Duality cascade of softly broken supersymmetric theories

We study the duality cascade of softly broken supersymmetric theories. We investigate the renormalization group (RG) flow of SUSY breaking terms as well as supersymmetric couplings. It is found that the magnitudes of SUSY breaking terms are suppressed in most regimes of the RG flow through the duality cascade. At one stage of cascading, the gaugino mass of the strongly coupled sector and scalar masses converge to certain values, which are determined by the gauge coupling and the gaugino mass of the weakly coupled sector. At the next stage, the strongly and weakly coupled sectors are interchanged with each other. We also show the possibility that cascading would be terminated by the gauge symmetry breaking, which is induced by the so-called B-term.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figure

Water modulates the lamellar structure and interlayer correlation of poly(perfluorooctyl acrylate) films: a specular and off-specular neutron scattering study

Comb-like polymers with pendant-like perfluorocarbon side chains self-assemble into smectic lamellae and have been extensively used as water-repellent, hydrophobic coating materials characterized by large water contact angles (θ > 120°). As poly(perfluorooctyl acrylate) films are “apparently hydrophobic” (θ > 120°), the interaction of such materials and water molecules has been largely overlooked. To unravel the molecular-level interactions between water and apparently hydrophobic polymers, specular and off-specular neutron scattering experiments were conducted at defined osmotic pressure ΠH2O. The poly{2-[(perfluorooctylethyl)carbamate]ethyl} acrylate (PFAUr-C₈), which had a carbamate linker, transitioned to another lamellar phase at 89 °C. At T = 25 °C; the lamellar periodicity of PFAUr-C₈ slightly increased with decreasing osmotic pressure, while the vertical correlation length increased. However, the poly[(perfluorooctyl)ethyl] acrylate (PFA-C₈) that did not contain a carbamate linker directly transitioned to a disordered phase at 84 °C. The lamellar periodicity of PFA-C₈ was largely independent of the osmotic pressure, suggesting that PFA-C₈ was poorly hydrated. Remarkably, the vertical correlation length decreased with decreasing osmotic pressure. Because hydration facilitated by the linker modulated the smectic lamellae of the poly(perfluoroalkyl acrylate), water molecules could be used to optimize the self-assembly of apparently hydrophobic liquid crystalline polymers

Risk for atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Association with insulin resistance

SummaryBackgroundWe undertook a cross-sectional study to test the hypothesis that patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who have impaired left ventricular (LV) diastolic function are insulin resistant. We also evaluated the relation between the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) and insulin resistance (IR) in patients with HCM.Methods and resultsEighty-eight patients with HCM (71 men, 17 women) were enrolled in the study. IR was estimated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index. Echocardiographically determined left atrial (LA) dimension was measured as a marker of LA size. The ratio of trasmitral early LV filling velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (E/e′) was also measured as a marker of LV diastolic function. Twenty-seven patients (31%) had IR. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that independent determinants of AF were increased LA size [odds ratio (OR) 3.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–9.8] and impaired LV diastolic function [OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.6–12.8]. The strongest determinant of LA size was the HOMA index (p=0.0005). Similarly, the HOMA index (p=0.0019) was an independent determinant of LV diastolic function.ConclusionIR is highly prevalent among non-diabetic patients with HCM. A possible mechanism by which IR affects the development of AF is mediated through its association with increased LA size or impaired LV diastolic function. IR may be an important underlying mechanism for the genesis of AF in HCM

Pharmacokinetic analysis of new synthetic antimalarial N-251

Background With the emergence and growing number of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, a new drug for malaria control must be urgently developed. The new antimalarial synthetic compound N-251 was recently discovered. As an endoperoxide structure in the body, the compound shows high antimalarial activity and curative effects. We performed a pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis of N-251 under various conditions using mice to understand the inhibitory effect of N-251 in parasite-infected mice. Results PK study of N-251 after intravenous and oral administration in mice showed plasma concentration of N-251 was decreased drastically by intravenous route. Cmax was reached in 2 h after oral administration of N-251, and the level decreased to a level similar to that obtained after intravenous administration. The area under the curves (AUCs) of the plasma concentration of N-251 increased dose-proportionally in both administrations, and bioavailability (F) was approximately 23%. Additionally, Tmax, Cmax, AUC, and F increased in fasted mice compared to normal-fed mice after the administration of N-251, indicating the influence of diet on the absorption kinetics of N-251. Furthermore, in parasite-infected fasted mice, the plasma concentration-time profile of N-251 was similar to that in normal-fasted mice. Based on the PK parameters of single oral administration of N-251, we investigated the effect of multiple oral doses of N-251 (68 mg/kg three times per day for 2 days) in normal-fed mice. The plasma concentration of N-251 was between 10 and 1000 ng/mL. The simulation curve calculated based on the PK parameters obtained from the single-dose study well described the plasma concentrations after multiple oral dosing, indicating that N-251 did not accumulate in the mice. Multiple oral administrations of N-251 in mice were required to completely eliminate parasites without accumulation of N-251. Conclusions N-251 has been selected as a potent antimalarial candidate. We found that N-251 showed short half-life in plasma, and AUCs increased proportionally to dose. With multiple doses of N-251, the plasma level of N-251 was greater than 10 ng/mL in normal-fed mice, and accumulation of N-251 was not observed; however, multiple treatments with N-251 are required for the complete cure of parasite-infected mice. Determining the appropriate dosage was an important step in the clinical applications of N-251

High Level Estradiol Induces EBV Reactivation and EBV gp350/220(+)CD138(+) Double-positive B Cell Population in Graves’ Disease Patients and Healthy Controls

Graves’ disease occurs predominantly in women. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) mainly persists in human B lymphocytes, and its reactivation stimulates antibody production. We previously suggested that the EBV reactivation-induced production of TRAb and IgM at 100 nM estradiol (pregnant level) was lower than that at 0 nM estradiol and that class switch recombination may be increased by estradiol. In this study, we examined the effect of estradiol on EBV reactivation. We identified the expression of EBV-glycoprotein 350/220 (gp350/220) in the late phase of reactivation and plasma cell differentiation of EBV-infected cells using 72A1 antibody and CD138 antibody, respectively. We found the mean ratio of gp 350/220(+) CD138(+) cells at 100 nM estradiol was higher than that at 0 nM estradiol. These results suggested that EBV-infected cells could survive with keeping the ability of antibody production in 100 nM estradiol, which is consistent with the improvement of Graves’ disease during maternity and exacerbation postpartum

The QT Intervals in Infancy and Time for Infantile ECG Screening for Long QT Syndrome

Background: Electrocardiographic and molecular studies have clarified an association between sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and long QT syndrome (LQTS), and few data are available for the QT interval in infancy from birth to 1 year of age. Appropriate time of electrocardiographic screening is not clarified. Medical examinations during infancy are mandatory in Japan.Methods and Results: The study population included 1,058 infants. Electrocardiograms were collected with information of infants at birth and at examination. The QT intervals of three consecutive beats were measured in lead V5. Statistical analysis revealed that the following formula was appropriate to minimize the effect of heart rate for infants: corrected QT interval; QTc = QT interval/RR interval 0.43. Subjects were divided into four groups as follows: 0–2, 3–6, 6–11, and 12–52 weeks of age. Tukey's multiple comparison showed that the QTc intervals were longest (p < 0:0001) in subjects who were 6–11 weeks of age.Conclusions: The QTc interval showed the highest peak at 6-11 weeks of age in infancy. The peak period of occurrence of SIDS is at approximately 2 months of age. An appropriate time of electrocardiographic screening for QT prolongation will be one month of age, and follow-up studies are needed

Testicular Torsion in Undescended Testis : A Case Report and View of Sixty-two Cases in Japan

A 7-year-old boy with cerebral palsy was presented with a progressively enlarging tender, left inguinal mass. Examination revealed absence of the left testis in the scrotal sac. The left testis was palpable in the left superficial inguinal pouch. The right testis was normaly palpable in the right scrotum. A diagnosis of a torsion in the undescended left testis was confirmed by exploratory surgery. Orchidectomy of the left testis was performed and the remainder of the patient\u27s course was uneventful. We presented this case to describe the clinical features of testicular torsion in the undescended testis with a review of 62 cases in Japan. Specific emphasis was placed on the incidence, relationship of cerebral palsy to torsion, diagnosis, and treatment of testicular torsion in cryptorchidism