105 research outputs found
Effects of the and of other processes on the mixing hierarchies in the four-generation model
We analyze in the four-generation model the first measurement of the
branching ratio of rare kaon decay , along with the
other processes of mass difference , CP-violating
parameter mixing, mixing,
, and the upper bound values of mixing
and , and try to search for mixing of the fourth
generation in the hierarchical mixing scheme of the Wolfenstein
parametrization. Using the results for the mixing of the fourth generation, we
discuss predictions of the mixing () and the
branching ratio of directly CP-violating decay process
, and the effects on the CP asymmetry in neutral B
meson decays and the unitarity triangle.Comment: 29 pages written in LaTex. 6 figures(drawn on LaTeX). Revised from
" in the four-generation model" of the same
Authors(TOKUSHIMA 99-1, January 1999). A minor chang
Reasons for Tooth Extractions in Japan: The Second Nationwide Survey
BACKGROUND: More than 10 years have passed since the first nationwide study on the reasons for tooth extraction in Japan. In the present study, we conducted the second nationwide survey to update the previous data. METHODS: This was a descriptive study. A sample population consisting of 5,250 dentists was selected by systematic random sampling using the 2018 membership directory of the Japan Dental Association. The reason for each permanent tooth extraction was documented by each dentist during a period of 1 week from June 4 to June 10, 2018. A questionnaire was provided for documentation. Reasons for tooth extraction were categorised into 6 groups as follows: caries, periodontal disease, fracture, orthodontics, impacted teeth, and others. RESULTS: A total of 2345 identified dentists responded to the questionnaire (recovery rate: 44.8%). Information on 7809 extracted teeth from 6398 patients was obtained. Periodontal disease was the main reason for tooth extraction for both sexes (men: 40.4%, women: 34.9%). Caries accounted for 30.2% of tooth extractions among men and 29.0% among women. Periodontal disease was predominant in the groups older than 55 years of age. Dental fracture accounted for 16.8% of tooth extractions among men and 19.2% among women. CONCLUSIONS: Caries and periodontal disease are still the main reasons for tooth extraction in Japan. Moreover, dentists should note that fractures accounted for approximately one-fifth of permanent tooth extractions after the age of 45 years
Self-Reported Diabetes Mellitus and Tooth Extraction Due to Periodontal Disease and Dental Caries in the Japanese Population
Diabetes mellitus is closely related to oral health. We aimed to determine the relationship between diabetes mellitus and tooth extraction due to periodontal disease and dental caries. Japan’s second nationwide survey data collected from 4 June to 10 June 2018 was used to identify reasons for tooth extraction among patients aged > 40 years. General dentists collected information on patients who underwent tooth extraction procedures, and the presence of diabetes mellitus was determined through interviews. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to investigate the relationship between diabetes mellitus and the reasons for tooth extraction, including periodontal disease and dental caries. In total, 2345 dentists responded to the survey (response rate 44.8%). We analyzed data on 4625 extracted teeth from 3750 patients (1815 males and 1935 females). Among patients with self-reported diabetes mellitus, 55.4% had extractions due to periodontal disease compared to 46.7% of such extractions among those without self-reported diabetes mellitus. Self-reported diabetes mellitus was significantly associated with tooth extraction due to periodontal disease. No significant differences were observed in dental caries according to self-reported diabetes mellitus status. This study provides further evidence of a significant association between diabetes mellitus and tooth extraction due to periodontal disease
New Physics in CP Asymmetries and Rare B Decays
We review and update the effects of physics beyond the standard model on CP
asymmetries in B decays. These asymmetries can be significantly altered if
there are important new-physics contributions to \bqbqbar mixing. This same new
physics will therefore also contribute to rare, flavor-changing B decays.
Through a study of such decays, we show that it is possible to partially
distinguish the different models of new physics.Comment: 42 pages, plain TeX (macros included), 1 figure (included). A few
sentences added, references updated. Present manuscript is now identical to
the version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
CP violation effect in long-baseline neutrino oscillation in the four-neutrino model
We investigate CP-violation effect in the long-baseline neutrino oscillation
in the four-neutrino model with mass scheme of the two nearly degenerate pairs
separated with the order of 1 eV, by using the data from the solar neutrino
deficit, the atmospheric neutrino anomaly and the LSND experiments along with
the other accelerator and reactor experiments. By use of the most general
parametrization of the mixing matrix with six angles and six phases, we show
that the genuine CP-violation effect could attain as large as 0.3 for and that the matter effect is negligibly
small such as at most 0.01 for for , which is the mass-squared difference relevant
to the long-baseline oscillation.Comment: 21 pages in LaTeX, 9 ps figures. Some changes in the Introduction and
Reference
Structural investigation of mechanically activated ZnO powder
Commercially available ZnO powder was mechanically activated in a planetary ball mill. In order to investigate the specific surface area, pore volume and microstructure of non-activated and mechanically activated ZnO powders the authors performed N-2 physisorption, SEM and TEM. Crystallite size and lattice microstrain were analyzed by X-ray diffraction method. XRD patterns indicate that peak intensities are getting lower and expend with activation time. The reduction in crystallite size and increasing of lattice microstrain with prolonged milling time were determined applying the Rietveld's method. The difference between non-activated and the activated powder has been also observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS is used for investigating the chemical bonding of ZnO powder by analyzing the energy of photoelectrons. The lattice vibration spectra were obtained using Raman spectroscopy. In Raman spectra some changes along with atypical resonant scattering were noticed, which were caused by mechanical activation
The Top Quark Decay Vertex in Standard Model Extensions
New physics interactions can affect the strength and structure of the
vertex. We investigate the magnitudes and phases of "anomalous" contributions
to this vertex in a two-Higgs doublet and the minimal supersymmetric extension
of the standard model, and in a top-color assisted technicolor (TC2) model.
While the magnitudes of the anomalous couplings remain below 1 percent in the
first two models, TC2 interactions can reduce the left-chiral coupling by
several percent.Comment: Latex, 27 pages, 14 figure
The analysis of 2-amino-2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid in the plasma of smokers and non-smokers
ATCA (2-amino-2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid) is a promising marker to assess cyanide exposure because of several advantages of ATCA analysis over direct determination of cyanide and alternative cyanide biomarkers (i.e. stability in biological matrices, consistent recovery, and relatively small endogenous concentrations). Concentrations of ATCA in the plasma of smoking and non-smoking human volunteers were analyzed using gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry to establish the feasibility of using ATCA as a marker for cyanide exposure. The levels of ATCA in plasma of smoking volunteers, 17.2 ng/ml, were found to be significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that of non-smoking volunteers, 11.8 ng/ml. Comparison of ATCA concentrations of smokers relative to non-smokers in both urine and plasma yielded relatively similar results. The concentration ratio of ATCA for smokers versus non-smokers in plasma and urine was compared to similar literature studies of cyanide and thiocyanate, and correlations are discussed. This study supports previous evidence that ATCA can be used to determine past cyanide exposure and indicates that further studies should be pursued to validate the use of ATCA as a marker of cyanide exposure
Safety and pharmacokinetics of recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (rh-HGF) in patients with fulminant hepatitis: a phase I/II clinical trial, following preclinical studies to ensure safety
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) stimulates hepatocyte proliferation, and also acts as an anti-apoptotic factor. Therefore, HGF is a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of fatal liver diseases. We performed a translational medicine protocol with recombinant human HGF (rh-HGF), including a phase I/II study of patients with fulminant hepatitis (FH) or late-onset hepatic failure (LOHF), in order to examine the safety, pharmacokinetics, and clinical efficacy of this molecule.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Potential adverse effects identified through preclinical safety tests with rh-HGF include a decrease in blood pressure (BP) and an increase in urinary excretion of albumin. Therefore, we further investigated the effect of rh-HGF on circulatory status and renal toxicity in preclinical animal studies. In a clinical trial, 20 patients with FH or LOHF were evaluated for participation in this clinical trial, and four patients were enrolled. Subjects received rh-HGF (0.6 mg/m<sup>2</sup>/day) intravenously for 12 to 14 days.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We established an infusion method to avoid rapid BP reduction in miniature swine, and confirmed reversibility of renal toxicity in rats. Although administration of rh-HGF moderately decreased BP in the participating subjects, this BP reduction did not require cessation of rh-HGF or any vasopressor therapy; BP returned to resting levels after the completion of rh-HGF infusion. Repeated doses of rh-HGF did not induce renal toxicity, and severe adverse events were not observed. Two patients survived, however, there was no evidence that rh-HGF was effective for the treatment of FH or LOHF.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Intravenous rh-HGF at a dose of 0.6 mg/m<sup>2 </sup>was well tolerated in patients with FH or LOHF; therefore, it is desirable to conduct further investigations to determine the efficacy of rh-HGF at an increased dose.</p
Role of the Functional Toll-Like Receptor-9 Promoter Polymorphism (-1237T/C) in Increased Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease:A Case-Control Study
Inflammation induced by infectious and noninfectious triggers in the kidney may lead to end stage renal disease (ESRD). Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) a receptor for CpG DNA is involved in activation of immune cells in renal disease and may contribute to chronic inflammatory disease progression through an interleukin-6 (IL-6) dependent pathway. Previous studies indicate that -1237T/C confers regulatory effects on TLR-9 transcription. To date the effect of TLR-9 polymorphisms on ESRD remains unknown. We performed a case-control study and genotyped 630 ESRD patients and 415 controls for -1237T/C, -1486T/C and 1635G/A by real-time PCR assays and assessed plasma concentration of IL-6 by ELISA. Haplotype association analysis was performed using the Haploview package. A luciferase reporter assay and real-time PCR were used to test the function of the -1237T/C promoter polymorphism. A significant association between -1237T/C in TLR-9 and ESRD was identified. The TCA, TTA and CCA haplotype of TLR-9 were associated with ESRD. ESRD patients carrying -1237TC had a higher mean plasma IL-6 level when compared with -1237TT. The TLR-9 transcriptional activity of the variant -1237CC allele is higher than the -1237TT allele. The results indicate that in a Han Chinese population the presence of the C allele of -1237T/C in the TLR-9 gene increases susceptibility towards development of ESRD. In vitro studies demonstrate that -1237T/C may be involved in the development of ESRD through transcriptional modulation of TLR-9
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