Constraints from Unrealistic Vacua in Supersymmetric Standard Model with Neutrino Mass Operators

We analyze a scalar potential of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) with neutrino mass operators along Unbounded-From-Below (UFB) and Color and/or Charged Breaking (CCB) directions. We show necessary conditions to avoid the potential minima which can be deeper than the realistic vacuum. These conditions would constrain more strongly than conditions in the MSSM without taking into account neutrino mass operators, and can improve the predictive power of supersymmetric models with neutrino mass operators.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Stress factors in nursing students

看護学専攻の大学生1～4年生を対象に,ストレッサ一,ストレス反応におけるHealth Locus of Controlとソーシャルサポートの効果等に関する質問紙調査を行った結果,次の点が明らかになった｡ 1. ストレス反応(全体),不安･怒り･抑うつに関して,いずれもHLCの高群のほうが,低群よりも心身の健康度が高いことが明らかになった｡ 2. ソーシャルサポートの高低によるストレス反応に,有意な差は認められなかった｡また,ストレス反応に対する直接的影響も見られなかった｡しかしながら,下位項目である母親サポートについては,ストレス反応の抑制に効果のあることが明らかになった｡ 3. ストレッサ-では,1・2年生はクラブ活動が最も多く,次に学業が多かった｡3・ 4年生も学業が最も多かった｡ 4. サポート源では,4年生が他の学年より教員サポート人数において,高い値を示していた｡それに対し,1・2年生と教員の関わりは少ないということが明らかになった｡Stress factors in undergraduate students from freshmen to the fourth grade in a nursing school were studied using questionnaires. In particular, focuses were given to stressors, effect of Health Locus of Control (HLC) and social support on stress reaction. 1 . Stress reactions such as anxiety, anger and depression have lower scores in a group with high HLC than that with low HLC. Thus, the higher group has a better degree of mental health. 2 . There is no appreciable difference in stress reactions between groups with much and little social support. However, support from their mothers has great effects on suppressing their stress reactions. 3 . Club activity is the major, and study and practice are the second factors of stressors in the freshmen and the second grade. Study and practice are the major stressor in the third and the fourth grade students. 4 . Various kinds of support from teachers yielded high scores in the fourth grade students particularly. On the other hand, freshmen and the second grade students have less relation contact with teachers

Adverse effects of inhaled sand dust particles on the respiratory organs of sheep and goats exposed to severe sand storms in Mongolia

Sand storms in Mongolia have increased in frequency and scale, resulting in increased exposure of the inhabitants of Asian countries, including Japan and Korea, to Asian sand dust (ASD), which results in adverse effects on the respiratory system. However, there is no information on the health risks of severe sand storms in domestic animals in Mongolia. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of sand dust particles on the respiratory organs, including the lungs and tracheobronchial lymph nodes, of sheep and goats exposed to severe sand storms in Mongolia. Seven adult sheep and 4 adult goats that had been exposed to sand storms and 3 sheep with no history of exposure were included in this study. Lung tissues and tracheobronchial lymph nodes were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. The mineralogical contents of the lungs and lymph nodes were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Fibrosis and granulomatous lesions comprising macrophages containing fine sand dust particles were observed exclusively in the lungs of sheep and goats exposed to sand storms. The activity of macrophages was also demonstrated by the presence of IL-6, TNF, and lysozyme. In addition, silicon, which is the major element of ASD (kosa aerosol), was detected exclusively in the lung tissues of the exposed animals. Our findings suggest that exposure to sand dust particles may affect the respiratory systems of domestic animals during their relatively short life span

Pathological study of chronic pulmonary toxicity induced by intratracheally instilled Asian sand dust (Kosa): possible association of fibrosis with the development of granulomatous lesions

Introduction. Exposure to Asian sand dust (ASD) is associated with enhanced pulmonary morbidity and mor­tality, and the reporting of such cases has rapidly increased in East Asia since 2000. The purpose of the study was to assess chronic lung toxicity induced by ASD. Material and methods. A total of 174 ICR mice were randomly divided into 5 control and 17 exposure groups. Suspensions of low dose (0.2, 0.4 mg) and high dose (3.0 mg) of ASD particles in saline were intratracheally instilled into ICR mice, followed by sacrifice at 24 hours, 1 week, and 1, 2, 3 and 4 months after instillation. Paraffin sections of lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and by immunohistochemistry to detect α-smooth muscle actin, collagen III, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), CD3, CD20, immunoglobulin G, interleukin-1β and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Results. A lung histological examination revealed similar patterns in the lesions of the groups treated with high (3.0 mg) or low dose (0.4 mg) of ASD. Acute inflammation was observed 24 h after treatment and subsided after 1 week; persistent granulomatous changes were observed at 2 months, focal lymphocytic infiltration at 3 months, and granuloma formation at 4 months. An increase in the size of granulomatous lesions was observed over time and was accompanied by collagen deposition in the lesions. The cytoplasm of macrophages in inflammatory lesions showed positive immunolabeling for MMP-9 at 24 h, 1 and 2 months after instillation of 3.0 mg of ASD. Positive immunolabeling for TIMP-1 was demonstrated in the cytoplasm of macrophages at 2 and 4 months after instillation of 3.0 mg of ASD. These findings suggest association between the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 with the development of lung granulomatous lesions. Conclusions. These findings suggest that collagen deposition resulting from the altered regulation of extracel­lular matrix is associated with granuloma formation in the lungs of mice treated with ASD

Subtype and targeted therapy for TNBC

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogenous disease. For personalized medicine, it is essential to identify and classify tumor subtypes to develop effective therapeutic strategies. Although gene expression profiling has identified several TNBC subtypes, classification of these tumors remains complex. Most TNBCs exhibit an aggressive phenotype, but some rare types have a favorable clinical course. In this review, we summarize the classification and characteristics related to the various TNBC subtypes, including the rare types. Therapeutic methods that are suitable for each subtype are also discussed. Of the intrinsic breast cancer subtypes identified by gene expression analysis, the basal-like subtype specifically displayed decreased expression of an estrogen receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) cluster. We also present results that characterize the TNBC and basal-like phenotypes. TNBC may be categorized into four major classes : basal-like, immune-enriched, mesenchymal, and luminal androgen receptor. Therapeutic strategies for each subtype have been proposed along with newly approved targeted therapies for TNBC, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Understanding the classification of TNBC based on gene expression profiling in association with clinicopathological factors will facilitate accurate pathological diagnosis and effective treatment selection

H-wave -- A Python package for the Hartree-Fock approximation and the random phase approximation

H-wave is an open-source software package for performing the Hartree--Fock approximation (HFA) and random phase approximation (RPA) for a wide range of Hamiltonians of interacting fermionic systems. In HFA calculations, H-wave examines the stability of several symmetry-broken phases, such as anti-ferromagnetic and charge-ordered phases, in the given Hamiltonians at zero and finite temperatures. Furthermore, H-wave calculates the dynamical susceptibilities using RPA to examine the instability toward the symmetry-broken phases. By preparing a simple input file for specifying the Hamiltonians, users can perform HFA and RPA for standard Hamiltonians in condensed matter physics, such as the Hubbard model and its extensions. Additionally, users can use a Wannier90-like format to specify fermionic Hamiltonians. A Wannier90 format is implemented in RESPACK to derive ab initio Hamiltonians for solids. HFA and RPA for the ab initio Hamiltonians can be easily performed using H-wave. In this paper, we first explain the basis of HFA and RPA, and the basic usage of H-wave, including download and installation. Thereafter, the input file formats implemented in H-wave, including the Wannier90-like format for specifying the interacting fermionic Hamiltonians, are discussed. Finally, we present several examples of H-wave such as zero-temperature HFA calculations for the extended Hubbard model on a square lattice, finite-temperature HFA calculations for the Hubbard model on a cubic lattice, and RPA in the extended Hubbard model on a square lattice.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure