The phase structure of a chiral model with dilatons in hot and dense matter

We explore the phase structure of a chiral model of constituent quarks and gluons implementing scale symmetry breaking at finite temperature and chemical potential. In this model the chiral dynamics is intimately linked to the trace anomaly saturated by a dilaton field. The thermodynamics is governed by two condensates, thermal expectation values of sigma and dilaton fields, which are the order parameters responsible for the phase transitions associated with the chiral and scale symmetries. Within the mean field approximation, we find that increasing temperature a system experiences a chiral phase transition and then a first-order phase transition of partial scale symmetry restoration characterized by a melting gluon-condensate takes place at a higher temperature. There exists a region at finite chemical potential where the scale symmetry remains dynamically broken while the chiral symmetry is restored. We also give a brief discussion on the sigma-meson mass constrained from Lattice QCD.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures; v2) new figures and references adde

Anomalous elastic softening of SmRu_{4}P_{12} under high pressure

The filled skutterudite compound SmRu_4P_{12} undergoes a complex evolution from a paramagnetic metal (phase I) to a probable multipolar ordering insulator (phase II) at T_{MI} = 16.5 K, then to a magnetically ordered phase (phase III) at T_{N} = 14 K. Elastic properties under hydrostatic pressures were investigated to study the nature of the ordering phases. We found that distinct elastic softening above T_{MI} is induced by pressure, giving evidence of quadrupole degeneracy of the ground state in the crystalline electric field. It also suggests that quadrupole moment may be one of the order parameters below T_{MI} under pressure. Strangely, the largest degree of softening is found in the transverse elastic constant C_{T} at around 0.5-0.6 GPa, presumably having relevancy to the competing and very different Gruneisen parameters \Omega of T_{MI} and T_{N}. Interplay between the two phase transitions is also verified by the rapid increase of T_{MI} under pressure with a considerably large \Omega of 9. Our results can be understood on the basis of the proposed octupole scenario for SmRu_4P_{12}.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Spatial Variations in the Altitude of the CH4 Homopause at Jupiter's Mid-to-high Latitudes, as Constrained from IRTF-TEXES Spectra

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Reproducibility and validity of the food frequency questionnaire for estimating habitual dietary intake in children and adolescents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A previous study reported the development a 75-item food frequency questionnaire for Japanese children (CFFQ). The first aim was to examine the reproducibility and validity of the CFFQ in order to assess dietary intake among two groups; 3-11 year old children (YC group) and 12-16 year old children (AD group). The second aim was to use the CFFQ and the FFQ for adults (AFFQ), and to determine which was better suited for assessing the intake of children in each group.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of the 103 children participated in this study. The interval between the first CFFQ and AFFQ and the second CFFQ and AFFQ was one month. Four weighted dietary records (WDRs) were conducted once a week. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the first and second FFQs were calculated to test the reproducibility of each FFQ. Pearson's correlation coefficients between WDRs and the second FFQ were calculated for the unadjusted value and sex-, age-, and energy-adjusted values to determine the validity of each FFQ.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The final number of subjects participating in the analysis was 89. The median correlation coefficients between the first and second CFFQs and AFFQs were 0.76 and 0.73, respectively. There was some over/underestimation of nutrients in the CFFQ of the YC group and in the AFFQ of the AD group. The medians of the sex-, age-, and energy-adjusted correlation coefficients were not different between the YC and AD groups for each FFQ. The correlation coefficient in sex-, age-, and energy-adjusted value revealed that the largest number of subject with high (0.50 or more) value was obtained by the CFFQ in the YC group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study indicated that the CFFQ might be a useful tool for assessing habitual dietary intake of children in the YC group. Although the CFFQ agreed moderately with habitual intake, it was found to underestimate intake in theAD group. However, for the AFFQ, the ability to rank habitual intake was low. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new FFQ or modify an existing FFQ to accurately assess the habitual diet of children in the AD group.</p

MASEP gamma knife radiosurgery for secretory pituitary adenomas: experience in 347 consecutive cases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Secretory pituitary adenomas are very common brain tumors. Historically, the treatment armamentarium for secretory pituitary adenomas included neurosurgery, medical management, and fractionated radiotherapy. In recent years, MASEP gamma knife radiosurgery (MASEP GKRS) has emerged as an important treatment modality in the management of secretory pituitary adenomas. The goal of this research is to define accurately the efficacy, safety, complications, and role of MASEP GKRS for treatment of secretory pituitary adenomas.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between 1997 and 2007 a total of 347 patients with secretory pituitary adenomas treated with MASEP GKRS and with at least 60 months of follow-up data were identified. In 47 of these patients some form of prior treatment such as transsphenoidal resection, or craniotomy and resection had been conducted. The others were deemed ineligible for microsurgery because of body health or private choice, and MASEP GKRS served as the primary treatment modality. Endocrinological, ophthalmological, and neuroradiological responses were evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MASEP GKRS was tolerated well in these patients under the follow-up period ranged from 60 to 90 months; acute radioreaction was rare and 17 patients had transient headaches with no clinical significance. Late radioreaction was noted in 1 patient and consisted of consistent headache. Of the 68 patients with adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting(ACTH) adenomas, 89.7% showed tumor volume decrease or remain unchanged and 27.9% experienced normalization of hormone level. Of the 176 patients with prolactinomas, 23.3% had normalization of hormone level and 90.3% showed tumor volume decrease or remain unchanged. Of the 103 patients with growth hormone-secreting(GH) adenomas, 95.1% experienced tumor volume decrease or remain unchanged and 36.9% showed normalization of hormone level.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MASEP GKRS is safe and effective in treating secretory pituitary adenomas. None of the patients in our study experienced injury to the optic apparatus or had other neuropathies related with gamma knife. MASEP GKRS may serve as a primary treatment method in some or as a salvage treatment in the others. However, treatment must be tailored to meet the patient's symptoms, tumor location, tumor morphometry, and overall health. Longer follow-up is required for a more complete assessment of late radioreaction and treatment efficacy.</p

Phospholipase D Family Member 4, a Transmembrane Glycoprotein with No Phospholipase D Activity, Expression in Spleen and Early Postnatal Microglia

BACKGROUND: Phospholipase D (PLD) catalyzes conversion of phosphatidylcholine into choline and phosphatidic acid, leading to a variety of intracellular signal transduction events. Two classical PLDs, PLD1 and PLD2, contain phosphatidylinositide-binding PX and PH domains and two conserved His-x-Lys-(x)(4)-Asp (HKD) motifs, which are critical for PLD activity. PLD4 officially belongs to the PLD family, because it possesses two HKD motifs. However, it lacks PX and PH domains and has a putative transmembrane domain instead. Nevertheless, little is known regarding expression, structure, and function of PLD4. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: PLD4 was analyzed in terms of expression, structure, and function. Expression was analyzed in developing mouse brains and non-neuronal tissues using microarray, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and immunocytochemistry. Structure was evaluated using bioinformatics analysis of protein domains, biochemical analyses of transmembrane property, and enzymatic deglycosylation. PLD activity was examined by choline release and transphosphatidylation assays. Results demonstrated low to modest, but characteristic, PLD4 mRNA expression in a subset of cells preferentially localized around white matter regions, including the corpus callosum and cerebellar white matter, during the first postnatal week. These PLD4 mRNA-expressing cells were identified as Iba1-positive microglia. In non-neuronal tissues, PLD4 mRNA expression was widespread, but predominantly distributed in the spleen. Intense PLD4 expression was detected around the marginal zone of the splenic red pulp, and splenic PLD4 protein recovered from subcellular membrane fractions was highly N-glycosylated. PLD4 was heterologously expressed in cell lines and localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Moreover, heterologously expressed PLD4 proteins did not exhibit PLD enzymatic activity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Results showed that PLD4 is a non-PLD, HKD motif-carrying, transmembrane glycoprotein localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. The spatiotemporally restricted expression patterns suggested that PLD4 might play a role in common function(s) among microglia during early postnatal brain development and splenic marginal zone cells