Language Barriers in Organismal Biology: What Can Journals Do Better?

In the field of organismal biology, as in much of academia, there is a strong incentive to publish in internationally recognized, highly regarded, English-language journals to promote career advancement. This expectation has created a linguistic hegemony in scientific publishing, whereby scholars for whom English is an additional language face additional barriers to achieving the same scientific recognition as scholars who speak English as a first language. Here, we surveyed the author guidelines of 230 journals in organismal biology with impact factors of 1.5 or greater for linguistically inclusive and equitable practices and policies. We looked for efforts that reflect first steps toward reducing barriers to publication for authors globally, including the presence of statements that encouraged submissions from authors of diverse nationalities and backgrounds, policies regarding manuscript rejection based on perceived inadequacies of the English language, the existence of bias-conscious reviewer practices, whether translation and editing resources or services are available, allowance for non-English abstracts, summaries, or translations, and whether journals offer license options that would permit authors (or other scholars) to translate their work and publish it elsewhere. We also directly contacted a subset of journals to verify whether the information on their author guidelines page accurately reflects their policies and the accommodations they would make. We reveal that journals and publishers have made little progress toward beginning to recognize or reduce language barriers. Counter to our predictions, journals associated with scientific societies did not appear to have more inclusive policies compared to non-society journals. Many policies lacked transparency and clarity, which can generate uncertainty, result in avoidable manuscript rejections, and necessitate additional time and effort from both prospective authors and journal editors. We highlight examples of equitable policies and summarize actions that journals can take to begin to alleviate barriers to scientific publishing.

ResumenEn el campo de la biología organísmica, al igual que en el mundo académico en general, existe un gran incentivo para publicar en revistas científicas de lengua inglesa que son reconocidas internacionalmente y que poseen gran prestigio con el fin de avanzar profesionalmente. Esta expectativa ha creado una hegemonía lingüística en la publicación científica en la que los académicos para quienes el inglés es una lengua adicional se enfrentan a barreras adicionales para lograr el mismo reconocimiento científico que los académicos que hablan inglés como primera lengua. En este estudio examinamos las instrucciones para autores de 230 revistas de biología organísmica con Factor de Impacto igual o superior a 1.5 en busca de prácticas y políticas lingüísticamente inclusivas y equitativas. Buscamos iniciativas que reflejen pasos iniciales hacia la reducción de barreras de publicación para autores a nivel mundial. Estas incluyen la presencia de anuncios que incentiven el envío de trabajos por autores de diversas nacionalidades, políticas relacionadas al rechazo de manuscritos debido a la percepción de insuficiencias en el inglés, prácticas de revisión conscientes de prejuicios, disponibilidad de recursos o servicios de traducción y edición, la publicación de resúmenes o traducciones en idiomas adicionales al inglés y la disponibilidad de licencias que permitan a los autores (u otros académicos) traducir su trabajo y publicarlo en otro lugar. También contactamos directamente a un subconjunto de revistas para comprobar si la información que aparece en las instrucciones para autores refleja con exactitud sus políticas y los ajustes que harían. Comprobamos que las revistas y los editores han avanzado poco en el reconocimiento o reducción de barreras lingüísticas y en la promoción de igualdad lingüística. Al contrario de nuestras predicciones, las revistas asociadas a sociedades científicas no parecen tener políticas más inclusivas en comparación con las revistas que no pertenecen a ninguna sociedad. Muchas políticas carecen de transparencia y claridad, lo que puede generar incertidumbre, dar lugar a rechazos evitables de manuscritos y exigir tiempo y esfuerzo adicionales tanto a los futuros autores como a los editores de las revistas. También destacamos ejemplos de políticas equitativas y resumimos las medidas que las revistas pueden adoptar para empezar a aliviar los obstáculos de publicación científica.

Direct observations of energy transfer from resonant electrons to whistler-mode waves in magnetosheath of Earth.

Electromagnetic whistler-mode waves in space plasmas play critical roles in collisionless energy transfer between the electrons and the electromagnetic field. Although resonant interactions have been considered as the likely generation process of the waves, observational identification has been extremely difficult due to the short time scale of resonant electron dynamics. Here we show strong nongyrotropy, which rotate with the wave, of cyclotron resonant electrons as direct evidence for the locally ongoing secular energy transfer from the resonant electrons to the whistler-mode waves using ultra-high temporal resolution data obtained by NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission in the magnetosheath. The nongyrotropic electrons carry a resonant current, which is the energy source of the wave as predicted by the nonlinear wave growth theory. This result proves the nonlinear wave growth theory, and furthermore demonstrates that the degree of nongyrotropy, which cannot be predicted even by that nonlinear theory, can be studied by observations.

Eccrine sweat glands' maximum ion reabsorption rates during passive heating in older adults (50-84 years).

PURPOSE: We examined whether eccrine sweat glands ion reabsorption rate declined with age in 35 adults aged 50-84 years. Aerobic fitness (VO2max) and salivary aldosterone were measured to see if they modulated ion reabsorption rates. METHODS: During a passive heating protocol (lower leg 42 °C water submersion) the maximum ion reabsorption rates from the chest, forearm and thigh were measured, alongside other thermophysiological responses. The maximum ion reabsorption rate was defined as the inflection point in the slope of the relation between galvanic skin conductance and sweat rate. RESULTS: The maximum ion reabsorption rate at the forearm, chest and thigh (0.29 ± 0.16, 0.33 ± 0.15, 0.18 ± 0.16 mg/cm2/min, respectively) were weakly correlated with age (r ≤ - 0.232, P ≥ 0.05) and salivary aldosterone concentrations (r ≤ - 0.180, P ≥ 0.179). A moderate positive correlation was observed between maximum ion reabsorption rate at the thigh and VO2max (r = 0.384, P = 0.015). Salivary aldosterone concentration moderately declined with age (r = - 0.342, P = 0.021). Whole body sweat rate and pilocarpine-induced sudomotor responses to iontophoresis increased with VO2max (r ≥ 0.323, P ≤ 0.027) but only moderate (r = - 0.326, P = 0.032) or no relations (r ≤ - 0.113, P ≥ 0.256) were observed with age. CONCLUSION: The eccrine sweat glands' maximum ion reabsorption rate is not affected by age, spanning 50-84 years. Aldosterone concentration in an aged cohort does not appear to modulate the ion reabsorption rate. We provide further support for maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness to attenuate any decline in sudomotor function.

Petahertz non-linear current in a centrosymmetric organic superconductor.

Charge acceleration during an intense light field application to solids attracts much attention as elementary processes in high-harmonic generation and photoelectron emission. For manipulating such attosecond dynamics of charge, carrier-envelope-phase (CEP: relative phase between carrier oscillation of light field and its envelope function) control has been employed in insulators, nanometal and graphene. In superconducting materials, collective control of charge motion is expected because of its strongly coherent nature of quasi-particles. Here we report that, in a layered organic superconductor, a non-linear petahertz current driven by a single-cycle 6 femtosecond near infrared field shows up as second harmonic generation (SHG), which is in contrast to the common belief that even harmonics are forbidden in the centrosymmetric system. The SHG represents a CEP sensitive nature and an enhancement near the superconducting temperature. The result and its quantum many-body analysis indicate that a polarized current is induced by non-linear acceleration of charge, which is amplified by superconducting fluctuations. This will lead to petahertz functions of superconductors and of strongly correlated systems.

Intermittent pneumatic compression versus additional prophylaxis with enoxaparin for prevention of venous thromboembolism after laparoscopic surgery for gastric and colorectal malignancies: multicentre randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The role of antithrombotic chemoprophylaxis in prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in laparoscopic surgery for gastric and colorectal malignancies is unknown. This study compared the addition of enoxaparin following intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) with IPC alone in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal malignancy. METHODS: In this multicentre RCT, eligible patients were older than 40 years and had a WHO performance status of 0 or 1. Exclusion criteria were prescription of antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs and history of VTE. Patients were allocated to IPC or to ICP with enoxaparin in a 1 : 1 ratio. Stratification factors included sex, location of cancer, age 61 years and over, and institution. Enoxaparin was administered on days 1-7 after surgery. Primary outcome was VTE, evaluated by multidetector CT on day 7. RESULTS: Of 448 patients randomized, 208 in the IPC group and 182 in the IPC with enoxaparin group were evaluated. VTE occurred in ten patients (4·8 per cent) in the IPC group and six (3·3 per cent) in the IPC with enoxaparin group (P = 0·453). Proximal deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism occurred in seven patients (3·4 per cent) in the IPC group and one patient (0·5 per cent) in the IPC with enoxaparin group (P = 0·050). All VTE events were asymptomatic and non-fatal. Bleeding occurred in 11 of 202 patients in the IPC with enoxaparin group, and one patient needed a transfusion. All bleeding events were managed by discontinuation of the drug. CONCLUSION: IPC with enoxaparin after laparoscopic surgery for gastric and colorectal malignancies did not reduce the rate of VTE. Registration number: UMIN000011667 ( https://www.umin.ac.jp/).

ANTECEDENTES: El papel de la quimioprofilaxis para la prevención del tromboembolismo venoso (venous thromboembolism, VTE) en la cirugía laparoscópica de los tumores malignos gástricos y colorrectales se desconoce. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la quimioprofilaxis antitrombótica (enoxaparina) y la compresión neumática intermitente (intermittent pneumatic compression, IPC) en pacientes sometidos a cirugía laparoscópica de tumores malignos abdominales. MÉTODOS: Se efectuó un ensayo aleatorizado, controlado y multicéntrico de pacientes sometidos a cirugía laparoscópica de tumores gástricos y colorrectales en Japón. Los criterios de inclusión eran pacientes mayores de 40 años de edad y con un estado funcional de WHO de 0-1. Los criterios de exclusión fueron la prescripción al paciente de fármacos antiagregantes o anticoagulantes y la historia de VTE. Los pacientes fueron asignados a IPC y ICP con la adición de enoxaparina en una relación 1:1. Los factores de estratificación incluyeron el sexo, la localización del cáncer, la edad mayor o menor de 61 años, y la institución. La enoxaparina fue administrada en los días postoperatorios (postoperative day, POD) 1-7. El resultado primario fue la VTE evaluada mediante tomografía computarizada multidetector en el POD7. Los cálculos de la potencia determinaron que se requerían 184 pacientes en cada grupo. RESULTADOS: De los 448 pacientes aleatorizados, se evaluaron finalmente 208 pacientes en el grupo IPC y 182 pacientes en el grupo IPC más enoxaparina. La VTE ocurrió en 10 de 208 pacientes en el grupo IPC (4,8%) y 6 de 182 pacientes en el grupo IPC más enoxaparina (3,3%) (P = 0,45). La trombosis venosa profunda proximal (proximal deep vein thrombosis, DVT) y/o el embolismo pulmonar (pulmonary embolism, PE) ocurrieron en 7 de 208 pacientes en el grupo IPC (3,4%) y 1 de 182 pacientes en el grupo IPC más enoxaparina (0,55%) (riesgo relativo 0,163, i.c. del 95% 0,020-1,314, P = 0,0503). Todos los eventos de VTE fueron asintomáticos y no mortales. Se produjo una hemorragia en 11 de 202 pacientes en el grupo IPC con enoxaparina (5,4%, i.c. del 95% 3,1%-9,5%, P < 0,001), y un paciente precisó transfusión. Todos los eventos hemorrágicos pudieron ser tratados con la interrupción del fármaco. CONCLUSIÓN: La IPC con la adición de enoxaparina tras cirugía laparoscópica de los tumores malignos gástricos y colorrectales no disminuye la VTE.

Observational Evidence for Stochastic Shock Drift Acceleration of Electrons at the Earth's Bow Shock.

The first-order Fermi acceleration of electrons requires an injection of electrons into a mildly relativistic energy range. However, the mechanism of injection has remained a puzzle both in theory and observation. We present direct evidence for a novel stochastic shock drift acceleration theory for the injection obtained with Magnetospheric Multiscale observations at the Earth's bow shock. The theoretical model can explain electron acceleration to mildly relativistic energies at high-speed astrophysical shocks, which may provide a solution to the long-standing issue of electron injection.

The influence of local skin temperature on the sweat glands maximum ion reabsorption rate.

PURPOSE: Changes in mean skin temperature (Tsk) have been shown to modify the maximum rate of sweat ion reabsorption. This study aims to extend this knowledge by investigating if modifications could also be caused by local Tsk. METHODS: The influence of local Tsk on the sweat gland maximum ion reabsorption rates was investigated in ten healthy volunteers (three female and seven male; 20.8 ± 1.2 years, 60.4 ± 7.7 kg, 169.4 ± 10.4 cm) during passive heating (water-perfused suit and lower leg water immersion). In two separate trials, in a randomized order, one forearm was always manipulated to 33 °C (Neutral), whilst the other was manipulated to either 30 °C (Cool) or 36 °C (Warm) using water-perfused patches. Oesophageal temperature (Tes), forearm Tsk, sweat rate (SR), galvanic skin conductance (GSC) and salivary aldosterone concentrations were measured. The sweat gland maximum ion reabsorption rates were identified using the ∆SR threshold for an increasing ∆GSC. RESULTS: Thermal [Tes and body temperature (Tb)] and non-thermal responses (aldosterone) were similar across all conditions (p > 0.05). A temperature-dependent response for the sweat gland maximum ion reabsorption rates was evident between 30 °C (0.18 ± 0.10 mg/cm2/min) and 36 °C (0.28 ± 0.14 mg/cm2/min, d = 0.88, p < 0.05), but not for 33 °C (0.22 ± 0.12 mg/cm2/min), d = 0.44 and d = 0.36, p > 0.05. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that small variations in local Tsk may not affect the sweat gland maximum ion reabsorption rates but when the local Tsk increases by > 6 °C, ion reabsorption rates also increase.

Genome-wide association mapping and examination of possible maternal effect for the pace trait of horses.

Previously, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) related to gait type was identified at position 22 999 655 of chromosome 23 in the coding region of DMRT3 (DMRT3:Ser301Ter) by showing that a cytosine (C) to adenine (A) mutation of this SNP induced pace in the Icelandic horse. We investigated the effect of DMRT3:Ser301Ter on the gait of Hokkaido Native Horses, a Japanese native breed, and examined genetic factors other than DMRT3 by exploring genome-wide SNPs related to gait determination. All animals exhibiting pace were AA for DMRT3:Ser301Ter, confirming the association of DMRT3:Ser301Ter with gait determination; however, 14.3% of the animals exhibiting trot also had AA for DMRT3:Ser301Ter, suggesting the presence of another factor(s) cooperatively working with DMRT3:Ser301Ter for gait determination. SNPs on chromosomes 13 and 23 were detected by genome-wide association analysis (false discovery rate <0.05), although SNPs on chromosome 23 were all located in the vicinity of DMRT3:Ser301Ter, confirming the association with DMRT3. A genome-wide association study targeting only animals with AA for DMRT3:Ser301Ter to examine genetic factors cooperatively working with DMRT3:Ser301Ter for gait determination suggested associations of 23 SNPs on six chromosomes. In a series of analyses of the effect of a maternal factor (dam's gait) on gait determination, the effect was suggested in comparison of the frequencies of exhibiting pace in gait checks in only two animal groups having dams with different DMRT3:Ser301Ter genotypes (P < 0.05), suggesting that the gait of the dam does not have a major effect on whether progeny homozygous for the DMRT3:Ser301Ter mutation will preferentially pace or trot.

Upstream Enhancer Elements of Shh Regulate Oral and Dental Patterning.

Sonic hedgehog ( Shh) is important in pattern formation during development. Shh transcription is modulated by a long-range regulatory mechanism containing a number of enhancers, which are spread over nearly 850 kb in the mouse genome. Shh enhancers in the nervous system have been found between intron and 430 kb upstream of Shh. Enhancers in the oral cavity, pharynx, lung, gut, and limbs have been discovered between 610 kb and 850 kb upstream of Shh. However, the intergenic region ranging from 430 to 610 kb upstream of Shh remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we found a novel long-range enhancer located 558 kb upstream of Shh. The enhancer showed in vivo activity in oral cavity and whiskers. A targeted deletion from the novel enhancer to mammal reptile conserved sequence 1 (MRCS1), which is a known enhancer of Shh in oral cavity, resulted in supernumerary molar formation, confirming the essential role of this intergenic region for Shh transcription in teeth. Furthermore, we clarified the binding of Lef1/Tcfs to the new enhancer and MRCS1, suggesting that Wnt/ß-catenin signaling regulates Shh signaling in the oral cavity via these enhancers.

Geographical variation in the skeletal morphology of red jungle fowl.

1. The skulls and postcranial skeletons of the red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus) were compared osteometrically between the populations from North and South Vietnam, North and Central Laos and Southeast Bangladesh. The populations include the three subspecies of G. g. spadiceus, G. g. gallus and G. g. murghi and were sampled to reveal the geographical morphological variations among populations in G. gallus. 2. The morphometric characteristics of subspecies murghi could be clearly distinguished from those of the other subspecies using a canonical discriminant analysis. However, the size and shape of the skull of the gallus population from South Vietnam were not statistically different from that of the subspecies spadiceus from North Laos. The canonical discriminant scores also clearly indicated that there were morphological similarities in the skulls of the populations from North Laos and South Vietnam. 3. From the results, therefore, it is concluded that red jungle fowls do not exhibit high levels of osteometric variation between geographical localities at least within the Indochinese Peninsula. 4. This contrasts with previous studies which have described these subspecies as having various external morphological differences and have argued that zoogeographical barriers exist between the north and south areas of the Indochinese Peninsula.

Pericardiectomy and pericardium window creation to treat recurrent pericardial tamponade involving a borderline ovarian tumor.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: Pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade is an uncommon metastatic manifestation of ovarian tumors, with only one previously reported case involving a borderline ovarian tumor (BOT). CASE: A 50-year-old woman was diagnosed and treated for a primary Stage IIc BOT. The disease recurred as an emergency pericardiocentesis eight years later, which was resected following pericardial effusion with a cardiac tamponade. This occurred two more times, and on the last occasion, drainage failed to relieve her symptoms. However, her symptoms resolved after the creation of a pericardium pleural window together with a pericardiectomy. CONCLUSION: For patients with a metastatic BOT, the creation of a pericardium pleural window and pericardiectomy is effective for recurrent pericardial tamponade, if the pericardial space is posteriorly located and/or segmented.

A pre-operative predictive score for the outcome of eccentric rotational acetabular osteotomy in the treatment of acetabular dysplasia and early osteoarthritis of the hip in adults.

AIMS: The influence of identifiable pre-operative factors on the outcome of eccentric rotational acetabular osteotomy (ERAO) is unknown. We aimed to determine the factors that might influence the outcome, in order to develop a scoring system for predicting the prognosis for patients undergoing this procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed 700 consecutive ERAOs in 54 men and 646 women with symptomatic acetabular dysplasia or early onset osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip, which were undertaken between September 1989 and March 2013. The patients' pre-operative background, clinical and radiological findings were examined retrospectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed using the time from the day of surgery to a conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) as an endpoint. A risk score was calculated to predict the prognosis for conversion to THA, and its predictive capacity was investigated. RESULTS: The congruity of the hip, age, the pre-operative minimum width of the joint space and range of abduction were identified as factors predicting conversion to THA. For three groups of patients (scoring 0 to 5, 6 to 7, and 8 to 9 points), the Kaplan-Meier event-free rates of survival at 15 years post-operatively for conversion to THA were 99.6%, 85.2% and 67.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These four pre-operative factors are easily measured and predict the prognosis for patients following ERAO. They may be used for decision making when offering surgical treatment to patients with acetabular dysplasia and early onset osteoarthritis. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1326-32.

Effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 agonist mosapride on human gastric accommodation.

BACKGROUND: Impaired gastric accommodation is one of the major features of functional dyspepsia. Mosapride citrate is a 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 (5-HT4) agonist, which is shown to improve upper abdominal symptoms. However, effect of mosapride on gastric accommodation was not clear. We tested the hypothesis that mosapride enhances the gastric accommodation in normal individuals. METHODS: Fourteen male healthy volunteers completed this study. Single administration of mosapride or placebo was performed randomly with more than 1-week interval. Subjects swallowed a triple-lumen polyvinyl tube with a polyethylene bag. The bag was positioned in the proximal stomach and the minimal distending pressure (MDP) was determined. The ramp distension starting from the MDP was then performed and subjects were instructed to score their perception using ordinate scales. Next the intra-bag pressure was set at MDP + 2 mmHg and a liquid meal was administered 30 min later, and the intra-bag volume was recorded for 60 min. We compared the MDP, perception scores, and the intra-bag volume changes by administering placebo and mosapride. KEY RESULTS: Minimal distending pressure was not significantly different in subjects receiving mosapride or placebo. Treatment with mosapride had no effect on intra-bag pressures or volumes inducing first sensation or discomfort. Gastric accommodation, expressed as the difference between pre- and postmeal intra-bag volumes, and the percent change of the intra-bag volumes by the meal was significantly enhanced by mosapride compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: This is the first study clearly demonstrating that single administration of 5-HT4 agonist can enhance gastric accommodation in humans. (Umin.ac.jp, number UMIN000014063).

Influence of exercise training with thigh compression on heat-loss responses.

We investigated the effect of thigh compression, which accelerates activation of central command and muscle metabo- and mechanoreceptors, on the adaptation of sweating and cutaneous vascular responses during exercise heat acclimation. Nine non-heat-acclimated male subjects were acclimated to heat (32 °C and 50% RH) while cycling [50% of maximum oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 m a x )] 60 min/day for 7 days (control group). The experimental group (n = 9) conducted the same training while the proximal thighs were compressed by a cuff at 60 mmHg. V ˙ O 2 m a x , acetylcholine-induced forearm sweating rate (iontophoresis), and mean sweating and cutaneous vascular responses on the forehead, chest, and forearm (SRmean and CVCmean ) during passive heating were evaluated before and after training. Training significantly increased V ˙ O 2 m a x while did not affect acetylcholine-induced sweating rates in either group. Training significantly decreased Tb thresholds for SRmean and CVCmean during passive heating without the alternations of sensitivities in both groups. Although SRmean during passive heating at a given ΔTb was not improved in either group, CVCmean was significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated after exercise training only in experimental group. Our results indicate that thigh cuff compression during exercise heat acclimation does not influence adaptation of the sweating response but attenuate cutaneous vasodilation.

Plasma physics. Stochastic electron acceleration during spontaneous turbulent reconnection in a strong shock wave.

Explosive phenomena such as supernova remnant shocks and solar flares have demonstrated evidence for the production of relativistic particles. Interest has therefore been renewed in collisionless shock waves and magnetic reconnection as a means to achieve such energies. Although ions can be energized during such phenomena, the relativistic energy of the electrons remains a puzzle for theory. We present supercomputer simulations showing that efficient electron energization can occur during turbulent magnetic reconnection arising from a strong collisionless shock. Upstream electrons undergo first-order Fermi acceleration by colliding with reconnection jets and magnetic islands, giving rise to a nonthermal relativistic population downstream. These results shed new light on magnetic reconnection as an agent of energy dissipation and particle acceleration in strong shock waves.

Utility of weekly docetaxel combined with preoperative radiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer from pathological analysis.

Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is a high-grade carcinoma that is treated with multidisciplinary approaches, including chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery. Despite some success with these therapies, overall survival remains poor. In order to investigate a newer CRT regimen, we designed a comparative study to evaluate preoperative CRT using docetaxel (DOC) or 5-Fluorouracil and cisplatin (FU+CDDP [FP] therapy) for treatment of resectable ESCC. In a retrospective review of patients with resectable, locally advanced ESCC, 95 patients received preoperative CRT between 2001 and 2007. CRT was administered using either FP (n = 40) or DOC (n = 55). Pathological response and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Hazard ratios and time-to-event analyses were used to assess outcomes; the ratios were controlled by multivariate logistic regression analysis of potential prognostic factors, and survival was presented with Kaplan-Meier curves. In the FP group, a significant curative effect was observed on the basis of pathological examination of postoperative lesions. However, the DOC group presented a significantly better prognosis on the basis of cumulative survival rates. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of five or more lymph node metastases was an independent predictor of reduced survival. Patients with lymph node metastasis exhibited a better prognosis in the DOC group than those in the FP group. Preoperative CRT for locally advanced esophageal cancer using DOC results in similar or better long-term outcomes compared with FP-based CRT. Therefore, CRT using DOC is a promising therapy option for esophageal cancer.

Electron acceleration in a nonrelativistic shock with very high Alfvén Mach number.

Electron acceleration associated with various plasma kinetic instabilities in a nonrelativistic shock with very high Alfvén Mach number (M(A)~45) is revealed by means of a two-dimensional fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulation. Electromagnetic (ion Weibel) and electrostatic (ion-acoustic and Buneman) instabilities are strongly activated at the same time in different regions of the two-dimensional shock structure. Relativistic electrons are quickly produced predominantly by the shock surfing mechanism with the Buneman instability at the leading edge of the foot. The energy spectrum has a high-energy tail exceeding the upstream ion kinetic energy accompanying the main thermal population. This gives a favorable condition for the ion-acoustic instability at the shock front, which in turn results in additional energization. The large-amplitude ion Weibel instability generates current sheets in the foot, implying another dissipation mechanism via magnetic reconnection in a three-dimensional shock structure in the very-high-M(A) regime.

Reconstructing the origin and dispersal patterns of village chickens across East Africa: insights from autosomal markers.

Unravelling the genetic history of any livestock species is central to understanding the origin, development and expansion of agricultural societies and economies. Domestic village chickens are widespread in Africa. Their close association with, and reliance on, humans for long-range dispersal makes the species an important biological marker in tracking cultural and trading contacts between human societies and civilizations across time. Archaezoological and linguistic evidence suggest a complex history of arrival and dispersion of the species on the continent, with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop analysis revealing the presence of five distinct haplogroups in East African village chickens. It supports the importance of the region in understanding the history of the species and indirectly of human interactions. Here, through a detailed analysis of 30 autosomal microsatellite markers genotyped in 657 village chickens from four East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan), we identify three distinct autosomal gene pools (I, II and III). Gene pool I is predominantly found in Ethiopia and Sudan, while II and III occur in both Kenya and Uganda. A gradient of admixture for gene pools II and III between the Kenyan coast and Uganda's hinterland (P = 0.001) is observed, while gene pool I is clearly separated from the other two. We propose that these three gene pools represent genetic signatures of separate events in the history of the continent that relate to the arrival and dispersal of village chickens and humans across the region. Our results provide new insights on the history of chicken husbandry which has been shaped by terrestrial and maritime contacts between ancient and modern civilizations in Asia and East Africa.

Preliminary study on the clinical application of augmented reality neuronavigation.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an augmented reality (AR) neuronavigation system with Web cameras and examine its clinical utility. METHODS: The utility of the system was evaluated in three patients with brain tumors. One patient had a glioblastoma and two patients had convexity meningiomas. Our navigation system comprised the open-source software 3D Slicer (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA), the infrared optical tracking sensor Polaris (Northern Digital Inc., Waterloo, Canada), and Web cameras. We prepared two different types of Web cameras: a handheld type and a headband type. Optical markers were attached to each Web camera. We used this system for skin incision planning before the operation, during craniotomy, and after dural incision. RESULTS: We were able to overlay these images in all cases. In Case 1, accuracy could not be evaluated because the tumor was not on the surface, though it was generally suitable for the outline of the external ear and the skin. In Cases 2 and 3, the augmented reality error was ∼2 to 3 mm. CONCLUSION: AR technology was examined with Web cameras in neurosurgical operations. Our results suggest that this technology is clinically useful in neurosurgical procedures, particularly for brain tumors close to the brain surface.