Light Scalar Decay in Diquark Chiral Effective Theory

We calculate the decay rate of light scalar mesons, using a diquark chiral effective theory, recently proposed to describe exotic hadrons. In the effective theory the light scalar mesons are postulated to be bound states of diquark and anti-diquark. We find our results are in good agreement with experimental data. The axial couplings of diquarks with pions and kaons are found to be quite small and the perturbation is reliable. It shows that the diquark picture captures the correct physics of light scalar mesons.Comment: 9pages, 4figures, RevTeX

Infinitely many 4d N=1 SCFTs with a=c

We study a rich set of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) with both central charges identical: $a = c$. We construct them via the diagonal $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauging of the flavor symmetry $G$ of a collection of $\mathcal{N}=2$ Argyres--Douglas theories of type $\mathcal{D}_p(G)$, with or without additional adjoint chiral multiplets. In this way, we construct infinitely-many theories that flow to interacting SCFTs with $a = c$ in the infrared. Finally, we briefly highlight the features of the SCFTs without $a = c$ that arise from generalizing this construction.Comment: 43 pages+references, 11 figures, 5 table

Higher order corrections to Color superconducting gaps

We find a (nonlocal) gauge where the wavefunction renormalization constant does not get any corrections for all momenta in the hard-dense loop approximation. In this gauge, we solve the Schwinger-Dyson equations for the diquark condensate in dense QCD to calculate the Cooper pair gap. We determine not only the exponent but also the prefactor of the gap in a gauge independent way. We find that the higher order corrections increase the gap only by about 1.6 times to the leading order gap at Coulomb gauge.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, RevTeX, Minor modification

Public Transportation Service Evaluations Utilizing Seoul Transportation Card Data

AbstractThis study evaluated transit service performance in Seoul using data collected from the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system in Seoul. The distance-based fare system in Seoul allows a maximum of four transfers with no additional charges to encourage transit ridership. In order to analyze the transit transfers, this study developed quantitative indicators for public transportation evaluations differentiated from those of previous studies by the fact that it utilizes data mining techniques which incorporate massive amounts of data (over 10 million transits per day) derived from the smart card system. This study not only carried out an evaluation to improve public transportation quality but provided comparative analysis of the mobility handicapped and an evaluation of public transportation users’ regional equity. This evaluative analysis of Level of Services (LOS) for various items is expected to be adopted for analyzing LOS status and generating improvement priorities and to be utilized as an objective database for public transportation policy decisions

Perampanel Affects Up-Stream Regulatory Signaling Pathways of GluA1 Phosphorylation in Normal and Epileptic Rats

To elucidate the pharmacological properties of perampanel [2-(2-oxo-1-phenyl-5-pyridin-2-yl-1,2-dihydropyridin-3-yl)benzonitrile, a novel non-competitive antagonist of AMPA receptor], we investigated its effects on the up-stream regulatory pathways of GluA1 phosphorylation including protein kinase C (PKC), Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CAMKII), protein kinase A (PKA), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), protein phosphatase (PP) 1, PP2A, and PP2B in normal and pilocarpine-induced epileptic rat model using Western blot analysis. In normal animals, perampanel affected GluA1 expression/phosphorylation, PKC, CAMKII, PKA, ERK1/2, JNK, and PPs activities. In epileptic rats, perampanel effectively inhibited spontaneous seizure activities. Perampanel enhanced phospho (p)-GluA1-S831 and -S845 ratios (phosphoprotein/total protein), while it reduced GluA1 expression. Perampanel also increased pCAMKII and pPKA ratios, which phosphorylate GluA1-S831 and -S845 site, respectively. Perampanel elevated pJNK and pPP2B ratios, which phosphorylates and dephosphorylates both GluA1-S831 and -S845 sits. Perampanel also increased pERK1/2 ratio in epileptic animals, while U0126 (an ERK1/2 inhibitor) did not affect pGluA1 ratios. Perampanel did not influence PKC, PP1, and PP2A expression levels and their phosphorylation ratios. In addition, perampanel did not have a detrimental impact on cognitive abilities of epileptic and normal rats in Morris water maze test. These findings suggest that perampanel may regulate AMPA receptor functionality via not only blockade of AMPA receptor but also the regulations of multiple molecules (CAMKII, PKA, JNK, and pPP2B)-mediated GluA1 phosphorylations without negative effects on cognition, although the effects of perampanel on PKC, PP1, and PP2A activities were different between normal and epileptic rats

Rationale of decreasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol below 70 mg/dL in patients with coronary artery disease: A retrospective virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound study

Background: The associations between statin and coronary plaque compositional changes were re­ported according to the use of high dose or not. An evaluation of the impact of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) < 70 mg/dL by using real world dosages of statin on coronary plaque composition was undertaken. Methods: The study subjects consisted of 61 patients (mean 59.9 years old, 45 males) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, baseline and follow-up (F/U; mean 8.4 months) virtual histology- -intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) examination. Change of plaque composition at peri-stent area, which was selected in order to measure the identical site at F/U study, was compared according to the F/U LDL-C level. Results: Body mass index, prevalence of dyslipidemia, baseline total cholesterol and baseline LDL-C were significantly lower in F/U LDL-C < 70 mg/dL group (14 segments in 10 patients) than F/U LDL-C ≥ 70 mg/dL group (79 segments in 51 patients). F/U high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00–1.11, p = 0.054) and F/U LDL-C < 70 mg/dL (OR 3.43, 95% CI 0.97–12.17, p = 0.056) showed strong tendency of regression of necrotic core volume (NCV) ≥ 10%. In multivariable logis­tic regression analysis, F/U HDL-C (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.14, p = 0.020) and F/U LDL-C < 70 mg/dL (OR 8.02, 95% CI 1.58–40.68, p = 0.012) were the independent factors for regression of NCV ≥ 10%. Conclusions: Follow-up LDL-C level < 70 mg/dL with any types of statins and increase of HDL-C were associated with regression of NCV ≥ 10% in patients with coronary artery disease

Complete Binocular Blindness as the First Manifestation of HIV-Related Cryptococcal Meningitis

Ocular complications of HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis are reasonably common, but complete binocular blindness as the first manifestation of HIV is extremely rare. A 58-year-old man presented with binocular blindness. He experienced blurred vision for 3 days before the blindness. Mild pleocytosis was present in the cerebrospinal fluid, from which Cryptococcus neoformans was cultured. Serology revealed positivity for HIV antibody. He was treated with antifungal and antiretroviral therapy. This case indicates that HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis should be taken into consideration when determining the cause of unexpected sudden binocular blindness

A Case of Fabry's Disease with Congenital Agammaglobulinemia

Fabry's disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by abnormalities in the α-galactosidase A (GLA) gene, which leads to a GLA deficiency and to the intracellular deposition of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) within vascular endothelium and other tissues. It manifests as progressive multiple organ dysfunctions caused by the deposition of Gb3. On the other hand, congenital agammaglobulinemia is usually caused by mutations in Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) gene with X-linked dominence, suppresses B cell maturation, and causes recurrent pyogenic infections. In former reports, the distance between the loci in the Xq22 region of the human X chromosome was found to be about 69 kilobases. A 23-yr-old man diagnosed with congenital agammaglobulinemia at age 5, showed typical clinical and laboratory and histopathological findings of Fabry's disease. The genetic basis of this combination of the two syndromes was studied in this patient. Here, we report a case of Fabry's disease with congenital agammaglobulinemia