Winding Number in String Field Theory

Motivated by the similarity between cubic string field theory (CSFT) and the Chern-Simons theory in three dimensions, we study the possibility of interpreting N=(\pi^2/3)\int(U Q_B U^{-1})^3 as a kind of winding number in CSFT taking quantized values. In particular, we focus on the expression of N as the integration of a BRST-exact quantity, N=\int Q_B A, which vanishes identically in naive treatments. For realizing non-trivial N, we need a regularization for divergences from the zero eigenvalue of the operator K in the KBc algebra. This regularization must at same time violate the BRST-exactness of the integrand of N. By adopting the regularization of shifting K by a positive infinitesimal, we obtain the desired value N[(U_tv)^{\pm 1}]=\mp 1 for U_tv corresponding to the tachyon vacuum. However, we find that N[(U_tv)^{\pm 2}] differs from \mp 2, the value expected from the additive law of N. This result may be understood from the fact that \Psi=U Q_B U^{-1} with U=(U_tv)^{\pm 2} does not satisfy the CSFT EOM in the strong sense and hence is not truly a pure-gauge in our regularization.Comment: 20 pages, no figures; v2: references added, minor change

Applicability of care quality indicators for women with low-risk pregnancies planning hospital birth: a retrospective study of medical records

Practices for planned birth among women with low-risk pregnancies vary by birth setting, medical professional, and organizational system. Appropriate monitoring is essential for quality improvement. Although sets of quality indicators have been developed, their applicability has not been tested. To improve the quality of childbirth care for low-risk mothers and infants in Japanese hospitals, we developed 35 quality indicators using existing clinical guidelines and quality indicators. We retrospectively analysed data for 347 women in Japan diagnosed with low-risk pregnancy in the second trimester, admitted between April 2015 and March 2016. We obtained scores for 35 quality indicators and evaluated their applicability, i.e., feasibility, improvement potential, and reliability (intra- and inter-rater reliability: kappa score, positive and negative agreement). The range of adherence to each indicator was 0–95.7%. We identified feasibility concerns for six indicators with over 25% missing data. Two indicators with over 90% adherence showed limited potential for improvement. Three indicators had poor kappa scores for intra-rater reliability, with positive/negative agreement scores 0.94/0.33, 0.33/0.95, and 0.00/0.97, respectively. Two indicators had poor kappa scores for inter-rater reliability, with positive/negative agreement scores 0.25/0.92 and 0.68/0.61, respectively. The findings indicated that these 35 care quality indicators for low-risk pregnant women may be applicable to real-world practice, with some caveats

Combined effects of electric toothbrushing and dentifrice on artificial stain removal : an in vitro study

This in vitro study aimed to clarify the combined effect of electric toothbrushing and dentifrice on the removal of artificial stain. Twenty-five bovine incisors were cut at the cervix and the crown was embedded in auto-cured acrylic resin. Specimens were abraded using #240 SiC paper to obtain a flat enamel surface, and 20 specimens were treated with 10% citric acid / 3% ferric chloride solution followed by 1% tannic acid solution to produce surface staining. They were divided into four groups: 1) brushing with an electric toothbrush and whitening dentifrice (group S+B); 2) brushing with an electric toothbrush and fluoride dentifrice (group S+C); 3) brushing with an electric toothbrush and no dentifrice (group S); and 4) no brushing (control group). The remaining five specimens were used as a baseline. Color values (L*, a*, and b* were measured before brushing (0 min), and at 1 min, 5 min, 10 min, and 20 min using a microscopic area spectrophotometer. The color change (?E) was calculated by subtracting the baseline values from the final color values obtained at each time point. The data were statistically analyzed using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and Tukey?s honest significant difference test as a post hoc test (p0.05). Groups S+B and S+C demonstrated greater ?E values than group S. The combination of electric toothbrushing and dentifrice removed the artificial stain more effectively than brushing without dentifrice. However, the stain removal was limited. The two dentifrices evaluated in this study exhibited similar stain removal effects

Effect of professional dental prophylaxis on the surface gloss and roughness of CAD/CAM restorative materials

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dental prophylaxis on the surface gloss and roughness of different indirect restorative materials for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM): two types of CAD/CAM composite resin blocks (Shofu Block HC and Estelite Block) and two types of CAD/CAM ceramic blocks (IPS Empress CAD and Celtra DUO). After polishing the CAD/CAM blocks and applying prophylaxis pastes, professional dental prophylaxis was performed using four different experimental protocols (n = 5 each): mechanical cleaning with Merssage Regular for 10 s four times (Group 1); four cycles of mechanical cleaning with Merssage Regular for 10 s and Merssage Fine for 10 s (Group 2); four cycles of mechanical cleaning with Merssage Regular for 10 s and Merssage Fine for 30 s (Group 3); and mechanical cleaning with Merssage Fine for 10 s four times (Group 4). A glossmeter was used to measure surface gloss before and after mechanical cleaning, and a contact stylus profilometer was used to measure surface roughness (Ra). Polishing with prophylactic paste led to a significant reduction in surface gloss and increase in surface roughness among resin composite blocks, whereas the polishing-related change in surface gloss or roughness was smaller in Celtra DUO, a zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate block. Changes in surface gloss and roughness due to polishing with a prophylactic paste containing large particles were not improved by subsequent polishing with a prophylactic paste containing fine particles

Inhibition of motility and invasiveness of renal cell carcinoma induced by short interfering RNA transfection of β1,4GalNAc transferase

AbstractHuman renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been characterized by remarkable changes in ganglioside composition. TOS1 cells, typical of metastatic RCC, are characterized by predominance of GM2 as monosialoganglioside, and β1,4GalNAc disialyl-Lc4 (RM2 antigen) as disialoganglioside [J. Biol. Chem. 276 (2001) 16695]. In order to observe the functional role of gangliosides in RCC malignancy, TOS1 cells were transfected with short interfering RNA (siRNA) based on open reading frame sequence of β1,4GalNAc transferase (β1,4GalNAc-T), and its disordered sequence of siRNA (dsiRNA) as control. In siRNA transfectant, β1,4GalNAc-T mRNA level and GM2 expression were greatly reduced, whereby GM3 expression appeared. In contrast, RM2 antigen level was unchanged, even though it has the same β1,4GalNAc epitope at the terminus. dsiRNA transfectant showed no change of β1,4GalNAc-T mRNA and did not express GM3. Concomitant with reduction of GM2 and appearance of GM3, siRNA transfectant showed greatly reduced motility and invasiveness, although growth rate was unaltered. Both transfectants with siRNA and dsiRNA expressed the same level of tetraspanin CD9. Since CD9/GM3 complex is known to reduce integrin-dependent motility and invasiveness [Biochemistry 40 (2001) 6414], it is plausible that motility and invasiveness of siRNA transfectant of TOS1 cells may be reduced by enhanced formation of such complex

Evidence of mature adipocyte proliferation regulated by proliferin

Despite much research, whether mature adipocytes proliferate remains controversial. Here, we examined 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-labelling of mature adipocytes. Although BrdU incorporation into subcutaneous adipocytes was less than that in visceral adipocytes, pioglitazone (Pio) treatment increased BrdU incorporation in subcutaneous, but not visceral, adipocytes in rats. Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes exhibited an increase in cell number and BrdU incorporation with time, with this increase enhanced by Pio treatment. We therefore screened for genes that encode growth factors regulated by Pio, and selected proliferin (PLF). Both gene silencing of PLF by small interfering RNA and treatment with anti-PLF antibody suppressed proliferation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In adipocytes isolated from Pio-treated rats, the tissue-specific pattern of PLF expression was similar to that of BrdU incorporation. Administration of an anti-PLF antibody to mice reduced BrdU incorporation into adipocytes. Mature adipocytes thus have the ability to replicate, and this proliferation is positively regulated by PLF

Present status of home health nursing in a Japanese hospital-based home health care agency

病院を基盤とした在宅看護提供機関における在宅看護の現状を調査し,在宅看護の現在の問題点を明らかにするとともに,在宅看護に携わる看護婦の役割について検討した｡本調査の結果,一人暮らしの患者は,家族に介護者のいる患者に比べ明らかにADLが高い場合も訪問看護を受けていることが分かった｡また,高齢者夫婦二人暮らしの患者と2世代以上家族の患者のADLに差はなく,このことは,高齢の介護者に相当の負担がかかっていると言える｡訪問看護内容としては, 日常生活自立度の低い患者への日常生活援助の実施率は高く,精神的支援や指導的看護技術の実施率は低かった｡在宅看護に携わる看護婦は, 日常生活援助に追われがちであるが,一次予防に焦点を当てたケア,患者や介護者の精神的支援,指導,ケアマネジメントを行うことは緊急の課題である｡We investigated the present status of home health nursing in a Japanese hospital-based home health care agency, to clarify present problems in home health nursing and to assess the roles of home health nurses. Based on our results, ADL of care recipients who lived alone were clearly independent compared with care recipients who lived with family care-givers. The level of ADL of both care recipients who lived with their spouses and those who lived with more than 2 family members were not different. It indicates that aged family care-givers assume great responsibility. In cases of bedridden recipients,daily life care was performed at a high rate, but mental care or teaching care was performed at a low rate. Home health nurses should focus on primary preventive care, mental care for recipients and care-givers, and teaching care or management of a care plan

Utilizing Video Self-Modeling and Video Hero Modeling to Increase Task Engagement of an Elementary-Aged Student with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

　本研究では，集中して着替えに取り組むことが難しい一人の知的障害のある自閉症スペクトラム障害児に対して，３種類のビデオモデリング技法を順次適用し，どの技法がもっとも着替え従事率の上昇をもたらすかを検討した。用いられた技法は，①本人が着替えに取り組 むビデオを着替えに先立ち視聴させる技法，②本人が着替えの競争でヒーローに勝つビデオを着替えに先立ち視聴させる技法，③ヒーローが着替えに取り組むビデオを着替えの最中に視聴させる技法の３つであった。ABACADA デザインを用いてこれら３つの介入効果を比 較した結果，③の技法のみに効果が確認された

Daily physical activity in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis

腎炎患者の日常生活活動強度と持久性体力を明らかにするため、本研究を行った。被検者は20歳から61歳の腎炎患者7名である。日常生活活動強度の指標として、連続心拍計を用いて24時間心拍数を測定した。また、持久性体力を評価するため、換気性閾値（Ventilatory Threshold : VT）を測定した。各被験者のVTは、同性、同年齢の健常者の値に対する相対値（％VT）で評価した。被検者の％VTの平均は、93.4±18.6％で、健常者に比べて低下していた。24時間心拍数の平均は、82±8拍／分であった。24時間心拍数のうち、VT時の心拍数を越えるものは、多くても2％でしかなく、腎炎患者の日常生活の大部分は、有酸素運動であった。We examined the intensity of daily physical activityand cardiorespiratory endurance in 7 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis between 20 and 61 years old. To determine the intensity of daily physical activity, the 24-hour heart rate was measured. To evaluate cardiorespiratory endurance, ventilatory threshold oxygen uptake (VT) was measured. VT of each patient was presented as the percentage of the value in sex and age-matched healthy subjects (% VT). The mean % VT was 93.4±18.6% lower than that in the healthy subjects. The mean 24-hour heart rate was 82±8 beats/min. The heart rate over the VT in 24-hour heart rate was at most 2%. In conclusion, metabolism was aerobic in the greater part of their daily lives

Effects of a high-fat diet on the electrical properties of porcine atria

AbstractBackgroundBecause obesity is an important risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), we conducted an animal study to examine the effect of a high-fat diet (HFD) on atrial properties and AF inducibility.MethodsTen 8-week-old pigs (weight, 18–23kg) were divided into two groups. For 18 weeks, five pigs were fed a HFD (HFD group) and five were fed a normal diet (control group). Maps of atrial activation and voltages during sinus rhythm were created for all pigs using the EnSite NavX system. Effective refractory period (ERP) and AF inducibility were also determined. When AF was induced, complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) mapping was performed. At 18 weeks, hearts were removed for comparing the results of histological analysis between the two groups. Body weight, lipid levels, hemodynamics, cardiac structures, and electrophysiological properties were also compared.ResultsTotal cholesterol levels were significantly higher (347 [191–434] vs. 81 [67–88]mg/dL, P=0.0088), and left atrium pressure was higher (34.5 [25.6–39.5] vs. 24.5 [21.3–27.8]mmHg, P=0.0833) in the HFD group than in the control group, although body weight only increased marginally (89 [78–101] vs. 70 [66–91]kg, P=0.3472). ERPs of the pulmonary vein (PV) were shorter (P<0.05) and AF lasted longer in the HFD group than in the control group (80 [45–1350] vs. 22 [3–30]s, P=0.0212). Neither CFAE site distribution nor histopathological characteristics differed between the two groups.ConclusionsThe shorter ERPs for the PV observed in response to the HFD increased vulnerability to AF, and these electrophysiological characteristics may underlie obesity-related AF