Leptogenesis Scenarios via Non-Thermally Produced Right-handed Neutrino and Sneutrino in Supersymmetric Seesaw Model

We reconsidered leptogenesis scenario from right-handed (s)neutrino produced by the decay of inflaton. Besides the well-investigated case that the neutrino decays instantaneously after the production, leptogenesis is possible if neutrino decays after it dominates the universe. In the latter case, right-handed (s)neutrino can decay either while it is relativistic or after it becomes non-relativistic. Especially, the first case has not been discussed seriously in literatures. Resultant lepton asymmetry and constraints from the gravitino problem are studied in broad parameter region, including all cases of this scenario. It is also shown how this leptogenesis scenario depends on the parameters, the inflaton decay rate (the reheating temperature), the right-handed neutrino mass, the washout parameter, and the constraint from the gravitino problem. Leptogenesis from relativistic neutrino decay is interesting because both thermal and non-thermal gravitino problems can be relaxed.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

Signal Changes in the Brain on Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging Under Reduced Cerebral Blood Flow: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVES: To reveal the characteristics of susceptibility‐weighted imaging (SWI) under low cerebral blood flow (CBF) induced by hyperventilation (HV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the institutional review board. Informed consent was obtained. Six healthy volunteers (5 men, 1 woman; mean age, 29 years; range, 24‐33 years) underwent SWI and arterial spin labeling perfusion imaging under normal ventilation (NV) and HV at 3.0 T. Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) of the frontal lobe (FL) and occipital lobe (OL). Intensities of ROIs were compared between NV and HV. Contrast of veins compared with adjacent cerebral parenchyma (CV) was also compared between NV and HV. RESULTS: CBF during HV (CBFHV) was decreased compared with CBF during NV (CBFNV) (29.1 ± 4.6%). FL‐GMHV and OL‐GMHV showed significant signal decreases compared with FL‐GMNV and OL‐GMNV, respectively (P= .018, .017). CVHV was significantly increased compared with CVNV (164.1 ± 29.9%) (P= .00019). CONCLUSIONS: SWI sensitively reflects HV‐induced decreases in CBF. The present results might assist in the interpretation of SWI in clinical practice, since CBF decreases might also influence signal changes on SWI

Chemotherapy on QOL and night sleep of CC patients

Background : The aim of this study was to investigate quality of life (QOL) and night-time sleep disturbance in colon cancer patients with middle risk chemotherapy for proper antiemetic therapy. Methods : The study enrolled 139 patients with colorectal cancer. All patients received oxaliplatin or irinotecan-based chemotherapy. Patients completed a questionnaire about chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance was checked, and the relationship between sleep disturbance and nausea was analyzed. Results : The prevalence of nausea was 48.9% (68 / 139). The degree of the nausea was slight / moderate / severe in 51 / 11 / 6 patients, and 12 patients had vomiting. Appetite showed no change / slightly decreased / half / one-fourth / none in 51 / 34 / 33 / 6 / 7 patients. There were significant differences in the mental component summary (MCS) score and the role-social component score (RCS). (MCS : nausea(+) vs nausea(-) 46.4 ± 1.1 vs 54.1 ± 1.1 p < 0.01 RCS : nausea(+) vs nausea(-) 33.1 ± 2.1 vs 41.6 ± 2.1 p < 0.01). Using the MCS with a cut-off score of 50, patients were divided into two groups, and nausea was significantly correlated with a low MCS score. Furthermore, patients were divided into two groups using a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index cut-off score of 6, and sleep disturbance was correlated with old age and second-line chemotherapy. Conclusions : Nausea affects QOL and night-time sleep of colon cancer patients with middle risk chemotherapy

Incidence of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection of an anti-VEGF agent with or without topical antibiotics

Intravitreal injection (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the standard treatment modality in various types of retinal diseases. However, endophthalmitis remains the most serious complication. Despite the lack of evidence that antibiotics prevent endophthalmitis, topical antibiotics are still used routinely in Japan. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study by analyzing records from patients who underwent IVI of anti-VEGF agents with or without antibiotic treatment. In the analysis of a total of 147,440 eyes, the incidence of endophthalmitis was 0.007%: 0.005% with no use of antibiotics, 0.009% with antibiotic pretreatment, 0.012% with posttreatment, and 0.005% with pre- and posttreatment. There was no statistically significant difference among the four groups (chi-square test, p = 0.57). Most facilities used masks, sterilized gloves, and drapes. Nine of the 10 eyes that developed endophthalmitis received topical antibiotics, and all infected eyes underwent IVI with aflibercept, not the prefilled syringe delivery system. In four patients who received multiple IVI, the detection of causative bacteria revealed resistance to used antibiotics. Data from this large population, treated with or without antibiotics, suggests that antibiotic prophylaxis does not reduce the rate of endophthalmitis after IVI

R&D Progress of HTS Magnet Project for Ultrahigh-field MRI

Proceedings of the 28th International Symposium on Superconductivity (ISS 2015) November 16-18, 2015, Tokyo, JapanAn R&D project on high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets using rare-earth Ba2Cu3O7 (REBCO) wires was started in 2013. The project objective is to investigate the feasibility of adapting REBCO magnets to ultrahigh field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. REBCO wires are promising components for UHF-MRI magnets because of their superior superconducting and mechanical properties, which make them smaller and lighter than conventional ones. Moreover, REBCO magnets can be cooled by the conduction-cooling method, making liquid helium unnecessary. In the past two years, some test coils and model magnets have been fabricated and tested. This year is the final year of the project. The goals of the project are: (1) to generate a 9.4 T magnetic field with a small test coil, (2) to generate a homogeneous magnetic field in a 200 mm diameter spherical volume with a 1.5 T model magnet, and (3) to perform imaging with the 1.5 T model magnet. In this paper, the progress of this R&D is described. The knowledge gained through these R&D results will be reflected in the design of 9.4 T MRI magnets for brain and whole body imaging

A new species of the genus Larutia (Squamata: Scincidae) from Gunung Penrissen Sarawak, Borneo

Fukuyama, Ibuki, Hikida, Tsutomu, Hossman, Mohamad Yazid, Nishikawa, Kanto (2019): A new species of the genus Larutia (Squamata: Scincidae) from Gunung Penrissen Sarawak, Borneo. Zootaxa 4661 (3): 522-532, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4661.3.