397 research outputs found
Large Mass Scale by Strong Gauge Dynamics with Infrared Fixed Point
We consider a mechanism for realizing the desired decoupling of
strongly-coupled sector which is supposed to generate hierarchical structure of
the Yukawa couplings. In our mechanism, the same strongly-coupled sector is
responsible for generating a sufficiently flat potential and a large vacuum
expectation value (VEV) of a gauge-singlet scalar field by suppressing its soft
scalar mass and self-coupling. Vacuum instability is caused by
supersymmetry-breaking A-term of order 10 TeV. We explicitly demonstrate the
infrared convergence of soft scalar masses due to strongly-coupled dynamics and
show the soft mass of the singlet is at most comparable to soft masses of
squarks and sleptons, which are much suppressed than the A-term. The physical
mass scale of the decoupling is calculated in a self-consistent way. We also
reinterpret the result in terms of a RG-improved effective potential.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, LaTeX (PTPTeX style
Genetic Study on Shell Shape and Growth-Related Traits in the Pacific Abalone Haliotis discus hannai
Amorphous thin GeSbTe phase-change films prepared by radical-assisted metal-organic chemical vapor deposition
AbstractAmorphous thin Ge2Sb2Te5 films were deposited by MOCVD (metal organic chemical vapor deposition) on three-dimensional structures. Ammonium gas, used as a reactant, reduced the deposition temperature to 150°C, which is lower than that of metal-organic precursors. Introducing nitrogen and hydrogen radicals made by decomposition of the ammonium gas further reduced the growth temperature. The lowest growth temperature producing a realistic growth rate was 100°C. Phase-change memory cells made of MOCVD-grown films were confirmed to have operation and reliability characteristics as good as those of conventional cells made of sputter-deposited films
Protective effects of cold spinoplegia with fasudil against ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits
ObjectiveParaplegia remains a serious complication after surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of fasudil, a Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, by reducing the number of infiltrating cells in the ventral horn and increasing the induction of eNOS against ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits.MethodsEighteen Japanese white rabbits were divided into three groups: saline (group 1, n = 7, 4°C) and fasudil (group 2, n = 6, 4°C) were immediately infused into the isolated segmental lumbar arteries over 30 seconds after aortic clamping. Group 3 (n = 5) was the sham-operated group. Hind limb function was evaluated 4 and 8 hours, and 1 and 2 days after 15 minutes of transient ischemia. Cell damage was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and temporal profiles of endothelial nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity were performed. The number of intact motor neuron cells and infiltrating cells in the ventral horn were compared.ResultsTwo days after reperfusion, group 2 and group 3 showed better neurologic function, a greater number of intact motor neuron cells, and a smaller number of infiltrating cells in the ventral horn than group 1. The induction of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was prolonged up to 2 days after reperfusion in group 2.ConclusionThese results indicate that fasudil has neuroprotective effects against ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits by reducing the number of infiltrating cells in the ventral horn and prolonging the expression of eNOS.Clinical RelevanceParaplegia or paralysis caused by spinal cord ischemia remains a devastating and unpredictable complication after descending and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery. This study has revealed that fasudil has a neuroprotective effect against ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits. Inhibition of the Rho/Rho kinase pathway by fasudil reduces the number of infiltrating cells in the ventral horn and prolongs the expression of eNOS. In the near future, Rho kinase may be an important therapeutic target for paraplegia induced by spinal cord ischemia
Evolutionally Conserved Function of Kisspeptin Neuronal System Is Nonreproductive Regulation as Revealed by Nonmammalian Study
The kisspeptin neuronal system, which consists of a neuropeptide kisspeptin and its receptor Gpr54, is considered in mammals a key factor of reproductive regulation, the so-called hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. However, in nonmammalian vertebrates, especially in teleosts, existence of kisspeptin regulation on the HPG axis is still controversial. In this study, we applied multidisciplinary techniques to a teleost fish, medaka, and examined possible kisspeptin regulation on the HPG axis. First, we generated knockout medaka for kisspeptin-related genes and found that they show normal fertility, gonadal maturation, and expression of gonadotropins. Moreover, the firing activity of GnRH1 neurons recorded by the patch clamp technique was not altered by kisspeptin application. Furthermore, in goldfish, in vivo kisspeptin administration did not show any positive effect on HPG axis regulation. However, as kisspeptin genes are completely conserved among vertebrates except birds, we surmised that kisspeptin should have some important nonreproductive functions in vertebrates. Therefore, to discover novel functions of kisspeptin, we generated a gpr54-1:enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transgenic medaka, whose gpr54-1–expressing cells are specifically labeled by EGFP. Analysis of neuronal projection of gpr54-1:EGFP–expressing neurons showed that these neurons in the ventrolateral preoptic area project to the pituitary and are probably involved in endocrine regulation other than gonadotropin release. Furthermore, combination of deep sequencing, histological, and electrophysiological analyses revealed various novel neural systems that are under control of kisspeptin neurons—that is, those expressing neuropeptide Yb, cholecystokinin, isotocin, vasotocin, and neuropeptide B. Thus, our new strategy to genetically label receptor-expressing neurons gives insights into various kisspeptin-dependent neuronal systems that may be conserved in vertebrates
The Results of a New Distal Protection Method in Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion of the Superficial Femoral Artery
Aims. To determine the efficacy of a new distal protection method in SFA CTO interventions.
Methods and Results. From June
2003 to February 2009, ninety-two consecutive,
chronic total occlusions of superficial femoral
arteries were treated with catheter-based
intervention using a bidirectional approach.
Nine of these cases were managed with our
original, distal protection method, based on
symptoms, angiographic images, wire resistance,
and intravascular ultrasound images. The average
age was 73 years; eight patients were male. The
mean occlusion length was 17.1 cm. A
distal protection balloon was inserted from the
retrograde sheath in the popliteal artery and
placed distal to the occluded lesion after
successful wire crossing. Lesion dilatation with
a balloon was performed antegradely and debris
was removed by 6Fr. guiding catheter. Debris was
retrieved from all lesions, consisting mainly of
thrombus. Where we decided not to use the distal
protection method, there was no distal
thromboembolism. Conclusion. In
SFA-CTO intervention, the risk of distal
embolization is 10%, which can be
anticipated and eliminated by the distal
protection method
Iodine-125 Seed Implantation (Permanent Brachytherapy) for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer
From January 2004 to March 2007, 308 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer were treated
using iodine-125 (125I) seed implantation (permanent brachytherapy) at Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences. We evaluated the treatment’s effi cacy and morbidity in 300 prostate cancer patients who were followed up for more than 1 month after brachytherapy. Based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, patients with a prostate volume of less than 40 ml in transrectal ultrasound imaging were classifi ed as low or intermediate
risk. The median patient age was 67 years (range 50 to 79 years), the median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value before biopsy was 6.95 ng/ml (range 1.13 to 24.7 ng/ml), and the median prostate volume was 24.33 ml (range 9.3 to 41.76 ml). The median follow-up was 18 months (range 1 to 36 months) and the PSA levels decreased in almost all patients after brachytherapy. Although 194 of 300 patients (64.7%) complained of diffi culty in urination, pollakisuria/urgency, miction pain, and/or urinary incontinence, all of which might be associated with radiation prostatitis during the fi rst month after brachytherapy, these symptoms gradually improved. 125I seed implantation brachytherapy is safe and eff ective for localized prostate cancer within short-term follow up.</p
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