The evolution of cancer genomic medicine in Japan and the role of the National Cancer Center Japan

The journey to implement cancer genomic medicine(CGM)in oncology practice began in the 1980s,which is considered the dawn of genetic and genomic cancer research.At the time,a variety of activating oncogenic alterations and their functional significance were unveiled in cancer cells,which led to the development of molecular targeted therapies in the 2000s and beyond.Although CGM is still a relatively new discipline and it is difficult to predict to what extent CGM will benefit the diverse pool of cancer patients,the National Cancer Center(NCC)of Japan has already contributed considerably to CGM advancement for the conquest of cancer.Looking back at these past achievements of the NCC,we predict that the future of CGM will involve the following:1)A biobank of paired cancerous and non-cancerous tissues and cells from various cancer types and stages will be developed.The quantity and quality of these samples will be compatible with omics analyses.All biobank samples will be linked to longitudinal clinical information.2)New technologies,such as whole-genome sequencing and artificial intelligence,will be introduced and new bioresources for functional and pharmacologic analyses(e.g.,a patient-derived xenograft library)will be systematically deployed.3)Fast and bidirectional translational research(bench-to-bedside and bedside-to-bench)performed by basic researchers and clinical investigators,preferably working alongside each other at the same institution,will be implemented;4)Close collaborations between academia,industry,regulatory bodies,and funding agencies will be established.5)There will be an investment in the other branch of CGM,personalized preventive medicine,based on the individual's genetic predisposition to cancer.

RESEARCH ON SONIC FATIGUE CALCULATION AND TEST FOR AIRCRAFT PANEL

The sonic fatigue life of the aluminium rectangular panel was calculated using the concise method[1], and the sonic fatigue test was conducted on progressive wave tube (PWT) test facility. A comparison was made between the results of calculation and test, and it shows reasonable agreement between these two results.

Is There Hysteresis in Unemployment in OECD Countries？ Evidence From Panel Unit Root Test With Structural Breaks

This study tests the hysteresis hypothesis of unemployment in fifteen OECD countries by using panel unit root tests which allow for structural breaks. We apply annual unemployment rates covering 1985-2008 periods. We test whether unemployment rates are stationary by using second generation tests which allow cross section dependency among series and panel unit root test based on structural break advanced by Carrion-i-Silvestre, Barrio-Castro and Lopez-Bazo （2005）. We find series as a stationary process with structural breaks according to Carrion-i Silvestre et al. （2005） test, while we find series as unit root process with second generation panel unit root test. According to the Carrion-i Silvestre et al. （2005） test, we find the evidence of absence of hysteresis in analyzed countries. As a result, temporary shocks have temporary effects on unemployment instead of permanent effect. Structural factors can affect the natural rate of unemployment and, therefore, unemployment would be stationary around a process that is subject to structural breaks. So, there still exists a unique natural rate of unemployment to which the economy eventually will converge.

Effects of Soil Amendment on Growth,Yield and Output of Flue-cured Tobacco in South Anhui Province

[Objective] The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil amend- ment composed of biochar and inorganic mineral material on growth and develop- ment, yield and output value of flue-cured tobacco in South Anhui Province. [Method] A field plot experiment was conducted. The agronomic traits, yield and output value, as well as appearance quality and flavor of flue-cured tobacco were evaluated. [Re- suit] The soil amendments composed of biochars and inorganic mineral materials could significantly increase plant height, stem diameter, leaf size, yield and output of flue-cured tobacco, as well as proportion of first-grade tobacco leaves at the middle and late growth period. The yield in the X3 treatment group （70% T20 ＋ 30% ZC） was highest, and it was higher than that in the control group by 398 kg/hm2. Com- pared with that in the control group, the output of flue-cured tobacco in the X3 treatment group was increased by 10 290 yuan/hm2. In terms of appearance quality and flavor, the flue-cured tobacco leaves in the soil amendment treatment groups were all better than those in the control group. [Conclusion] The application of soil amendment composed of biochar and inorganic mineral material is an effective mea- sure to improve tobacco-growing soil, promote tobacco growth and development, im- prove tobacco yield and output and improve tobacco leaf quality in South Anhui re- gion.

Sensory Evaluation of Extra Virgin Olive Oil （EVOO） Extended to Include the Quality Factor ＂Harmony＂

Sensory evaluation of olive oil, meaning the official organoleptic assessment of olive oil respectively the ＂Panel Test＂ （PT）, is based on the standards of the International Olive Council （IOC）, as well as on the Regulation （EC） 640/2008 of the European Commission. These regulations lead to the classification of olive oil as ＂extra virgin＂ （EVOO）, ＂virgin＂ （VOO） or ＂lampant＂, which however is not sufficient to clearly discriminate between different quality levels within the grade EVOO. The objective of the study at hand was to develop and validate an objective sensory evaluation method for the quality certification of olive oil within the grade EVOO. A new rating system, including a detailed description and evaluation of the complexity and persistence of flavour, was established. First, a comparison between different profile sheets from various olive oil competitions （Ercole Olivario, Premio Biol, Leone D＇Oro Mario Solinas Award, among others） and the official profile sheet from the IOC/EC for the panel test （PT） took place. In consecutive steps the basic test procedure from the panel test （PT） then was extended with additional sensory descriptors. Two trained olive oil panels （the German Olive Oil Panel （DOP） and the Swiss Olive Oil Panel （SOP）） were further educated to profile various green and ripe aroma components and to evaluate the complexity of the perceived aroma components and their persistency （descriptor： ＂harmony/persistency＂）. This extended methodology was cross-validated over a time period of 3 years between the two panels （DOP/SOP）.

Seismic earth pressures on flexible cantilever retaining walls with deformable inclusions

In this study, the results of 1-g shaking table tests performed on small-scale flexible cantilever wallmodels retaining composite backfill made of a deformable geofoam inclusion and granular cohesionlessmaterial were presented. Two different polystyrene materials were utilized as deformable inclusions.Lateral dynamic earth pressures and wall displacements at different elevations of the retaining wallmodel were monitored during the tests. The earth pressures and displacements of the retaining wallswith deformable inclusions were compared with those of the models without geofoam inclusions.Comparisons indicated that geofoam panels of low stiffness installed against the retaining wall modelaffect displacement and dynamic lateral pressure profile along the wall height. Depending on the inclusioncharacteristics and the wall flexibility, up to 50% reduction in dynamic earth pressures wasobserved. The efficiency of load and displacement reduction decreased as the flexibility ratio of the wallmodel increased. On the other hand, dynamic load reduction efficiency of the deformable inclusionincreased as the amplitude and frequency ratio of the seismic excitation increased. Relative flexibility ofthe deformable layer （the thickness and the elastic stiffness of the polystyrene material） played animportant role in the amount of load reduction. Dynamic earth pressure coefficients were compared withthose calculated with an analytical approach. Pressure coefficients calculated with this method werefound to be in good agreement with the results of the tests performed on the wall model having lowflexibility ratio. It was observed that deformable inclusions reduce residual wall stresses observed at theend of seismic excitation thus contributing to the post-earthquake stability of the retaining wall. Thegraphs presented within this paper regarding the dynamic earth pressure coefficients versus the wallflexibility and inclusion characteristics may serve for the seismic design of full-scale retaining walls withdeformable polystyrene inclusions. 2014 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting byElsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The ASEAN experience of the purchasing power parity theory

We used panel data analysis to evaluate the relative purchasing power parity(PPP)hypothesis of the ten ASEAN member countries between 1973 and 2015.We incorporated the cross-sectionally augmented panel unit root test as proposed by Pesaran(J Appl Econ 22:265-312,2007).For panel cointegration analysis,we employed the four error-correction-based Westerlund(Oxf Bull Econ Stat 69:709-748,2007)panel cointegration tests.The Westerlund(Oxf Bull Econ Stat 69:709-748,2007)tests are general enough to permit a large degree of heterogeneity,both in the long-run cointegrating relationship and in the short-run dynamics,and dependence within as well as across the cross-sectional units.To check the robustness of the results,we further estimated the cointegration test excluding Indonesia and Brunei.The findings support our initial results.Further,all the results overwhelmingly support the relative PPP hypothesis.Consequently,the monetary authority would be able to implement a self-regulating monetary policy.It would also be able to control the exchange rates.

Evaluation of the ＂Harmony/Balance Value＂ on the Development of the Sensorial Quality of EVOOmExperiences in Germany and Europe

Since 2015 the methodology of the harmony value in the framework of the official organoleptic assessment has been accredited by the German authorities. It initiated additional background for this parameter which is set on top of the Official Paneltest （Standard IOC/T15/Reg. （EWG） 2568/91 in its actual version） which classifies Olive oil in the relevant classifications ＂extra virgin＂, ＂virgin＂ or ＂virgin lampante＂. This study will proof the possible accuracy of this additional parameter ＂harmony/balance＂ and the benefits which arise with this additional parameter for all stakeholders. The German Olive Oil Panel （DOP） is practicing this extended methodology for the sensory evaluation of extra virgin olive oil since 2003. In addition to the verification of the category ＂extra virgin＂ the Panel is continuously training for additional descriptors used to appraise the quality-discrimination for this category. But in case the panel decides for a valid median of a defect the panel supervisor （PSV） will set the harmony level to zero. In the focus is the additional attribute called ＂harmony＂ （in some world areas called ＂balance＂--both mean a quantification of the specific overall quality with one single parameter） which is responsible for this advancement in the methodological approach. Using ＂harmony/balance＂ （H/B） as a quality-factor, the discrimination between bad, average, good, very good and premium quality within the category of EVOO became possible. ＂Harmony＂ includes olfactory, tactile and kinesthetic stimuli and is evaluated on a bipolar 100 mm scale, which leads to this parameter from ＂average＂ in the center to ＂complex/harmonious＂ on one side or to ＂totally disharmonious＂ on the other side. In the study at hand we are able to prove the development of qualities in the framework of the accredited Panel in German speaking countries over more than 10 years. In this study the development of the increasing quality can be proved in yearly figures of the DOP. The trend could be disturbed however in case of climatological circumstances or orders from outside Germany with over proportional low qualities. The official organoleptic assessment method of IOC/EC separates defect free from defected olive oils and is marking the olive oils with a relevant label of classification （EV, V, Lampant）. The additional step to evaluate the harmony value----carried out by the same panel during the same procedure--is quantifying the category of EVOO in relevant quality sectors. This study shows on one side the progress of this method in German speaking countries and their supporting companies. On the other side it revealed the quality problems which arise in markets like the private label/low price （PL/LP） sections in other countries of the European Union. This important market segment covers today about 75%-80% of the market. The IGO study （2015） proved that from 70 samples out of 16 European countries 58.5% （41 samples） have been analyzed as defect; only 41.5% （29 samples） matched the classification EVOO. And from these 29 samples 18 have been evaluated with the additional parameter ＂harmony/balance＂ as ＂lower standard＂ or ＂not sufficient＂. The long experience with this additional parameter is able to stabilize and quantify the quality of EVOO in favor of all stakeholders.

The Environmental Kuznets Curve and Spatial Pattern of Environmental-Economy in China:Evidence from a Panel Cointegration Test

基于中国1985～2007年30个省级行政区环境污染与经济增长面板数据,运用面板协整工具和动态最小二乘法(DOLS)对环境库兹涅茨曲线进行了实证检验。结果显示我国工业废气污染、工业废水污染和工业固体废弃物污染变量与经济增长变量之间存在长期协整关系,且变量间均呈现出显著的倒U形环境库兹涅茨曲线关系,而EKC转折点并没有出现在过低的水平上;其后基于检验结果探讨了我国环境-经济空间格局,部分东部发达省区已经越过或接近3种污染物EKC的转折点,然而我国大部分的中西部省区并未越过EKC转折点甚至距离较远。目前我国仍面临巨大的环境压力,在减排方面需要花费巨大的经济成本。我国环境经济政策的制定应根据各种不同情况因地因时制宜。