Measurement of Longitudinal Spin Asymmetries From W→eW\rightarrow e Boson Decay in Polarized pp Collisions at s=500\sqrt{s}=500 GeV at RHIC-PHENIX

We report the measurement of the parity violating single spin asymmetries for inclusive high transverse momentum electrons and positrons in polarized $p+p$ collisions at a center of mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=500$ GeV with the PHENIX detector at RHIC. These electrons are attributed to the decay of $W^\pm$ and $Z^0$ bosons, and measured production cross section is consistent with the expectations. The $W$ production is confirmed for the first time in $p+p$ collisions. Its spin asymmetry in the polarized $p+p$ collisions is a important probe for the quark flavor decomposition of the proton spin.Comment: Proceedings for SPIN 2010 Conference, Juelich, Germany, September 27 - October 2, 201

Variational Bayesian Inference for the Polytomous-Attribute Saturated Diagnostic Classification Model with Parallel Computing

As a statistical tool to assist formative assessments in educational settings, diagnostic classification models (DCMs) have been increasingly used to provide diagnostic information regarding examinees' attributes. DCMs often adopt dichotomous division such as mastery and non-mastery of attributes to express mastery states of attributes. However, many practical settings involve different levels of mastery states rather than a simple dichotomy in a single attribute. Although this practical demand can be addressed by polytomous-attribute DCMs, their computational cost in a Markov chain Monte Carlo estimation impedes their large-scale applications due to the larger number of polytomous-attribute mastery patterns than that of binary-attribute ones. This study considers a scalable Bayesian estimation method for polytomous-attribute DCMs and developed a variational Bayesian (VB) algorithm for a polytomous-attribute saturated DCM -- a generalization of polytomous-attribute DCMs -- by building on the existing literature in VB for binary-attribute DCMs and polytomous-attribute DCMs. Furthermore, we proposed the configuration of parallel computing for the proposed VB algorithm to achieve better computational efficiency. Monte Carlo simulations revealed that our method exhibited the high performance in parameter recovery under a wide range of conditions. An empirical example is used to demonstrate the utility of our method

Evaluation of APSIM-wheat to simulate the response of yield and grain protein content to nitrogen application on an Andosol in Japan

The self-sufficiency ratio and national average yield of wheat are low in Japan. Reducing the yield gap and receiving the government subsidy for grain quality are vital strategies for profitability. Elucidating optimum nitrogen application scheme is awaited to attain both higher yield and appropriate grain protein content (GPC) for wheat cultivation in Japan. Such decision support can be realized by integrating field experimental knowledge to crop growth models, although they have scarcely been utilized for wheat production in Japan. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to apply a widely used crop growth model (APSIM) to wheat growth on an Andosol in the Kanto region in Japan by calibration and validation. Selected model parameters of APSIM-wheat for phenology, leaf growth, and grain formation were readjusted based on the phenology and growth data of soft and hard wheat cultivars. Then the model was validated by using similar variables obtained in an independent experiment. For the simulation of the optimum sowing for winter wheat in the Kanto area (November), the root mean square error for grain yield was 23 and 48 g m−2 for Ayahikari and Yumeshiho varieties, respectively, and that for GPC was 1.9 and 1.4%. Thus, the overall model performance was acceptable for optimum sowing. However, grain yield and dry matter production were significantly overestimated when the data of late sowing groups were included. Therefore, further model improvement was suggested to add an algorithm to reduce the number of emerged plants under cold temperature in late sowing conditions

Single-incision laparoscopic-assisted surgery for colon cancer via a periumbilical approach using a surgical glove: Initial experience with 9 cases

AbstractOur initial experience of performing a single-incision laparoscopic-assisted (SILS) colectomy using a “home-made” multichannel port system is presented. Nine patients (5 women) with a median age of 67 years (range, 55–72 years) and a median body mass index of 21.2kg/m2 (range, 17.8–26.7kg/m2) underwent the SILS colectomy for colon cancer between September 2009 and March 2010. The sites of the primary tumor were the ascending colon (n=2), hepatic flexure (n=1), transverse colon (n=2), and sigmoid colon (n=4). Each trocar was introduced intraperitoneally through each finger of a surgical glove attached to the wound protector, which was applied to a midline fasciotomy made via a ¾-circular periumbilical incision. If necessary, one to three radial splits were added to the incision. The colon was mobilized intracorporeally, and the vessels were ligated intra- or extracorporeally. All the patients underwent a curative segmental colectomy without conversion to a standard multiport laparoscopy or open surgery. The median operative time and blood loss were 140min (range, 135–165min) and 50mL (range, 20–225mL), respectively. The median number of harvested lymph nodes was 18 (range, 6–31). The pathological stages included stage 0 (n=2), stage I (n=6), and stage III (n=1). The median number of postoperative analgesic use was one (range, 0–6). No intra- or postoperative complications occurred in this series. Our SILS colectomy procedure seems feasible and safe in selected patients with colon cancer

LAMC2 as a predictive biomarker in PDAC

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies. While the extracellular matrix (ECM) components plays an integral role in PDAC pathogenesis and mediating chemoresistance, its role in predicting response to chemotherapy in PDAC patients remains unclear. METHODS: We performed a systematic biomarker discovery by analyzing genomewide transcriptomic profiling data from 423 patients (GSE71729, GSE21501 and TCGA) for predicting overall survival (OS). This was subsequently validated in two independent clinical cohorts of 270 PDAC patients (training cohort; n=121 and validation cohort; n=149). In addition, we investigated EUS-FNA biopsy specimens from 51 PDAC patients with an unresectable cancer for predicting therapeutic response to gemcitabine-based therapy. RESULTS: Following rigorous bioinformatic analysis, we identified LAMC2 to be a significant prognostic factor in all three PDAC datasets (GSE71729, HR=2.04, P=0.002; GSE21501, HR=2.17, P=0.031; TCGA, HR=2.57, P<0.001). High LAMC2 expression in PDAC patients associated with a significantly poor OS and relapse-free survival (RFS) in both training (P<0.001, P<0.001) and validation cohorts (P=0.001, P=0.003). More importantly, LAMC2 expression robustly identified PDAC patients with unresectable disease and those who responded to gemcitabine-based therapy (AUC= 0.79; 95%CI, 0.65-0.89). The univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that high LAMC2 expression was the only factor that predicted poor response to gemcitabine in PDAC patients (Odds Ratio [OR]=4.90; 95% CI, 1.45-16.6; P=0.011). CONCLUSION: We conclude that LAMC2 is a novel prognostic and predictive biomarker for gemcitabine-based therapy in both adjuvant and palliative setting; which could have significant impact in precision and individualized treatment of PDAC patients

Distal gastrectomy via minilaparotomy for non-overweight patients with T1N0-1 gastric cancer: Initial experience of 30 cases

AbstractMinilaparotomy is considered to be a useful treatment alternative to laparoscopic-assisted surgery from the viewpoint of minimal invasiveness, although it has several limitations for the resection of malignant tumors. We evaluated the usefulness of distal gastrectomy via minilaparotomy for non-overweight patients with clinically diagnosed T1N0-1 gastric cancer. Clinicopathological and surgical data on 30 patients attempted to undergo distal gastrectomy via minilaparotomy (skin incision, ≤7cm) without laparoscopic assistance were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were clinically (preoperatively) diagnosed T1N0-1 gastric cancer that was not suitable for endoscopic mucosal resection located in the middle- or lower-third of the stomach and the patient body mass index ≤ 25.0 kg/m2. The minilaparotomy approach was successful in 27 patients (90%), while laparoscopic assistance was required to accomplish the procedures in three patients (10%). The type of lymph node dissection was D1 + α in 23 patients and D1 + β in 7 patients. The duration of surgery was 105–170 min (median, 143.5 min) and blood loss was 25–520 mL (median, 152.5 mL). Pathological stage was stage IA in 26 patients, IB in two patients, and stage II in two patients. Postoperative complications were wound infection in one patient, bleeding in one patient, and anastomotic ulcer in one patient. The length of postoperative stay was 7–41 (median, 11) days. With a median follow-up of 31 months, there was no recurrence. Distal gastrectomy via minilaparotomy seems feasible and safe in the majority of non-overweight patients with clinically diagnosed T1N0 gastric cancer

Dehydrocostus lactone, a naturally occurring polar auxin transport inhibitor, inhibits epicotyl growth by interacting with auxin in etiolated Pisum sativum seedlings

We have isolated germacranolide-type sesquiterpene lactones with an α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety, dehydrocostus lactone (DHCL), costunolide, santamarine, and a novel compound denoted artabolide [3-hydroxy-4,6,7(H)-germacra-1(10),11(13)-dien-6,12-olide] from oriental medicinal Asteraceae plants as novel naturally occurring inhibitors of polar auxin transport detected by the radish hypocotyl bioassay. To investigate the mode of action of natural sesquiterpene lactones on the inhibition of polar auxin transport as well as its relation to the growth of seedlings, the function of DHCL on growth and auxin dynamics in etiolated pea seedlings was studied intensively. DHCL reduced polar auxin transport in a dose-dependent manner together with the inhibition of the accumulation of mRNA of PsAUX1 and PsPIN1 genes encoding influx and efflux carrier proteins of auxin, respectively. DHCL applied to the apical hook region as a lanolin paste substantially inhibited elongation growth in the subapical region of epicotyls in intact etiolated pea seedlings, coupled with a significant reduction of endogenous levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). DHCL also revealed the inhibition of IAA-induced cell elongation in etiolated pea epicotyl segments by affecting IAA-induced changes in the mechanical properties of cell walls. These facts suggest that germacranolide-type sesquiterpene lactones with an α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety affect the expression of PsAUX1 and PsPINs genes, and then inhibit polar auxin transport and reduce endogenous levels of IAA necessary for stem growth in etiolated pea seedlings. These compounds are also suggested to show the inhibitory effects on auxin action in pea stem growth