Two extensions of exact non-equilibrium steady states of a boundary driven cellular automaton

Recently Prosen and Mej\'ia-Monasterio (J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 49 (2016) 185003) obtained exact nonequilibrium steady states of an integrable and reversible cellular automaton driven by some stochastic boundary conditions. In this paper, we explore the possible extensions of their method by generalizing the boundary conditions. As the result, we find two cases where such an extension is possible. One is the case where a special condition is satisfied in a generalized boundary condition. The other is obtained by considering a conserved quantity as energy and boundaries as heat reservoirs. The latter includes the original solution as the special case. Properties of the both solutions are discussed.Comment: 27 pages, 13 figure

Periodicities of T and Y-systems, dilogarithm identities, and cluster algebras II: Types C_r, F_4, and G_2

We prove the periodicities of the restricted T and Y-systems associated with the quantum affine algebra of type C_r, F_4, and G_2 at any level. We also prove the dilogarithm identities for these Y-systems at any level. Our proof is based on the tropical Y-systems and the categorification of the cluster algebra associated with any skew-symmetric matrix by Plamondon.Comment: 36 pages; minor changes, references update

Periodicities of T and Y-systems, dilogarithm identities, and cluster algebras I: Type B_r

We prove the periodicities of the restricted T and Y-systems associated with the quantum affine algebra of type B_r at any level. We also prove the dilogarithm identities for the Y-systems of type B_r at any level. Our proof is based on the tropical Y-systems and the categorification of the cluster algebra associated with any skew-symmetric matrix by Plamondon. Using this new method, we also give an alternative and simplified proof of the periodicities of the T and Y-systems associated with pairs of simply laced Dynkin diagrams.Comment: 35 pages; minor changes, references update

Interaction of neuron-specific K+-Cl− cotransporter, KCC2, with brain-type creatine kinase

Abstractγ-Aminobutyric acid, a major inhibitory neurotransmitter within the adult central nervous system, is also known to be excitatory at early developmental stages due to the elevated intracellular Cl− concentration. This functional change is primarily attributable to a K+-Cl− cotransporter, KCC2, the expression of which is developmentally regulated in neurons. However, little detail information is available concerning the intracellular regulation of KCC2 function. Here, we identify an interaction between KCC2 and brain-type creatine kinase by means of yeast two-hybrid screening. This interaction, which was also detected in cultured cells and brain extracts, might contribute to KCC2-mediated modulation of Cl− homeostasis

Quantum cluster algebras and 3D integrability: Tetrahedron and 3D reflection equations

We construct a new solution to the tetrahedron equation and the three-dimensional (3D) reflection equation by extending the quantum cluster algebra approach by Sun and Yagi concerning the former. We consider the Fock-Goncharov quivers associated with the longest elements of the Weyl groups of type $A$ and $C$, and investigate the cluster transformations corresponding to changing a reduced expression into a `most distant' one. By devising a new realization of the quantum $y$-variables in terms of $q$-Weyl algebra, the solutions are extracted as the operators whose adjoint actions yield the cluster transformations of the quantum $y$-variables. Explicit formulas of their matrix elements are also derived for some typical representations.Comment: 34 page

Tetrahedron equation and quantum cluster algebras

We develop the quantum cluster algebra approach recently introduced by Sun and Yagi to investigate the tetrahedron equation, a three-dimensional generalization of the Yang-Baxter equation. In the case of square quiver, we devise a new realization of quantum Y-variables in terms $q$-Weyl algebras and obtain a solution that possesses three spectral parameters. It is expressed in various forms, comprising four products of quantum dilogarithms depending on the signs in decomposing the quantum mutations into the automorphism part and the monomial part. For a specific choice of them, our formula precisely reproduces Sergeev's $R$ matrix, which corresponds to a vertex formulation of the Zamolodchikov-Bazhanov-Baxter model when $q$ is specialized to a root of unity.Comment: 24 page

Toxicity of antiglaucoma drugs with and without benzalkonium chloride to cultured human corneal endothelial cells

Masahiko Ayaki1, Atsuo Iwasawa2, Yoichi Inoue31Department of Ophthalmology, Saitama National Hospital, Wako, Japan; 2Life Particle Interaction Engineering Creation, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Olympia Eye Hospital, Tokyo, JapanPurpose: The toxicity of antiglaucoma medications to ocular surface cells has been evaluated extensively; however, the toxicity to corneal endothelial cells (CECs) remains elusive. Our aim is to evaluate the toxicity of antiglaucoma medications to CECs using an in vitro toxicity assay.Methods: Primary cultures of human (H) CECs derived from eye bank specimens were established. Following exposure of HCECs to test solutions for 10, 30, or 60 minutes, or 48 hours, we measured cell viability using a WST-1 assay. Test solutions were diluted in culture media and included 0.5% Timoptol®, preservative-free 0.5% timolol maleate, 1% Trusopt®, preservative-free 1% dorzolamide, Travatan®, Travatan Z®, Xalatan®, and benzalkonium chloride (BAK). To assess cell viability, the value of the test culture well after treatment was expressed as a percentage of that of the control well. Toxicity of each solution was compared using the cell viability score (CVS).Results: After exposure to 10-fold dilutions of test solutions for 48 hours, HCEC viabilities were 48.5% for 0.5% Timoptol, 80.9% for preservative-free 0.5% timolol maleate, 47.0% for 1% Trusopt, 71.7% for preservative-free 1% dorzolamide, 55.5% for Travatan, 88.5% for Travatan Z, and 52.5% for Xalatan. Exposure to test solutions diluted 100-fold or more resulted in HCEC viabilities > 80%, with the exception of preservative-free 1% dorzolamide, which resulted in a viability of 72.0% at a dilution of 100-fold. Based on CVS, the order of cell viability was Travatan Z ≥ preservative-free timolol maleate = preservative-free dorzolamide > 0.5% Timoptol = 1% Trusopt > Travatan ≥ Xalatan. Assessment of the combined effect of drug and BAK revealed that latanoprost reduced the toxicity of BAK.Conclusion: Antiglaucoma eye drops produced HCEC toxicity that appeared to depend on the presence of BAK. Because dilution of the antiglaucoma solutions resulted in markedly lower HCEC toxicity, HCEC damage due to antiglaucoma medication may occur only in rare cases. The CVS was useful for comparison of the toxicity of the drugs.Keywords: cell viability score, eye drop, preservative

注射に起因する橈骨神経麻痺の2例

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN026196 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration for gastric varices: the relationship between the clinical outcome and gastrorenal shunt occlusion

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rupture of gastric varices is associated with high mortality rate. Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO), a minimally invasive procedure that was introduced in the mid-1990s, has been widely accepted in Japan. Several reports have indicated that B-RTO yields satisfactory results; however, few reports have discussed the recurrence of gastric varices after this therapy. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the technical aspects of B-RTO and the recurrence of gastric varices after treatment with this procedure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>B-RTO was performed in 47 patients with gastric varices, who were at a risk of variceal ruptures and who may or may not have had a history of variceal bleeding. We injected a sclerosing agent into the gastric varices for 30-60 minutes. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the technique, we obtained contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans 5 days after B-RTO. As a general rule, if the gastric varices did not appear thrombosed, we repeated the procedure 7 days after the first procedure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>B-RTO was a technical success in 37 patients. It was performed once in 26 patients, twice in 6 patients, thrice in 2 patients, and 4 times in 3 patients. Contrast-enhanced CT scans obtained after B-RTO showed thrombosed gastrorenal shunts in 29 patients and patent gastrorenal shunts in 8 patients. The gastric varices recurred in 2 patients who had patent gastrorenal shunts. The overall cumulative relapse-free rate of gastric varices was 90% at 5 years after B-RTO.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>B-RTO is an effective treatment modality for gastric varices. Moreover, obliteration of the gastrorenal shunt as well as the gastric varices appears to be important for the treatment of gastric varices.</p