts, whose surface compositions have a Mo/Bi ratio above = 0.5, exhibited high selectivity in the partial oxidation of C₃H₆, while catalysts with Mo/Bi surface ratios near or below = 0.5 exhibited low selectivity. γ(L)-phase catalysts which have Mo/Bi surface ratios greater than = 0.5, were demonstrated to form β-Bi₂Mo₂O₉ on their surface. An interaction between the β- and γ(L)-phases was observed in these catalysts’ UV–vis spectra at 430 nm. The new β-phase material seems to grow along b-axis of γ(L)-phase, i.e., perpendicular to MoO₂–Bi₂O₂ layers. Structure visualizations revealed that the α-Bi₂Mo₃O₁₂, β-, and γ(H)-phases, which are selective catalysts, contain twin Mo tetrahedral structures, and that their Mo and Bi ions lie on the same plane. The pure γ(L)-phase does not contain this structure. A model for the very rapid transfer of oxygen between the γ(L)- and β-phases is discussed in relation to the kinetics of C₃H₆ oxidation.ArticleJournal of molecular catalysis. A, Chemical. 318(1-2):94-100 (2010)journal articl

潜在財務諸表 : 企業の利害関係者個々の立場からみた財務諸表いわゆる潜在財務諸表に基づく相対的な企業価値とその増減の把握(下澤洋一先生追悼号)

本研究ノートで述べる財務諸表は,会社基準に基づく財務諸表のほか,これらを時価で作成するいわゆる潜在財務諸表について利害関係者の立場の違いにより各々情報が異なることを提示している。その特徴は,三点あり,その第一はモジリアーニ・ミラーの命題を修正して,債権者の立場からみる金融負債の時価(価値)と投資家(株主)の立場からみる時価は異なることを説明している。第二は,経営者の経営能力という無形資産について経営者の持分という形で把握したことにある。第三は,これらの結果,財務諸表には一般の利害関係者が利用する会計基準に基づく財務諸表のほか,債権者のための潜在財務諸表,投資家(株主)のための潜在財務諸表,および経営者のための潜在財務諸表があること,そして,そのことは財務諸表は唯一(絶対性)のものではなく,利害関係者個々の立場により複数のものがあるということ(財務諸表の相対性)を提案する。この結果,債権者,投資家(株主)および経営者において各々,当該潜在財務諸表に基づいた意思決定を行うとの仮定をし,とるべき行動を説明している

A case of Langerhans cell sarcoma on the scalp: Whole‐exome sequencing reveals a role of ultraviolet in the pathogenesis

Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS) is a high‐grade neoplasm with overtly malignant cytological features and a Langerhans cell phenotype. The underlying genetic features are poorly understood, and only a few alterations, such as those of the MARK pathway‐related genes, CDKN2A and TP53 have been reported. Here we present a 70‐year‐old male with LCS on the scalp and pulmonary metastasis. The multinodular tumor, 3.0 cm in diameter, consisted of diffusely proliferated pleomorphic cells with numerous mitoses (53/10 HPFs). Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for CD1a, Langerin and PD‐L1, and the Ki‐67 labeling index was 50%. These pathological features were consistent with LCS, and were also observed in the metastatic tumor. Whole‐exome sequencing revealed that both the primary and metastatic tumors harbored a large number of mutations (>20 mutations/megabase), with deletion of CDKN2A and TP53 mutation, and highlighted that the mutational signature was predominantly characteristic of ultraviolet (UV) exposure (W = 0.828). Our results suggest, for the first time, that DNA damage by UV could accumulate in Langerhans cells and play a role in the pathogenesis of LCS. The high mutational burden and PD‐L1 expression in the tumor would provide a rationale for the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors for treatment of unresectable LCS

Biomarkers Predictive of Distant Disease-free Survival Derived from Diffusion-weighted Imaging of Breast Cancer

Purpose: To investigate whether intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and/or non-Gaussian diffusion parameters are associated with distant disease-free survival (DDFS) in patients with invasive breast cancer. Methods: From May 2013 to March 2015, 101 patients (mean age 60.0, range 28-88) with invasive breast cancer were evaluated prospectively. IVIM parameters (flowing blood volume fraction [ɪᴠɪᴍ] and pseudodiffusion coefficient [D*]) and non-Gaussian diffusion parameters (theoretical apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC] at a b value of 0 s/mm² [ADC₀] and kurtosis [K]) were estimated using a diffusion-weighted imaging series of 16 b values up to 2500 s/mm². Shifted ADC values (sADC₂₀₀-₁₅₀₀) and standard ADC values (ADC₀-₈₀₀) were also calculated. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to generate survival analyses for DDFS, which were compared using the log-rank test. Univariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess any associations between each parameter and distant metastasis-free survival. Results: The median observation period was 80 months (range, 35-92 months). Among the 101 patients, 12 (11.9%) developed distant metastasis, with a median time to metastasis of 79 months (range, 10-92 months). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that DDFS was significantly shorter in patients with K > 0.98 than in those with K ≤ 0.98 ( = 0.04). Cox regression analysis showed a marginal statistical association between K and distant metastasis-free survival ( = 0.05). Conclusion: Non-Gaussian diffusion may be associated with prognosis in invasive breast cancer. A higher K may be a marker to help identify patients at an elevated risk of distant metastasis, which could guide subsequent treatment

Preoperative obliteration of choroidal arteries in the treatment of large hypervascular tumors in the lateral ventricle

BACKGROUND: Removal of large hypervascular tumors in the lateral ventricle still poses a surgical challenge. These tumors are usually fed from choroidal arteries, and vascular control is typically performed late during the removal. We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of our strategy for persistent preoperative obliteration of feeders from the choroidal arteries to manage large hypervascular tumors in the lateral ventricle. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed six patients with hypervascular tumors in the lateral ventricle. We first attempted to obstruct feeders using endovascular treatment, and, if unavailable, performed initial microsurgical occlusion through the temporal horn for the staged tumor removal. RESULTS: In all patients, feeder obliteration was successfully performed; the anterior choroidal arteries were occluded by the endovascular treatment and microsurgical occlusion in one and five patients, respectively, while the lateral posterior choroidal arteries were occluded via endovascular treatment in four patients. No patients had permanent symptoms due to feeder obliteration, and tumor devascularization was achieved at the mean rate of 69.9%. During the tumor removal, the mean blood loss volume was 253 ml. No postoperative hemorrhage had occurred, and all patients scored ≤ 2 on the modified Rankin Scale at six months post-removal. CONCLUSIONS: Although further studies are warranted, persistent feeder obliteration of choroidal arteries could be an effective treatment strategy against large hypervascular tumors in the lateral ventricle

Phase Ib/II study of nivolumab combined with palliative radiation therapy for bone metastasis in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer

Radiation therapy (RT) can enhance the abscopal effect of immune checkpoint blockade. This phase I/II study investigated the efficacy and safety of nivolumab plus RT in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer requiring palliative RT for bone metastases. Cohort A included luminal-like disease, and cohort B included both luminal-like and triple-negative disease refractory to standard systemic therapy. Patients received 8 Gy single fraction RT for bone metastasis on day 0. Nivolumab was administered on day 1 for each 14-day cycle. In cohort A, endocrine therapy was administered. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR) of the unirradiated lesions. Cohorts A and B consisted of 18 and 10 patients, respectively. The ORR was 11% (90% CI 4–29%) in cohort A and 0% in cohort B. Disease control rates were 39% (90% CI 23–58%) and 0%. Median progression-free survival was 4.1 months (95% CI 2.1–6.1 months) and 2.0 months (95% CI 1.2–3.7 months). One patient in cohort B experienced a grade 3 adverse event. Palliative RT combined with nivolumab was safe and showed modest anti-tumor activity in cohort A. Further investigations to enhance the anti-tumor effect of endocrine therapy combined with RT plus immune checkpoint blockade are warranted