Curvature-induced phase transitions in the inflationary universe - Supersymmetric Nambu-Jona-Lasinio Model in de Sitter spacetime -

The phase structure associated with the chiral symmetry is thoroughly investigated in de Sitter spacetime in the supersymmetric Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model with supersymmetry breaking terms. The argument is given in the three and four space-time dimensions in the leading order of the 1/N expansion and it is shown that the phase characteristics of the chiral symmetry is determined by the curvature of de Sitter spacetime. It is found that the symmetry breaking takes place as the first order as well as second order phase transition depending on the choice of the coupling constant and the parameter associated with the supersymmetry breaking term. The critical curves expressing the phase boundary are obtained. We also discuss the model in the context of the chaotic inflation scenario where topological defects (cosmic strings) develop during the inflation.Comment: 29 pages, 6 figures, REVTe

A Model of Curvature-Induced Phase Transitions in Inflationary Universe

Chiral phase transitions driven by space-time curvature effects are investigated in de Sitter space in the supersymmetric Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model with soft supersymmetry breaking. The model is considered to be suitable for the analysis of possible phase transitions in inflationary universe. It is found that a restoration of the broken chiral symmetry takes place in two patterns for increasing curvature : the first order and second order phase transition respectively depending on initial settings of the four-body interaction parameter and the soft supersymmetry breaking parameter. The critical curves expressing the phase boundaries in these parameters are obtained. Cosmological implications of the result are discussed in connection with bubble formations and the creation of cosmic strings during the inflationary era.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, REVTe

Mass Hierarchies and the Seesaw Neutrino Mixing

We give a general analysis of neutrino mixing in the seesaw mechanism with three flavors. Assuming that the Dirac and u-quark mass matrices are similar, we establish simple relations between the neutrino parameters and individual Majorana masses. They are shown to depend rather strongly on the physical neutrino mixing angles. We calculate explicitly the implied Majorana mass hierarchies for parameter sets corresponding to different solutions to the solar neutrino problem.Comment: 11 pages, no figures, replaced with final version. Minor corrections and one typo corrected. Added one referenc

Adalimumab in Active and Inactive, Non-Infectious Uveitis: Global Results from the VISUAL I and VISUAL II Trials

PURPOSE: Report global adalimumab safety and efficacy outcomes in patients with non-infectious uveitis. METHODS: Adults with non-infectious intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis were randomized 1:1 to receive placebo or adalimumab in the VISUAL I (active uveitis) or VISUAL II (inactive uveitis) trials. Integrated global and Japan substudy results are reported. The primary endpoint was time to treatment failure (TF). RESULTS: In the integrated studies, TF risk was significantly reduced (hazard ratio [95% CI]) with adalimumab versus placebo (VISUAL I: HR = 0.56 [0.40-0.76], p < 0.001; VISUAL II: HR = 0.52 [0.37-0.74], p < 0.001). In Japan substudies, no consistent trends were observed between groups (VISUAL I: HR = 1.20 [0.41-3.54]; VISUAL II: HR = 0.45 [0.20-1.03]). Adverse event rates were similar between treatment groups in both studies (854 to 1063 events/100 participant-years). CONCLUSIONS: Adalimumab lowered time to TF versus placebo in the integrated population; no consistent trends were observed in Japan substudies. Safety results were consistent between studies

Direct CP violation in semi-inclusive flavor-changing neutral current decays in the MSSM without R−R-parity

Semi-inclusive decays, \hlx, are studied in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model without $R-$parity, where \qh (\ql) are the second or third (first or second) generation quarks with the same charge and $\xi$ is a vector meson formed by q_j \qb_j. The study is focused on the contributions of sfermions with $m_{\sf} < m_{\rm top}$. In this mass region, CP asymmetries in top decays can be induced by taking into account the decay-widths of the exchanged-bosons, while in light-quark decays it can be generated due to the long-distance effects. The contributions of sfermions also alter the branching-ratios destructively or constructively depend on the phases of complex couplings of the $R-$parity violation interactions.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, 6 figures are include

Pull-out simulations of a capped carbon nanotube in carbon nanotube-reinforced nanocomposites

Author name used in this publication: Zhou, L.2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory mechanisms in uveitis

The eye, as currently viewed, is neither immunologically ignorant nor sequestered from the systemic environment. The eye utilises distinct immunoregulatory mechanisms to preserve tissue and cellular function in the face of immune-mediated insult; clinically, inflammation following such an insult is termed uveitis. The intra-ocular inflammation in uveitis may be clinically obvious as a result of infection (e.g. toxoplasma, herpes), but in the main infection, if any, remains covert. We now recognise that healthy tissues including the retina have regulatory mechanisms imparted by control of myeloid cells through receptors (e.g. CD200R) and soluble inhibitory factors (e.g. alpha-MSH), regulation of the blood retinal barrier, and active immune surveillance. Once homoeostasis has been disrupted and inflammation ensues, the mechanisms to regulate inflammation, including T cell apoptosis, generation of Treg cells, and myeloid cell suppression in situ, are less successful. Why inflammation becomes persistent remains unknown, but extrapolating from animal models, possibilities include differential trafficking of T cells from the retina, residency of CD8(+) T cells, and alterations of myeloid cell phenotype and function. Translating lessons learned from animal models to humans has been helped by system biology approaches and informatics, which suggest that diseased animals and people share similar changes in T cell phenotypes and monocyte function to date. Together the data infer a possible cryptic infectious drive in uveitis that unlocks and drives persistent autoimmune responses, or promotes further innate immune responses. Thus there may be many mechanisms in common with those observed in autoinflammatory disorders

Inhibition of APN/CD13 leads to suppressed progressive potential in ovarian carcinoma cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13), a 150-kDa metalloprotease, is a multifunctional cell surface aminopeptidase with ubiquitous expression. Recent studies have suggested that APN/CD13 plays an important role in tumor progression of several human malignancies. In the current study, we investigated the role of APN/CD13 in ovarian carcinoma (OVCA) progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We first examined the expression of APN/CD13 at the protein level in a variety of OVCA cell lines and tissues. We subsequently investigated whether there was a correlation between APN/CD13 expression and invasive potential of various OVCA cell lines. Moreover, we investigated the function of APN/CD13 in OVCA cells using bestatin, an APN/CD13 inhibitor, or transfection of siRNA for APN/CD13.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We confirmed that APN/CD13 was expressed in OVCA tissues and cell lines to various extents. There was a positive correlation between APN/CD13 expression and migratory potential in various OVCA cell lines with accordingly enhanced secretion of endogenous MMP-2. Subsequently, we found a significant decrease in the proliferative and migratory abilities of OVCA cells after the addition of bestatin or the inhibition of APN/CD13 expression by siRNA. Furthermore, in an animal model, daily intraperitoneal administration of bestatin after inoculation of OVCA cells resulted in a decrease of peritoneal dissemination and in prolonged survival of nude mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The current data indicate the possible involvement of APN/CD13 in the development of OVCA, and suggest that clinical use of bestatin may contribute to better prognosis for ovarian carcinoma patients.</p