U_A(1) Breaking Effects on the Light Scalar Meson Spectrum

Effects of the U_A(1) breaking interaction on the low-lying nonet scalar mesons are studied using the extended Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. The strength of the U_A(1) breaking interaction is determined by the electromagnetic decays of the eta meson. We find that the U_A(1) breaking interaction gives rise to about 150 MeV mass difference between the sigma and a_0 mesons. We also find that the strangeness content in the \sigma meson is about 15%. The calculated mass of the I=1/2 state is about 200 MeV heavier than that of the I=1 state. The order of these masses is not likely to change within this model.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

The Cytoplasm-to-Vacuole Targeting Pathway: A Historical Perspective

From today's perspective, it is obvious that macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy) is an important pathway that is connected to a range of developmental and physiological processes. This viewpoint, however, is relatively recent, coinciding with the molecular identification of autophagy-related (Atg) components that function as the protein machinery that drives the dynamic membrane events of autophagy. It may be difficult, especially for scientists new to this area of research, to appreciate that the field of autophagy long existed as a “backwater” topic that attracted little interest or attention. Paralleling the development of the autophagy field was the identification and analysis of the cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway, the only characterized biosynthetic route that utilizes the Atg proteins. Here, we relate some of the initial history, including some never-before-revealed facts, of the analysis of the Cvt pathway and the convergence of those studies with autophagy

＜書評＞Martin O'Brien, A Crisis of Waste? : Understanding the Rubbish Society, Routledge(New York), [2008] 2011

社会学 : 書

腎盂尿管移行部狭窄症に逆行性エンドピエロトミーを行った小児の1例

右腎盂尿管移行部狭窄症の6歳女児に対し, アキュサイス尿管切開バルーン装置(軟性尿管カテーテル, 7Fr)を用いた逆行性エンドピエトロトミーを行いその実用性を検討した.全身麻酔下でアキュサイスカテーテルを膀胱鏡操作下に腎盂内にまで挿入し, 狭窄部を電気的に切開し更に同部位をバルーンで24Frまで拡張した.切開終了後にエンドピエトロトミー用尿管カテーテル(6/10Fr)を留置し, これを8週間後に抜去した.手術時間は45分間で, 患者は術後3日目に退院した.特に手術に関する合併症はなく, 術後8ヵ月目の経静脈性腎盂撮影と利尿レノグラムによる評価で, 水腎症の程度は改善していたTo determine the feasibility of retrograde endopyelotomy in the management of pediatric ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction, we treated one girl aged 6 years with the Acucise cutting balloon devise for symptomatic UPJ obstruction. The Acucise catheter (7 Fr, flexible) was placed by a cystoscope over a guide wire with fluoroscopic guidance under general anesthesia. After cutting the stenotic area electronically and dilation until 24 Fr for 10 seconds, a 6/10 Fr endopyelotomy ureteral catheter was left in situ for 8 weeks after the operation. Total operating time was 45 minutes and the child was discharged 3 days after the operation. There were no acute complications and short-term, follow-up 8 months after the operative results were satisfactory as determined by intravenous pyelography and diuretic renogram. UPJ obstruction in children may be treated by retrograde endopyelotomy with the Acucise catheter as well as adults. The principal potential advantage of this procedure is reduced morbidity as compared with antegrade endopyelotomy

Sex and immortality: A study of Chinese sexual activities for better-being.

My thesis sets out to figure out the whole outline of Chinese sexual art, fangzhongshu (the art of the bedchamber). Although studies on this subject have drawn academic attention especially since the reappearance of the earliest extent of the genre in 1973, the clarification of Chinese sexual techniques seems obscure to me. It is my contention that clearer understanding of what is fangzhongshu will contribute towards a greater appreciation of ideas, theories and intellectual backgrounds in Chinese sexual techniques as well as of their practical methods. The thesis is divided into four main chapters. I begin with a diachronic review of account of the sexual art, with investigations into several individual viewpoints for and against it. In the second chapter, I will survey intellectual backgrounds of phenomena surrounding the sexual art, so as to establish a tentative explanation of the art. The third chapter focuses on practical aspects of sexual techniques by categorising them in accordance with the purposes that each method attempts to achieve. The fourth and the final chapter will be devoted to investigate sexual arts in relationship with the images of xian (Immortals) and religious operation. The results of this analysis would indicate that fangzhongshu was a collection of sexual techniques containing three different dimensions; they were methods to actualise general hope for better-being, techniques not for male but for female pleasure and numinous practices for communication with the world beyond

Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Both Spontaneous Pain and Allodynia in a Rat Neuropathic Pain Model

Purpose：Several studies investigated the efficacy of transplanting adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells（ADMSCs）in the treatment of neuropathic pain in animals. However, these studies evaluated the effects of ADMSCs transplantation by assessing the mechanical allodynia but not spontaneous pain. Here, we verify whether ADMSCs transplantation improves spontaneous pain in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods：ADMSCs were isolated from rat adipose tissue and cultured. Chronic constriction injury（CCI） model rats were created by surgical maneuver. A total of 20 F344 rats underwent surgery and were divided into 2 groups, the ADMSCs group and the control group. One week after CCI surgery, ADMSCs were transplanted into the epineurium of the damaged nerve. The effects of ADMSCs transplantation were evaluated by the number of spontaneous pain-related behaviors and the degree of mechanical allodynia. The degree of mechanical allodynia was assessed with the von-Frey filament test. Results：No rats died during the experiments and all CCI model rats were established successfully. ADMSCs transplantation improved mechanical allodynia on and after 7-day post-transplantation and spontaneous pain on and after 21-day post-transplantation with the statistically significant differences. These improvement effects were observed until 6-week post-transplantation in mechanical allodynia and 5-week post-transplantation in spontaneous pain. Conclusion：ADMSCs transplantation improved not only mechanical allodynia but also spontaneous pain. ADMSCs transplantation may be an effective treatment for neuropathic pain in clinical practice