CP-like Symmetry with Discrete and Continuous Groups and CP Violation/Restoration

We study physical implications of general CP symmetry including CP-like symmetry. Various scattering amplitudes of CP asymmetry are calculated in CP-like symmetric models. We explicitly show that the CP-like transformation leads to a specific relation between different CP asymmetries. The resultant relation is similar to the one obtained in GUT baryogenesis and sphaleron processes, where we also obtain a required condition for generating particle number asymmetry in CP-like symmetric models. In addition, we propose a generalization of a CP-like transformation for continuous symmetry groups. Since the CP transformation is an outer automorphism, which depends on the internal symmetry group, it turns out that the physical CP and CP-like symmetries can be mutually converted through the spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) of the internal symmetry. We investigate properties of physical CP asymmetry in both CP and CP-like symmetric phases, and find that the spontaneous CP violation and restoration can be observed even in models with continuous groups. We demonstrate that CP-like symmetric models with continuous Lie groups can be naturally realized in physical CP symmetric models through the SSB.Comment: 50 pages, 1 figur

The Attributes of Japanese Corporate Governance Influencing the Quality of Internal Controls

This study examines the corporate governance characteristics that influence the improvement in the quality of internal controls. Previous studies suggest that corporate governance independence and expertise affect the quality of internal controls (Krishnan et al. 2005; Hoitash et al. 2009). In Japan, however, any company that discloses significant deficiencies (SD) in internal controls has the motive to increase the independence of corporate governance to mitigate any subsequent negative consequences. As a result, independent directors are made the scapegoats, rather than allowing them to fulfill the expectation of improvement in the quality of internal controls. On the other hand, directors with financial expertise that have a high status in a company do influence the improvement in SD in internal controls. This suggests that in Japan it is important to provide financial experts with the power and authority to improve the quality of internal controls in the short term, due to the difference in the provisions between the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (J-SOX) and the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX). The requirements in Japanese Corporate Law (JCL) for independent directors are not as strict as those within SOX. Therefore, companies in which the boards are able to promote expert directors to important positions improve the quality of internal controls more often than those that are not. It is thus revealed that auditors should be able to discuss with the financial experts as to what is required to improve any significant deficiencies that are detected in the process of internal control audits

Determination of ADAMTS13 and Its Clinical Significance for ADAMTS13 Supplementation Therapy to Improve the Survival of Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis

The liver plays a central role in hemostasis by synthesizing clotting factors, coagulation inhibitors, and fibrinolytic proteins. Liver cirrhosis (LC), therefore, impacts on both primary and secondary hemostatic mechanisms. ADAMTS13 is a metalloproteinase, produced exclusively in hepatic stellate cells, and specifically cleaves unusually large von Willebrand factor multimers (UL-VWFM). Deficiency of ADAMTS13 results in accumulation of UL-VWFM, which induces platelet clumping or thrombi under high shear stress, followed by sinusoidal microcirculatory disturbances and subsequent progression of liver injuries, eventually leading to multiorgan failure. The marked imbalance between decreased ADAMTS13 activity (ADAMTS13 : AC) and increased production of UL-VWFM indicating a high-risk state of platelet microthrombi formation was closely related to functional liver capacity, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and intractable ascites in advanced LC. Some end-stage LC patients with extremely low ADAMTS13 : AC and its IgG inhibitor may reflect conditions similar to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) or may reflect “subclinical TTP.” Hence, cirrhotic patients with severe to moderate deficiency of ADAMTS13 : AC may be candidates for FFP infusion as a source of ADAMTS13 or for recombinant ADAMTS13 supplementation. Such treatments may improve the survival of patients with decompensated LC

The E-box DNA binding protein Sgc1p suppresses the gcr2 mutation, which is involved in transcriptional activation of glycolytic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

AbstractGlycolytic gene expression is mediated by the Gcr1p-Gcr2p transcriptional activation complex. A screen for multicopy suppressors of gcr2 yielded SGC1. SGC1’s suppression activity was specific to gcr2, it did not extend to gcr1. Disruption of SGC1 moderately affected glycolytic enzyme activities, although no growth defect was evident. Sgc1p exhibits a bHLH motif which is characteristic of E-box DNA-binding proteins. DNA footprinting experiments demonstrated Sgc1p’s ability to bind at an E-box. However, its binding specificity was less than 10-fold, which is also characteristic of E-box binding proteins. LexA fusion experiments demonstrated that Sgc1p has weak intrinsic activating activity independent of GCR1 and GCR2. We propose that Sgc1p binds at E-boxes of glycolytic genes and contributes to their activation