Does the Varian Mechanism Work? -Emissions Trading as an Example

This paper investigates whether Varian's (1994) compensation mechanism can work in a laboratory. The results show that this mechanism does not work as in the theory. We found that the magnitude of penalties crucially affects subjects' behavior.

Subtype and targeted therapy for TNBC

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogenous disease. For personalized medicine, it is essential to identify and classify tumor subtypes to develop effective therapeutic strategies. Although gene expression profiling has identified several TNBC subtypes, classification of these tumors remains complex. Most TNBCs exhibit an aggressive phenotype, but some rare types have a favorable clinical course. In this review, we summarize the classification and characteristics related to the various TNBC subtypes, including the rare types. Therapeutic methods that are suitable for each subtype are also discussed. Of the intrinsic breast cancer subtypes identified by gene expression analysis, the basal-like subtype specifically displayed decreased expression of an estrogen receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) cluster. We also present results that characterize the TNBC and basal-like phenotypes. TNBC may be categorized into four major classes : basal-like, immune-enriched, mesenchymal, and luminal androgen receptor. Therapeutic strategies for each subtype have been proposed along with newly approved targeted therapies for TNBC, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Understanding the classification of TNBC based on gene expression profiling in association with clinicopathological factors will facilitate accurate pathological diagnosis and effective treatment selection

Analysis of the Prognostic Factors of Extensive Disease Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients in Tokushima University Hospital

Background : Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) presents aggressive clinical behavior, and its prognosis is still poor. Previously, performance status (PS), or the existence of brain, bone, or liver metastasis were reported to be unfavorable prognostic factors. Given the recent progress of treatment modalities such as radiotherapy techniques and bone modifying agents, the prognostic factors might be different from previous findings. Therefore, we analyzed the prognostic factors of extensive disease SCLC (ED-SCLC) in recent years. Methods : ED-SCLC patients treated in Tokushima University Hospital between 2010 and 2016 were analyzed. Log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards regression model was used in univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively. Results : Totally, 79 patients were analyzed. In the univariate analysis, age, PS, interstitial pneumonia (IP), liver metastasis, pleural dissemination, neutrophil counts, hypoalbuminemia, hypercalcemia and several liver and biliary enzymes were identified as poor prognostic factors. In the multivariate analysis, age, PS, IP, and liver and biliary enzymes were identified. Moreover, the PS in patients with liver metastasis was significantly worsened. Conclusions : In this study, we newly demonstrated that IP was a significant poor prognostic factor of ED-SCLC. Although liver metastasis was not extracted in multivariate analysis, it may have an impact on the prognosis of ED-SCLC

Detection of viral RNA in diverse body fluids in an SFTS patient with encephalopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding and pneumonia: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease that commonly has a lethal course caused by the tick-borne Huaiyangshan banyang virus [former SFTS virus (SFTSV)]. The viral load in various body fluids in SFTS patients and the best infection control measure for SFTS patients have not been fully established. CASE PRESENTATION: A 79-year-old man was bitten by a tick while working in the bamboo grove in Nagasaki Prefecture in the southwest part of Japan. Due to the occurrence of impaired consciousness, he was referred to Nagasaki University Hospital for treatment. The serum sample tested positive for SFTSV-RNA in the genome amplification assay, and he was diagnosed with SFTS. Furthermore, SFTSV-RNA was detected from the tick that had bitten the patient. He was treated with multimodal therapy, including platelet transfusion, antimicrobials, antifungals, steroids, and continuous hemodiafiltration. His respiration was assisted with mechanical ventilation. On day 5, taking the day on which he was hospitalized as day 0, serum SFTSV-RNA levels reached a peak and then decreased. However, the cerebrospinal fluid collected on day 13 was positive for SFTSV-RNA. In addition, although serum SFTSV-RNA levels decreased below the detectable level on day 16, he was diagnosed with pneumonia with computed tomography. SFTSV-RNA was detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid on day 21. By day 31, he recovered consciousness completely. The pneumonia improved by day 51, but SFTSV-RNA in the sputum remained positive for approximately 4 months after disease onset. Strict countermeasures against droplet/contact infection were continuously conducted. CONCLUSIONS: Even when SFTSV genome levels become undetectable in the serum of SFTS patients in the convalescent phase, the virus genome remains in body fluids and tissues. It may be possible that body fluids such as respiratory excretions become a source of infection to others; thus, careful infection control management is needed

多剤耐性カンジダおよび細菌に対するカスポファンギンの新たな抗微生物活性

長崎大学学位論文 [学位記番号]博（医歯薬）甲第1326号 [学位授与年月日]令和3年3月22

Current status of space gravitational wave antenna DECIGO and B-DECIGO

Deci-hertz Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (DECIGO) is the future Japanese space mission with a frequency band of 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz. DECIGO aims at the detection of primordial gravitational waves, which could be produced during the inflationary period right after the birth of the universe. There are many other scientific objectives of DECIGO, including the direct measurement of the acceleration of the expansion of the universe, and reliable and accurate predictions of the timing and locations of neutron star/black hole binary coalescences. DECIGO consists of four clusters of observatories placed in the heliocentric orbit. Each cluster consists of three spacecraft, which form three Fabry-Perot Michelson interferometers with an arm length of 1,000 km. Three clusters of DECIGO will be placed far from each other, and the fourth cluster will be placed in the same position as one of the three clusters to obtain the correlation signals for the detection of the primordial gravitational waves. We plan to launch B-DECIGO, which is a scientific pathfinder of DECIGO, before DECIGO in the 2030s to demonstrate the technologies required for DECIGO, as well as to obtain fruitful scientific results to further expand the multi-messenger astronomy.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure