Search for new physics via photon polarization of b→sγb \rightarrow s \gamma

We suggest a discriminant analysis of new physics beyond the standard model through a detection of photon polarization in a radiative B meson decay. This analysis is investigated in SUSY SU(5) GUT with right-handed neutrino and left-right symmetric models. New physics search via CP asymmetry in the same process are also evaluated in each model for comparison. We show that new physics can be found via detecting the photon polarization in a parameter space of TeV energy scale.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, v2:references added, v3:published versio

ALMA Observations of the Gravitational Lens SDP.9

We present long-baseline ALMA observations of the strong gravitational lens H-ATLAS J090740.0-004200 (SDP.9), which consists of an elliptical galaxy at $z_{\mathrm{L}}=0.6129$ lensing a background submillimeter galaxy into two extended arcs. The data include Band 6 continuum observations, as well as CO $J$=6$-$5 molecular line observations, from which we measure an updated source redshift of $z_{\mathrm{S}}=1.5747$. The image morphology in the ALMA data is different from that of the HST data, indicating a spatial offset between the stellar, gas, and dust component of the source galaxy. We model the lens as an elliptical power law density profile with external shear using a combination of archival HST data and conjugate points identified in the ALMA data. Our best model has an Einstein radius of $\theta_{\mathrm{E}}=0.66\pm0.01$ and a slightly steeper than isothermal mass profile slope. We search for the central image of the lens, which can be used constrain the inner mass distribution of the lens galaxy including the central supermassive black hole, but do not detect it in the integrated CO image at a 3$\sigma$ rms level of 0.0471 Jy km s$^{-1}$.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJL; 6 pages, 2 figures, 3 table

Light energy allocation at PSII under field light conditions: How much energy is lost in NPQ-associated dissipation?

In the field, plants are exposed to fluctuating light, where photosynthesis occurs under conditions far from a steady state. Excess energy dissipation associated with energy quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (qE) functions as an efficient photo-protection mechanism in photosystem II. PsbS is an important regulator of qE, especially for the induction phase of qE. Beside the regulatory energy dissipation, some part of energy is lost through relaxation of excited chlorophyll molecules. To date, several models to quantify energy loss through these dissipative pathways in PSII have been proposed. In this short review, we compare and evaluate these models for PSII energy allocation when they are applied to non-steady state photosynthesis. As a case study, an investigation on energy allocation to qE-associated dissipation at PSII under non-steady state photosynthesis using PsbS-deficient rice transformants is introduced. Diurnal and seasonal changes in PSII energy allocation in rice under natural light are also presented. Future perspective of studies on PSII energy allocation is discussed

Social Capital and Mental Health in Japan: A Multilevel Analysis

A national cross-sectional survey was conducted in Japan. This is because the growing recognition of the social determinants of health has stimulated research on social capital and mental health. In recent years, systematic reviews have found that social capital may be a useful factor in the prevention of mental illness. Despite these studies, evidence on the association between social capital and mental health is limited as there have been few empirical discussions that adopt a multilevel framework to assess whether social capital at the ecological level is associated with individual mental health. The aim of this study was to use the multilevel approach to investigate the association between neighborhood social capital and mental health after taking into account potential individual confounders.We conducted a multilevel analysis on 5,956 individuals nested within 199 neighborhoods. The outcome variable of self-reported mental health was measured by the one dimension of SF-36 and was summed to calculate a score ranging from 0 to 100. This study showed that high levels of cognitive social capital, measured by trust (regression coefficient = 9.56), and high levels of structural social capital, measured by membership in sports, recreation, hobby, or cultural groups (regression coefficient = 8.72), were associated with better mental health after adjusting for age, sex, household income, and educational attainment. Furthermore, after adjusting for social capital perceptions at the individual level, we found that the association between social capital and mental health also remained.Our findings suggest that both cognitive and structural social capital at the ecological level may influence mental health, even after adjusting for individual potential confounders including social capital perceptions. Promoting social capital may contribute to enhancing the mental health of the Japanese

Nuclear localization of beta-catenin involved in precancerous change in oral leukoplakia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oral leukoplakia is a precancerous change developed in the oral mucosa, and the mechanism that oral leukoplakia becomes malignant through atypical epithelium is not known. Here we compared the β-catenin expression detected by immunohistochemical staining in the normal oral epithelium and in the oral leukoplakia with or without dysplasia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The normal oral epithelium showed β-catenin expression only in the cell membrane, but not in the nuclei. In the oral leukoplakia without dysplasia, 7 out of 17 samples (41%) showed β-catenin expression in the cell membrane, and 5 samples (29%) showed expression in the nuclei. In the oral leukoplakia with dysplasia, nuclear expression of β-catenin was shown in 11 out of 12 samples (92%). Incidence of nuclear β-catenin expression was significantly different between dysplasia and normal oral epithelium (P < 0.01), and also between oral leukoplakia with dysplasia and those without dysplasia (P < 0.01). Wnt3 expression was detected in the epithelial cell membrane or cytoplasm in oral leukoplakia where nuclear expression of β-catenin was evident, but not in epithelial cells without nuclear expression of β-catenin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The components of canonical Wnt pathway, such as Wnt3, β-catenin, and cyclin D1, were detected, implying that this pathway is potentially involved in the progression of dysplasia in oral leukoplakia.</p

Inveterate dysplasic HIP - a surgical treatment

We assessed 50 patients (57 hips) with Hip development Inveterate Dysplasia, divided into 2 groups, according to treatments applied. Group A was constituted of 20 patients (24 hips), 2 males and 18 females, with mean age = 65.92m in which preoperative traction was employed for 2-4 weeks, when a bloody reduction, a Salter or Chiari osteotomy and a shortening and rotating-varusing intertrochanteric osteotomy were performed. Group B was formed by 30 patients (33 hips), 1 male and 29 females, with mean age = 52.88m. In those, a diaphyseal femoral osteotomy for shortening, bloody reduction, and Salter or Chiari osteotomy were performed. For X-ray evaluation, the following were analyzed: the Wiberg angle, avascular necrosis; femoral head roundness; discrepancy between lower limbs. For clinical evaluation purposes, we assessed: pain, Trendelenburg, neurological test and range of motion. Clinically, we observed 14 (58.33%) good outcomes and 10 (41.67%) fair outcomes for Group A, and 23 (69.70%) good and 10 (30.30%) fair outcomes for Group B. On X-Ray, outcomes were regarded as good in 9 (37.50%), fair in 5 (20.83%) and bad in 10 (41.67%) for Group A, and good in 23 (69.70%), fair in 5 (15.15%), and bad in 5 (15.15%) patients of Group B. After a statistical analysis, we found better outcomes in Group B.Avaliamos 50 pacientes (57 quadris) com Displasia do desenvolvimento do Quadril Inveterada, divididos em 2 grupos de acordo com o tratamento aplicado. O grupo A foi constituído por 20 pacientes (24 quadris), 2 masculinos e 18 femininos, com média das idades = 65,92m nos quais a tração pré-operatória foi utilizada por 2-4 semanas, quando realizou-se a redução cruenta, a osteotomia de Salter ou a de Chiari e a osteotomia intertrocantérica de encurtamento e rotação-varização. O grupo B foi composto por 30 pacientes (33 quadris), 1 masculino e 29 femininos, com média das idades = 52,88m. Nestes, foi realizada uma osteotomia femoral diafisária para encurtamento, redução cruenta e osteotomia de Salter ou Chiari. Para a avaliação radiográfica analisamos: ângulo de Wiberg, necrose avascular, esfericidade da cabeça femoral; discrepância entre os membros inferiores. Para a avaliação clínica consideramos: dor, Trendelenburg, exame neurológico e arco de movimento. Observamos, clinicamente, 14(58,33%) bons resultados e 10(41,67%) regulares no grupo A e 23(69,70%) bons e 10(30,30%) regulares no B. Radiograficamente, foram considerados 9(37,50%) bons, 5(20,83%) regulares e 10(41,67%) maus resultados no grupo A e 23(69,70%) bons, 5(15,15%) regulares e 5(15,15%) maus resultados no B. Após análise estatística, observamos melhores resultados no grupo B.UNIFESP-EPM DOTUNIFESP-EPM programa de Pós-graduação em Ortopedia e TraumatologiaUNIFESP, EPM, DOTUNIFESP, EPM programa de Pós-graduação em Ortopedia e TraumatologiaSciEL

Treatment of forearm fractures in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE: The treatment and the angular deviations tolerated in diaphyseal forearm fractures in children evoke divergent opinions in literature. In view of this controversy, we idealized this study to evaluate the preferred treatment methods for this injury, during the 39th Brazilian Congress on Orthopedics and Traumatology. METHODS: A total 759 questionnaires were answered (13% of total entrants). We addressed the general aspects of the study sample to obtain a profile of the orthopedic surgeons questioned. RESULTS: Two clinical subjects were presented, aged 12 (CASE 1) and 5 years old (CASE 2), along with radiographs depicting forearm diaphyseal fractures of these patients. Data was gathered and submitted to statistical analysis. The overall preferred treatment in CASE 1 was closed reduction and fixation with Kirschner wires (26%), while in case 2 it was closed reduction followed by plaster cast (46%). CONCLUSION: Among orthopedic surgeons less than 30 years old, the choice for less invasive treatments and greater acceptance of angular values prevailed in both cases. The traumatologists accepted lower angular values and tended towards more invasive treatments, particularly for CASE 2. On the other hand, the pediatric orthopedic surgeon prefers less invasive treatments and accepts greater angular deviations.OBJETIVO: O tratamento e os desvios angulares tolerados nas fraturas diafisárias do antebraço em crianças evoca opiniões divergentes na literatura. Frente a esta indefinição, idealizamos este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar transversalmente os métodos terapêuticos preferenciais para esta lesão durante o 39º Congresso Brasileiro de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. MÉTODO: Foram respondidos 759 questionários (13% do total de inscritos). Abordamos os aspectos gerais da amostra estudada para traçar o perfil do ortopedista questionado. Foram expostas duas situações clínicas em indivíduos de 12 (CASO 1) e 5 anos (CASO 2), sendo apresentadas radiografias com fraturas do antebraço destes pacientes. Os dados obtidos foram compilados e submetidos à análise estatística. RESULTADO: O tratamento mais indicado no CASO 1 foi redução incruenta e fixação com fios de Kirschner (26%), enquanto no CASO 2 foi redução incruenta seguida de aparelho gessado (46%). CONCLUSÃO: Entre os ortopedistas com menos de 30 anos, a escolha por tratamentos menos invasivos e aceitação de maiores angulações prevaleceu para ambos os casos. Os traumatologistas aceitam menor angulação e tendem aos tratamentos invasivos, particularmente para o CASO 2. Já o ortopedista pediátrico opta por tratamentos menos invasivos e aceita maiores desvios angulares.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaSciEL

Potential inhibitory effects of low-dose thoron inhalation and ascorbic acid administration on alcohol-induced hepatopathy in mice

Although thoron inhalation exerts antioxidative effects in several organs, there are no reports on whether it inhibits oxidative stress-induced damage. In this study, we examined the combined effects of thoron inhalation and ascorbic acid (AA) administration on alcohol-induced liver damage. Mice were subjected to thoron inhalation at 500 or 2000 Bq/m(3) and were administered 50% ethanol (alcohol) and 300 mg/kg AA. Results showed that although alcohol administration increased the levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in the serum, the combination of thoron inhalation (500 Bq/m(3)) and AA administration 24 h after alcohol administration effectively inhibited alcohol-induced liver damage. The combination of thoron inhalation (500 Bq/m(3)) and AA administration 24 h after alcohol administration increased catalase (CAT) activity. Alcohol administration significantly decreased glutathione (GSH) levels in the liver. The GSH content in the liver after 2000 Bq/m(3) thoron inhalation was lower than that after 500 Bq/m(3) thoron inhalation. These findings suggest that the combination of thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m(3) and AA administration has positive effects on the recovery from alcohol-induced liver damage. The results also suggested that thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m(3) was more effective than that at 2000 Bq/m(3), possibly because of the decrease in GSH content in the liver. In conclusion, the combination of thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m(3) and AA administration promoted an early recovery from alcohol-induced liver damage

Moment Tensor Analysis of Acoustic Emissions Induced by Laboratory-based Hydraulic Fracturing in Granite,

Moment Tensors of hydraulically induced AEs: Hydraulic fracturing is an important technique in the development of enhanced geothermal systems and unconventional resources. Although the fracture modes induced by hydraulic fracturing influence the recovery efficiency of the resources, the current understanding of this relationship is insufficient. In this study, we considered the acoustic emissions (AEs) induced during hydraulic fracturing under uniaxial loading conditions in the laboratory, and applied a moment tensor analysis by carefully correcting the coupling condition and directivity of AE transducers. Experiments were conducted for two types of Kurokami–jima granite samples: those with a rift plane perpendicular (Type H) or parallel (Type V) to the expected direction of fracture propagation (i.e. along the loading axis). In the experiments, both sample types experienced a significant number of shear, tensile and compressive events. The dominant fracture mode for Type H samples is found to be tensile events in which the fracture plane is parallel to the loading axis, whereas for Type V samples, shear events are dominant. This difference suggests that the dominant fracture modes induced by hydraulic fracturing are highly dependent on the relationship between the direction of fracture propagation and orientation of pre-existing weak planes