Tunneling in Quantum Cosmology and Holographic SYM theory

We study the time evolution of early universe which is developed by a cosmological constant $\Lambda_4$ and supersymmetric Yang-Mills (SYM) fields in the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) space-time. The renormalized vacuum expectation value of energy-momentum tensor of the SYM theory is obtained in a holographic way. It includes a radiation of the SYM field, parametrized as $C$. The evolution is controlled by this radiation $C$ and the cosmological constant $\Lambda_4$. For positive $\Lambda_4$, an inflationary solution is obtained at late time. When $C$ is added, the quantum mechanical situation at early time is fairly changed. Here we perform the early time analysis in terms of two different approaches, (i) the Wheeler-DeWitt equation and (ii) Lorentzian path-integral with the Picard-Lefschetz method by introducing an effective action. The results of two methods are compared.Comment: 28 pages, 10 figure

Andreev reflection between a normal metal and the FFLO superconductor

We consider a process of the Andreev reflection between a normal metal and the s-wave superconductor in the FFLO state. It is shown that the process takes place if the energy of the incoming electron is bound within the finite interval called the Andreev window. The position of the window determines the value of the non-zero total momentum of Cooper pairs and the value of the gap

Instability of holographic cold compact stars with a color superconducting core

We study a holographic model of quantum chromodynamics, which can describe a color superconductor and a dilute nucleon gas phase. The two phases are adjoined in the phase diagram at a critical value of the chemical potential. In other words, a first-order transition from the ordinary nucleon gas to the color superconductor is found by increasing the chemical potential. This model is suitable to investigate the possibility of a cold compact star with a color superconducting core. The equation of state of the star is given by the holographic model considered in this article, and we find that it is impossible in the present model to find a hybrid star of nuclear matter and the color superconductor core through the relation of mass and radius of the star by solving the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equations. Several other interesting implications are given by using the equation of state.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figures, version accepted for publication in PRD. Title changed following the referee's suggestio

A strong association of axillary osmidrosis with the wet earwax type determined by genotyping of the ABCC11 gene

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Two types of cerumen occur in humans: the wet type with brownish, sticky earwax, and the dry type with a lack of or reduced ceruminous secretion. The wet type is common in populations of European and African origin, while the dry type is frequently seen in Eastern Asian populations. An association between axillary odor and the wet-type earwax was first identified approximately 70 years ago. The data were based on a phenotypical analysis of the two phenotypes among the Japanese by a researcher or by self-declaration of the subjects examined, and were not obtained using definite diagnostic methods. Recently, we identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; rs17822931) of the <it>ABCC11 </it>gene as the determinant of the earwax types. In the present study, to determine whether the SNP can serve as a diagnostic marker for axillary osmidrosis (AO), we examined genotypes at rs17822931 in 79 Japanese AO individuals. AO was defined here as a clinical condition of individuals with a deep anxiety regarding axillary odor and had undergone the removal of bilateral axillary apocrine glands.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A comparison of the frequencies of genotypes at rs17822931 in the 79 AO individuals and in 161 Japanese from the general population showed that AO was strongly associated with the wet earwax genotype. A total of 78 (98.7%) of 79 AO patients had either the GG or GA genotype, while these genotypes were observed in 35.4% (57/161) of the subjects from the general population (<it>p </it>< 1.1 × 10^-24, by Fisher's exact test).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The strong association between the wet-earwax associated <it>ABCC11-</it>genotypes (GG and GA) and AO identified in this study indicates that the genotypes are good markers for the diagnosis of AO. In addition, these results suggest that having the allele G is a prerequisite for the axillary odor expression. In other words, the ABCC11 protein may play a role in the excretory function of the axillary apocrine gland. Together, these results suggest that when an AO individual visiting a hospital is diagnosed with dry-type earwax by <it>ABCC11</it>-genotyping, surgical removal of their axillary glands may not be indicated.</p

A Genome-wide Linkage Analysis and Mutation Analysis of Hereditary Congenital Blepharoptosis in a Japanese Family

Hereditary congenital ptosis (PTOS) is defined as drooping of the upper eyelid without any other accompanying symptoms and distinguished from syndromic blepharoptosis.Two previous linkage analyses assigned a PTOS locus (PTOS1) to 1p32-p34.1 and another (PTOS2) to Xq24-q27.1. In addition, in a sporadic case with a balanced chromosomal translocation t(1;8)(p34.3;q21.12), the ZFHX4 (zinc finger homeodomain 4) gene was found to be disrupted at the 8q21.12 breakpoint, but there was no gene at the 1p34.3 breakpoint, suggesting the existence of the third PTOS locus (PTOS1) at 8q21.12. We carried out a genome-wide linkage analysis in a Japanese PTOS family and calculated two-point and multipoint LOD scores with reduced penetrance. Haplotype analysis gave three candidate disease-responsible regions, i.e., 8q21.11-q22.1, 12q24.32-q24.33 and 14q21.1-q23.2. Although the family size is too small to define one of them, 8q21.11-q22.1 is a likely candidate region, because it contains the previously reported translocation breakpoint above. We thus performed mutation, Southern-blot and methylation analyses of ZFHX4, but could not find any disease specific change in the family. Nevertheless, our data may support the localization of PTOS1.長崎大学学位論文 学位記番号:博（医歯薬）甲第153号 博士（医学）学位授与年月日:平成20年3月19

Research priorities for freshwater mussel conservation assessment

Freshwater mussels are declining globally, and effective conservation requires prioritizing research and actions to identify and mitigate threats impacting mussel species. Conservation priorities vary widely, ranging from preventing imminent extinction to maintaining abundant populations. Here, we develop a portfolio of priority research topics for freshwater mussel conservation assessment. To address these topics, we group research priorities into two categories: intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors are indicators of organismal or population status, while extrinsic factors encompass environmental variables and threats. An understanding of intrinsic factors is useful in monitoring, and of extrinsic factors are important to understand ongoing and potential impacts on conservation status. This dual approach can guide conservation status assessments prior to the establishment of priority species and implementation of conservation management actions.NF-R was supported by a post-doctoral fellowship (Xunta de Galicia Plan I2C 2017-2020, 09.40.561B.444.0) from the government of the autonomous community of Galicia. BY was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (no. 0409-2016-0022). DLS was supported by the G. E. Hutchinson Chair at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. AO was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (no. 17-44-290016). SV was funded by European Investment Funds by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI- Operacional Competitiveness and Internacionalization Programme, under Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958 and National Funds by FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project UID/AGR/04033/2013. NF-R is very grateful to the University of Oklahoma Biological Survey for providing space to work in the U.S. and especially to Vaughn Lab members. Authors are very grateful to Akimasa Hattori, Allan K. Smith, Andrew Roberts, Daniel Graf, David Stagliano, David T. Zanatta, Dirk Van Damme, Ekaterina Konopleva, Emilie Blevins, Ethan Nedeau, Frankie Thielen, Gregory Cope, Heinrich Vicentini, Hugh Jones, Htilya Sereflisan, Ilya Vikhrev, John Pfeiffer, Karen Mock, Mary Seddon, Katharina Stockl, Katarzyna Zajac, Kengo Ito, Marie Capoulade, Marko Kangas, Michael Lange, Mike Davis, Pirkko-Liisa Luhta, Sarina Jepsen, Somsak Panha, Stephen McMurray, G. Thomas Watters, Wendell R. Haag, and Yoko Inui for their valuable contribution in the initial selection and description of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. We also wish to thank Dr. Amanda Bates, Chase Smith, and two anonymous reviewers for comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

頭寒足熱の温熱生理学的検証

Biological responses due to thermal stimuli were categorized based on the areas of the human body as well as on the modalities of thermal stresses such as icing, cooling and heating applications. These biological responses reported in previous papers were analyzed based on the concepts of Selective Brain Cooling (SBC) and long-term fever range (FR)-mild hyperthermia. Although no thermophysiological problems occurred in the case reports of biological responses induced by SBC, the effects of those induced by cooling of the body trunk and extremities were not so thoroughly evaluated. On the other hand, the idea of long-term fever range (FR)-mild hyperthermia (39.5-41.0℃) proved to be helpful in therapies enhancing the immune defenses against virulent bacterial diseases through the proliferation of Langerhans cells (LCs) and, under these conditions, it might even be beneficially combined with Selective Brain Cooling (SBC) and body heating to enhance human health and physical performance