Strict Limit on CPT Violation from Polarization of Gamma-Ray Bursts

We report the strictest observational verification of CPT invariance in the photon sector, as a result of gamma-ray polarization measurement of distant gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which are brightest stellar-size explosions in the universe. We detected the gamma-ray polarization of three GRBs with high significance, and the source distances may be constrained by a well-known luminosity indicator for GRBs. For the Lorentz- and CPT-violating dispersion relation E_{\pm}^2=p^2 \pm 2\xi p^3/M_{Pl}, where \pm denotes different circular polarization states of the photon, the parameter \xi is constrained as |\xi|<O(10^{-15}). Barring precise cancellation between quantum gravity effects and dark energy effects, the stringent limit on the CPT-violating effect leads to the expectation that quantum gravity presumably respects the CPT invariance.Comment: 4 pages; accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters; redshift estimates of GRBs changed (i.e z=0.382 was wrong for GRB 110721A) and calculations of \xi limit improved from the previous versio

Noninvasive assessment of the cardiac baroreflex Response to downward tilting and comparison with the phenylephrine method

AbstractOBJECTIVESWe studied the relation between changes in systolic blood pressure and RR interval during downward tilting in comparison with assessment of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) measured by the phenylephrine method (Phe-BRS) and with measures of heart rate variability (HRV).BACKGROUNDThe method most extensively used for assessing BRS involves bolus injections of phenylephrine. Several noninvasive methods proposed to assess BRS have not been widely applied in the clinical setting.METHODSSixteen healthy male volunteers were studied (mean age ± SD 27.5 ± 4.6 years). Arterial blood pressure using tonometry and electrocardiogram was simultaneously recorded. After 20 min of 70° upright tilting, the table was returned to supine position at a speed of 3.2°/s. Subsequently, BRS was assessed using an intravenous bolus injection of phenylephrine (2 to 3 μg/kg). Heart rate variability under resting conditions also was analyzed.RESULTSIn all subjects, a beat to beat systolic blood pressure increase associated with corresponding RR interval lengthening was observed during downward tilting as well as during phenylephrine administration. During both testing procedures, these two variables showed linear correlation, and the slope of regression line during downward tilting (DT-BRS) correlated significantly with Phe-BRS (r = 0.79, p = 0.0003). The DT- and Phe-BRS also correlated significantly with the high frequency component of resting HRV (r = 0.70, p = 0.0023 for DT-BRS; r = 0.58, p = 0.0185 for Phe-BRS).CONCLUSIONSWe conclude that in a small homogeneous group DT-BRS provided an assessment of reflex cardiac vagal function comparable to that obtained by the phenylephrine method

Methodological Features and Background of "Blue Sky Focusing"

本論では、池見によって考案された青空フォーカシングを紹介した。はじめに、池見が「青空の瞑想」に出会い、フォーカシングと組み合わせながら実践を行い、青空フォーカシングが現在の形になった経緯を紹介した。次に青空フォーカシングの具体的な方法をマインドフルネス、雲のイメージ、空になる、慈悲というステップに分け提示した。青空フォーカシングは実際にセッションを実施するPart1と振り返って観てみるPart2という二つのPartから成り立っている。青空フォーカシングにもPart1での“前反省的” （pre-reflexive）な体験とPart2での“反省的”（reflexive）に振り返って観るという相互作用のなかで、新たな意味が生成されるという池見の心理療法実践の特徴がみられる。青空フォーカシングにはフォーカシングの過程の他に複数の要素が含まれている。そこで、その方法論的特色を検討するために、その背景にある理論について、マインドフルネス、青空の瞑想（体の微細な感覚を見る瞑想、慈悲の瞑想、呼吸瞑想）、クリアリング・ア・スペース、雲という指定イメージのメタファー機能という4点から論考した。最後に、青空フォーカシングの自然なあり方と、近年、注目されているマインドフルネスとの関連について検討した。This paper introduces "Blue Sky Focusing", which was developed by A. Ikemi. First, we introduced the background of Blue Sky Focusing: Ikemi\u27s initial encounter with "Blue Sky Meditation" and how he has currently developed Blue Sky Focusing by combining meditation and focusing. Concrete methods of Blue Sky Focusing are then indicated by dividing it into four steps as follows: mindfulness, symbolizing the body-sense as a cloud, becoming the sky, and compassion. Blue Sky Focusing consists of Part 1: practicing Blue Sky Focusing and Part 2: reflecting on the practice. Characteristics of Ikemi\u27s psychotherapy practice, where new meanings are created through interactions of pre-reflexive experience in Part 1 and the reflexive process in Part 2, are apparent in Blue Sky Focusing. Some elements other than the process of focusing are also involved in Blue Sky Focusing. To examine these methodological elements, theories of their background are discussed from four viewpoints: mindfulness, Blue Sky Meditation, Clearing A Space, and the function of the cloud metaphor. Finally, we discussed the significance of Blue Sky Focusing in relation to mindfulness, a topic that has rapidly gathered attention in recent year

Blue Sky Focusing : Experiential Articulations and Anxiety Reducing Effects

青空フォーカシング（BSF）とは、“青空の瞑想”を含む広い意味でのマインドフルネスと、フォーカシングという心理療法を組み合わせたものである。近年、マインドフルネスは心理臨床領域で注目を集めており、うつ症状や不安を改善する効果があることが明らかになっている。また、フォーカシングの一部であるクリアリング・ア・スペースにも、不安低減効果があることが報告されている。そこで、BSFにも不安を低減させる効果があるのではないかと考え、本論の研究1では、青空フォーカシングの不安低減効果を検討した。BSFを短期間体験したことがある19名の参加者の状態不安を、新版STAIを用いて、BSFの前後に測定して比較した。実際にはフォーカサーとリスナーのペアでBSFを行い、そのあとで役割交代をするため、データは2セッションから収集された。結果は参加者がフォーカサーであった場合（t（10）＝ 3.203, p<.01; t（9）＝4.906, p<.01）とリスナーであった場合 （t（10）＝ 4.232, p<.01; t（9）＝ 2.818, p<.05）のいずれの場合にも有意な状態不安の低下が見られた。研究IIではBSFの実際の体験を明らかにするために、体験記述を参加者が記入した「振り返りシート」を元に検討した。フォーカサーとリスナーの双方がフォーカサーの体験やフェルトセンスを歓迎し、思いやりをもって関わることが重要であることが考察された。Blue Sky Focusing (BSF) was developed from Focusing, a form of psychotherapy, and "Blue Sky Meditation", a mindfulness based meditation in a broad sense of the term. Recently mindfulness has attracted much attention in the field of psychotherapy since it was demonstrated to improve depression and anxiety. Anxiety reducing effects of Clearing A Space, one of the steps of Focusing: Short Form, have also been reported. Thus, it can be speculated that BSF would also have anxiety reducing effects. Study 1 in this paper compared state anxiety, using the STAI, before and after BSF in 19 participants who had some experience with BSF. Subjects were paired as focusers and listeners and switched roles in the second session. A comparison of pre-post state anxiety from these 2 sessions showed significant anxiety reduction when participants engaged in either role, as focusers (t(10) = 3.203, p < .01; t(9) = 4.906, p < .01) or as listeners (t(10) = 4.232, p < .01; t(9) = 2.818, p < .05). In Study 2, an experiential articulation of the actual experience of BSF was examined from a worksheet that participants had filled out. The authors concluded that in the practice of BSF, it is important that both focuser and listener welcome the focuser\u27s experience and attend to felt senses with compassion

Pannexin3 regulates odontoblast proliferation and differentiation

Highly coordinated regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation contributes to the formation of functionally shaped and sized teeth; however, the mechanism underlying the switch from cell cycle exit to cell differentiation during odontogenesis is poorly understood. Recently, we identified pannexin 3 (Panx3) as a member of the pannexin gap junction protein family from tooth germs. The expression of Panx3 was predominately localized in preodontoblasts that arise from dental papilla cells and can differentiate into dentin-secreting odontoblasts. Panx3 also co-localized with p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor protein, in preodontoblasts. Panx3 was expressed in primary dental mesenchymal cells and in the mDP dental mesenchymal cell line. Both Panx3 and p21 were induced during the differentiation of mDP cells. Overexpression of Panx3 in mDP cells reduced cell proliferation via upregulation of p21, but not of p27, and promoted the Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2)-induced phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 and the expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein (Dspp), a marker of differentiated odontoblasts. Furthermore, Panx3 released intracellular ATP into the extracellular space through its hemichannel and induced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-ribonucleoside (AICAR), an activator of AMPK, reduced mDP cell proliferation and induced p21 expression. Conversely, knockdown of endogenous Panx3 by siRNA inhibited AMPK phosphorylation, p21 expression, and the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 even in the presence of BMP2. Taken together, our results suggest that Panx3 modulates intracellular ATP levels, resulting in the inhibition of odontoblast proliferation through the AMPK/p21 signaling pathway and promotion of cell differentiation by the BMP/Smad signaling pathway

Role of MSX1 in Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells

Msh homeobox 1 (MSX1) encodes a transcription factor implicated in embryonic development of limbs and craniofacial tissues including bone and teeth. Although MSX1 regulates osteoblast differentiation in the cranial bone of young animal, little is known about the contribution of MSX1 to the osteogenic potential of human cells. In the present study, we investigate the role of MSX1 in osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells isolated from deciduous teeth. When these cells were exposed to osteogenesis-induction medium, runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2), alkaline phosphatase (ALPL), and osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA levels, as well as alkaline phosphatase activity, increased on days 4–12, and thereafter the matrix was calcified on day 14. However, knockdown of MSX1 with small interfering RNA abolished the induction of the osteoblast-related gene expression, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcification. Interestingly, DNA microarray and PCR analyses revealed that MSX1 knockdown induced the sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) transcriptional factor and its downstream target genes in the cholesterol synthesis pathway. Inhibition of cholesterol synthesis enhances osteoblast differentiation of various mesenchymal cells. Thus, MSX1 may downregulate the cholesterol synthesis-related genes to ensure osteoblast differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells

The applicability of animal health surveillance systems for post-market monitoring of potential adverse effects of genetically modified (GM) feed

A facultative post market monitoring of potential health impacts of genetically modified (GM) feedstuffs on livestock consuming these feeds after pre-market risk assessment is under ongoing consideration. Within the IPAFEED database, scientific studies on health effects beyond performance in livestock and the results of a systematic search for evidence of outcome effects due to GM feed are consolidated. These outcomes were reviewed and checked for consistency in order to identify plausible syndromes suitable for conducting surveillance. The 24 selected studies showed no consistent changes in any health parameter. There were no repeated studies in any species by GM crop type and animal species. As such, there is insufficient evidence to inform the design of surveillance systems for detecting known adverse effects. Animal health surveillance systems have been proposed for the post market monitoring of potential adverse effects in animals. Such systems were evaluated for their applicability to the detection of hypothetical adverse effects and their strengths and weaknesses to detect syndromes of concern are presented. For known adverse effects, applied controlled post-market studies may yield conclusive and high-quality evidence. For detecting unknown adverse effects, the use of existing surveillance systems may still be of interest. A simulation tool developed within the project can be adapted and applied to existing surveillance systems to explore their applicability to the detection of potential adverse effects of GM feed

Physio-chemical characterization of three-component co-amorphous systems generated by a melt-quench method

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the possibility of creating a ternary co-amorphous system and to determine how the properties of a co-amorphous material are altered by the addition of a selected third component. Piroxicam and indomethacin form a stable co-amorphous with the Tg above room temperature. The third component added was selected based on tendency to crystallise (benzamide, caffeine) or form amorphous (acetaminophen, clotrimazole) on cooling. Generated co-amorphous systems were characterised with TGA, HSM, DSC, FTIR, and XRD. Stable ternary co-amorphous systems were successfully generated, which was confirmed using XRD, DSC and FTIR analysis. In all cases, Tg of the ternary system was lower than the Tg of the binary system, although higher than that of the individual third compound. Upon storage for 4 weeks all created ternary systems showed significantly smaller variation in Tg compared to the binary system. Stable three-component co-amorphous systems can be generated via melt quench method using either a crystalline or amorphous third component. Addition of third component can alter the Tg of co-amorphous system and in all cases created more stable co-amorphous system upon storage. Physical parameters may not be sufficient in predicting the resulting Tg, therefore knowledge of chemical interaction must be brought into equation as well