Ferromagnetism and Superconductivity in Quark Matter - Color magnetic superconductivity -

A coexistent phase of spin polarization and color superconductivity in high-density QCD is studied at zero temperature. The axial-vector self-energy stemming from the Fock exchange term of the one-gluon-exchange interaction has a central role to cause spin polarization. As a significant feature, the Fermi surface is deformed by the axial-vector self-energy and then rotation symmetry is spontaneously broken down. The gap function results in being anisotropic in the momentum space in accordance with the deformation. It is found that spin polarization barely conflicts with color superconductivity, and almost coexists with it.Comment: Proc. of Int. Workshop, "Finite Density QCD", 200

Differences in the spatial distribution and shell morphology of Thylacodes adamsii (Gastropoda: Vermetidae) distributed in the Pacific and the Sea of Japan coastal areas of Japan

Thylacodes adamsii is a sessile gastropod and common inhabitant of rocky shores along the warm temperate coastal regions of Japan. We investigated the spatial distribution of this species in Shirahama facing to the Pacific Ocean, and in Maizuru facing to the Sea of Japan. Results showed that this species inhabits the middle intertidal zone in low densities in Shirahama, whereas it lives in high densities on oyster shells in the subtidal zone in Maizuru. Additionally, distinct shell morphology was found in the populations between the two localities. Observations of radular morphology suggest that they are most probably conspecific. Distinct shell morphology may be a result of adaptation to the different habitats

First record of the terrestrial amphipod, Talitroides alluaudi (Chevreux, 1896) (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Brevitalitridae), from Japan

We report Talitroides alluaudi (Chevreux, 1896) from Miyako Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Although this terrestrial amphipod is distributed worldwide, including Indo-Pacific islands, Europe, and North and South America, the present specimens represent the first record of this species from Japanese islands. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence of a Miyako Island specimen was unique compared with the known COI sequences from Taiwanese and Bermudan populations

Mucus-net feeding behavior by the sessile gastropod Thylacodes adamsii (Gastropoda: Vermetidae)

Vermetid gastropod Thylacodes adamsii secrete a mucus net for feeding. We observed a feeding behavior of T. adamsii in the intertidal zone of Shirahama, the coast facing the Pacific Ocean. Thylacodes adamsii spread its mucus net within 20minutes of submergence. Creating a network of mucus threads immediately after submergence may be important for efficient feeding when T. adamsii is distributed in the intertidal zone. Additionally, we investigated the organisms trapped in the mucus net, because identifying the species from the stomach contents of T. adamsii was difficult. The organisms trapped on T. adamsii mucus nets in Shirahama included Dinophyta, Nematoda, Annelida, Arthropoda, Gastropoda, Chordata, and particles of seaweeds. By contrast, the most frequently trapped organisms in Maizuru, the coast facing the Sea of Japan, were diatoms. The difference between organisms trapped in Shirahama and Maizuru is probably due to the different vertical distribution of T. adamsii at the two locations

Current concepts and future perspectives in computer-assisted navigated total knee replacement.

BACKGROUND: Total knee replacements (TKR) aim to restore stability of the tibiofemoral and patella-femoral joints and provide relief of pain and improved quality of life for the patient. In recent years, computer-assisted navigation systems have been developed with the aim of reducing human error in joint alignment and improving patient outcomes. METHODS: We examined the current body of evidence surrounding the use of navigation systems and discussed their current and future role in TKR. RESULTS: The current body of evidence shows that the use of computer navigation systems for TKR significantly reduces outliers in the mechanical axis and coronal prosthetic position. Also, navigation systems offer an objective assessment of soft tissue balancing that had previously not been available. Although these benefits represent a technical superiority to conventional TKR techniques, there is limited evidence to show long-term clinical benefit with the use of navigation systems, with only a small number of studies showing improvement in outcome scores at short-term follow-up. Because of the increased costs and operative time associated with their use as well as the emergence of more affordable and patient-specific technologies, it is unlikely for navigation systems to become more widely used in the near future. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst this technology helps surgeons to achieve improved component positioning, it is important to consider the clinical and functional implications, as well as the added costs and potential learning curve associated with adopting new technology

Morphology of the gastric mill teeth in dotillid crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura: Dotillidae) from Indonesia

The gastric mill is a prominent structure in the digestive system of brachyuran crabs, consisting of a median tooth plate and a pair of lateral tooth plates. Among crab species that are deposit feeders, the morphology and size of the gastric mill teeth are correlated with the preferred substrate types and food spectrum. In this study, we provide a detailed description of the morphology of the median and lateral teeth of the gastric mills in eight species of dotillid crabs from Indonesia, and compare them in relation to habitat preferences and molecular phylogeny. Ilyoplax delsmani, Ilyoplax orientalis, and Ilyoplax strigicarpus have comparatively simple shapes of their median and lateral teeth, with fewer teeth on each lateral tooth plate compared to Dotilla myctiroides, Dotilla wichmanni, Scopimera gordonae, Scopimera intermedia, and Tmethypocoelis aff. ceratophora, which have more complexly shaped median and lateral teeth, with a greater number of teeth on each lateral tooth plate. The number of teeth on lateral tooth correlates with habitat preference, that is, dotillid crabs inhabiting muddy substrata have fewer teeth on the lateral tooth plate, and those inhabiting sandy substrata have a more teeth. Phylogenetic analysis using partial COI and 16S rRNA genes supports that teeth morphology is similar among closely related species. Therefore, the description of median and lateral teeth of the gastric mill is expected to contribute to the systematic study of dotillid crabs

Analysis of Beta-Tubulin Gene Exon 4 Mutations in Advanced Stage III or IV Gastric Cancer

The mechanisms that cause chemoresistance of gastric cancer have yet to be elucidated. Taxanes and promising agents that were recently approved for treatment of advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. Mutations of beta-tubulin, which is a target of taxianes, have been shown to confer chemoresistance against these agents. The aim of the present study is to investigate the presence of mutations of the beta-tubulin in gastric cancer tissues. Sixty-six patients with advanced stage III or IV gastric cancer patients enrolled in this study. Paired samples of gastric cancer tissue and normal mucosa were obtained by endoscopy. The guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-binding site in exon 4 of the beta-tubulin gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis, followed by sequencing of the products with abnormally shifted bands. SSCP analysis showed abnormal bands upstream of the GTP-binding site in 7 of the 66 patients, but sequence analysis found no nucleotide substitutions in these patients. Three variant bands were also detected down stream of the the GTP-binding site, but the sequences of the 3 products corresponded to those of two independent pseudogenes. Thus, none of the tumor samples showed mutation of the beta-tubulin exon 4 GTP-binding site. In conclusion, these findings suggest that mutations of the beta-tubulin gene are rare and are unlikely to be an important cause of taxane resistance to taxians