Remote and Feedback Control of the Flap Angle in a Wind Tunnel Test Model by Optical Measurement

We have developed a remote and precise feedback control system using optical measurement technology to alter the angle of a flap, which is part of a wind tunnel test model, automatically and to earn the aerodynamic data efficiently. To rectify the wasteful circumstance that Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s low-turbulence wind tunnel stops ventilation every time to switch model configurations, we repaired hardware for remote operation and generated software for feedback control. As a result, we have accomplished a system that dramatically advances the efficiency of wind tunnel tests. Moreover, the system was able to consider the deformation of the model through optical measurement; the system controlled flap angles with errors less than the minimum resolution of optical measurement equipment. Consequently, we successfully grasped the nonlinearity of three aerodynamic coefficients CL, CD, and CMp that was impossible so far

Chromosomal Instability Syndrome of Total Premature Chromatid Separation with Mosaic Variegated Aneuploidy Is Defective in Mitotic-Spindle Checkpoint

Skin fibroblast cells from two unrelated male infants with a chromosome-instability disorder were analyzed for their response to colcemid-induced mitotic-spindle checkpoint. The infants both had severe growth and developmental retardation, microcephaly, and Dandy-Walker anomaly; developed Wilms tumor; and one died at age 5 mo, the other at age 3 years. Their metaphases had total premature chromatid separation (total PCS) and mosaic variegated aneuploidy. Mitotic-index analysis of their cells showed the absence of mitotic block after the treatment with colcemid, a mitotic-spindle inhibitor. Bromodeoxyuridine-incorporation measurement and microscopic analysis indicated that cells treated with colcemid entered G1 and S phases without sister-chromatid segregation and cytokinesis. Preparations of short-term colcemid-treated cells contained those cells with chromosomes in total PCS and all or clusters of them encapsulated by nuclear membranes. Cell-cycle studies demonstrated the accumulation of cells with a DNA content of 8C. These findings indicate that the infants’ cells were insensitive to the colcemid-induced mitotic-spindle checkpoint

Safety and tolerability of diazoxide in Japanese patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia

Diazoxide is a non-diuretic benzothiadiazine derivative, one of a group of substances introduced into clinical practice in the 1950s for the treatment of hypertension. Fajans reported the use of diazoxide for the treatment of insulinoma in 1979. Although patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia worldwide have been treated with diazoxide for more than 30 years, there are no recent reports about the adverse effects of this drug in Asian patients, including Japanese patients. Herein, we report the results of our retrospective clinical record review of 6 Japanese patients (3 females and 3 males, ranging in age from 58 to 91 years) with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia and inoperable insulinoma treated with diazoxide. Diazoxide improved control of hypoglycemic symptoms and maintained normoglycemia in 5 of the 6 patients, and was ineffective in one patient. Surprisingly, although all 6 patients received diazoxide according to the treatment strategy recommended in Western patients, 5 of the 6 patients developed edema and two developed congestive heart failure. Thus, when starting treatment with diazoxide in Japanese patients, the symptoms and signs of fluid retention should be evaluated carefully. Also, appropriate protocols for treatment with diazoxide should be evaluated by means of clinical trials in Japanese patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia

Study protocol of the TRICOLORE trial: A randomized phase III study of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy versus combination chemotherapy with S-1, irinotecan, and bevacizumab as first-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer

Background: Metastatic colorectal cancer carries a poor prognosis and cannot be cured by currently available therapy. Chemotherapy designed to prolong survival and improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients is the mainstay of treatment. Standard regimens of FOLFOX/bevacizumab and CapeOX/bevacizumab can cause neurotoxicity, potentially disrupting treatment. The results of 3 phase II studies of combination therapy with S-1, irinotecan, and bevacizumab showed comparable efficacy to mFOLFOX6/bevacizumab and CapeOX/bevacizumab, without severe neurotoxicity. Therefore, the establishment and evaluation of S-1-containing irinotecan-based regimens for first-line treatment are expected to become more important. Methods: The TRICOLORE trial is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled phase III study which aims to evaluate the non-inferiority of combination therapy with S-1/irinotecan/bevacizumab (a 3-week regimen [SIRB] or 4-week regimen [IRIS/bevacizumab]) to oxaliplatin-based standard treatment (mFOLFOX6/bevacizumab or CapeOX/bevacizumab) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had not previously received chemotherapy. Patients will be randomly assigned to either the control group (mFOLFOX6/bevacizumab or CapeOX/bevacizumab) or study group (SIRB or IRIS/bevacizumab). The target sample size is 450 patients. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints are overall survival (OS), response rate (RR), time to treatment failure (TTF), relative dose intensity (RDI), the incidence and severity of adverse events, quality of life (QOL), quality-adjusted life years (QALY), health care costs, and relations between biomarkers and treatment response (translational research, TR). Discussion: The results of this study will provide important information that will help to improve the therapeutic strategy for metastatic colorectal cancer, and we believe that this study is very meaningful from the perspective of comparative effectiveness research. Trial registration:UMIN00000783

Heparanase expression in B16 melanoma cells and peripheral blood neutrophils before and after extravasation detected by novel anti-mouse heparanase monoclonal antibodies.

Degradation of extracellular matrix is associated with extravasation of metastatic tumor cells and inflammatory cells. Heparanase, the heparan sulfate-specific endo-beta-glucuronidase, is a key enzyme for the matrix degradation, yet its involvement in extravasation and invasion during pathological processes was not fully clarified in vivo. In the present study, we examined heparanase expression in mouse experimental models, lung metastasis of melanoma and skin infiltration of neutrophils. Sixteen novel monoclonal antibodies specific for mouse heparanase were established by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a recombinant mouse proheparanase, immunocytochemical staining of B16F10 melanoma cells cultured in vitro, and immunoprecipitation of the lysate of heparanase transfectant cells. Heparanase expression in metastatic nodules of B16F10 melanoma cells and in neutrophils localized in the inflamed skin was immunohistochemically detected using a monoclonal antibody RIO-1 that recognized the C-terminus of mouse heparanase. Homogeneous and strong heparanase staining was observed in 46% of the lung micrometastases of B16F10 melanoma cells. The staining was intensely positive on the invasive front of larger established metastasis nodules, but it was weak or heterogeneous inside the nodules. Heparanase expression in skin-infiltrating neutrophils was examined after inducing local inflammation with croton oil. The monoclonal antibody stained a significant portion of neutrophils inside and along the blood vessels, whereas it did not stain dermal neutrophils located distant from the vasculatures. The present study strongly suggests that both melanoma cells and neutrophils transiently express heparanase before and during the invasive process in vivo

Heparanase expression in B16 melanoma cells and peripheral blood neutrophils before and after extravasation detected by novel anti-mouse heparanase monoclonal antibodies.

Degradation of extracellular matrix is associated with extravasation of metastatic tumor cells and inflammatory cells. Heparanase, the heparan sulfate-specific endo-beta-glucuronidase, is a key enzyme for the matrix degradation, yet its involvement in extravasation and invasion during pathological processes was not fully clarified in vivo. In the present study, we examined heparanase expression in mouse experimental models, lung metastasis of melanoma and skin infiltration of neutrophils. Sixteen novel monoclonal antibodies specific for mouse heparanase were established by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a recombinant mouse proheparanase, immunocytochemical staining of B16F10 melanoma cells cultured in vitro, and immunoprecipitation of the lysate of heparanase transfectant cells. Heparanase expression in metastatic nodules of B16F10 melanoma cells and in neutrophils localized in the inflamed skin was immunohistochemically detected using a monoclonal antibody RIO-1 that recognized the C-terminus of mouse heparanase. Homogeneous and strong heparanase staining was observed in 46% of the lung micrometastases of B16F10 melanoma cells. The staining was intensely positive on the invasive front of larger established metastasis nodules, but it was weak or heterogeneous inside the nodules. Heparanase expression in skin-infiltrating neutrophils was examined after inducing local inflammation with croton oil. The monoclonal antibody stained a significant portion of neutrophils inside and along the blood vessels, whereas it did not stain dermal neutrophils located distant from the vasculatures. The present study strongly suggests that both melanoma cells and neutrophils transiently express heparanase before and during the invasive process in vivo

Unconventional Magnetic and Resistive Hysteresis in an Iodine-Bonded Molecular Conductor.

Article first published online: 14 JUL 2015Simultaneous manipulation of both spin and charge is a crucial issue in magnetic conductors. We report on a strong correlation between magnetism and conductivity in the iodine-bonded molecular conductor (DIETSe)2 FeBr2 Cl2 [DIETSe=diiodo(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene], which is the first molecular conductor showing a large hysteresis in both magnetic moment and magnetoresistance associated with a spin-flop transition. Utilizing a mixed-anion approach and iodine bonding interactions, we tailored a molecular conductor with random exchange interactions exhibiting unforeseen physical properties

Use of Halogen Bonding in a Molecular Solid Solution to Simultaneously Control Spin and Charge

Halogen-bonding interactions have attracted increasing attention in various fields of molecular science. Here we report the first comprehensive study of halogen-bonding-utilized solid solution for simultaneous control of multifunctional properties. A series of anion-mixed molecular conductors (DIETSe)₂MBr_4<i>x</i>Cl_{4(1–<i>x</i>)} [DIETSe = diiodo­(ethylenedithio)­tetraselenafulvalene; M = Fe, Ga; 0 < <i>x</i> < 1] were synthesized without changing crystal structure utilizing strong halogen bonds between DIETSe molecules and anions. Detailed physical property measurements (<i>T</i> > 0.3 K, <i>H</i> < 35 T) using the single crystals demonstrated simultaneous control of both spin and charge degrees of freedom. The increase in Br content <i>x</i> gradually suppresses a metal–insulator transition attributed to the nesting instability of the quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surfaces. It suggests the dimensionality of π electrons is extended by increasing the anion size, which is opposite of the typical effect of chemical pressure. We found that the “negative” chemical pressure is associated with the characteristic halogen-bonding network. Br substitution also enhances the antiferromagnetic (AF) ordering of d-electron spins in the Fe salts, as indicated by the Néel temperature, AF phase boundary field, and saturation field. Furthermore, we observed hysteresis in both magnetization and resistivity only in halogen-mixed salts at very low temperatures, indicating simultaneous spin and charge manipulation by alloying

Use of Halogen Bonding in a Molecular Solid Solution to Simultaneously Control Spin and Charge

Halogen-bonding interactions have attracted increasing attention in various fields of molecular science. Here we report the first comprehensive study of halogen-bonding-utilized solid solution for simultaneous control of multifunctional properties. A series of anion-mixed molecular conductors (DIETSe)₂MBr_4<i>x</i>Cl_{4(1–<i>x</i>)} [DIETSe = diiodo­(ethylenedithio)­tetraselenafulvalene; M = Fe, Ga; 0 < <i>x</i> < 1] were synthesized without changing crystal structure utilizing strong halogen bonds between DIETSe molecules and anions. Detailed physical property measurements (<i>T</i> > 0.3 K, <i>H</i> < 35 T) using the single crystals demonstrated simultaneous control of both spin and charge degrees of freedom. The increase in Br content <i>x</i> gradually suppresses a metal–insulator transition attributed to the nesting instability of the quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surfaces. It suggests the dimensionality of π electrons is extended by increasing the anion size, which is opposite of the typical effect of chemical pressure. We found that the “negative” chemical pressure is associated with the characteristic halogen-bonding network. Br substitution also enhances the antiferromagnetic (AF) ordering of d-electron spins in the Fe salts, as indicated by the Néel temperature, AF phase boundary field, and saturation field. Furthermore, we observed hysteresis in both magnetization and resistivity only in halogen-mixed salts at very low temperatures, indicating simultaneous spin and charge manipulation by alloying