Geometric Engineering of Seiberg-Witten Theories with Massive Hypermultiplets

We analyze the geometric engineering of the N=2 SU(2) gauge theories with $1\leq N_f\leq 3$ massive hypermultiplets in the vector representation. The set of partial differential equations satisfied by the periods of the Seiberg-Witten differential is obtained from the Picard-Fuchs equations of the local B-model. The differential equations and its solutions are consistent with the massless case. We show that the Yukawa coupling of the local A-model gives rise to the correct instanton expansion in the gauge theory, and propose the pattern of the distribution of the world-sheet instanton number from it. As a side result, we obtain the asymptotic form of the instanton number in the gauge theories with massless hypermultiplets.Comment: 35 pages, 3 figures, (v2) clarifying comments, additional reference

Acquisition and Assessment of L2 Pronunciation Skills in Japanese Learners

The current paper reviews previous research on the acquisition of Japanese language sounds and pronunciation skills of second-language learners of Japanese, focusing on both segmental and suprasegmental features. We first provide a brief overview of Japanese language sounds. Studies based on comparative analysis of segmental features in Japanese and learners’ native languages are then discussed, followed by a review of recent studies involving a range of techniques, including acoustic analysis, cross-sectional and time-series experimental designs to explore the acquisition process and factors affecting it. In addition, we examine research on the production and perception of Japanese lexical accent, and the relationships between them. Based on this review, we propose that the rhythmic unit, mora, a typologically unique feature of Japanese, presents significant learning challenges for second-language learners, because it affects the perception and production of segmental features such as long and short vowels, double consonants, and syllabic nasals as well as the Japanese lexical accent. Finally, we examine previous research examming second-language learners’ pronunciation skills. We propose that insufficient attention has been paid to this issue, warranting future investigation

外科的に切除しえた, 肝硬変を伴う維持透析患者に発症した右腎癌下大静脈腫瘍塞栓の1例

症例は54歳, 男性。1900年, CGNにて血液透析導入となった。2005年2月に肉眼的血尿が出現。CTにて右腎癌を指摘され, 3月9日当科紹介。当科にて施行したCTでは直径7cm大の右腎腫瘍とともに下大静脈内の肝静脈流入部まで達する腫瘍塞栓を認めた。右腎腫瘍, 下大静脈塞栓, T3bN0M0 stage IIIの診断で4月28日, 根治的右腎摘除ならびに腫瘍塞栓摘除術を施行した。手術時間4時間28分, 出血量1, 400ml, 摘出標本は重量800g, 病理所見はrenal cell carcinoma, G2, pT3bであった。術前の凝固系検査は異常を認めなかったが, 肝硬変が原因と考えられる出血時間の延長と血小板数の低下を認めたため, 周術期は血小板輸血などにて対応した。術後経過は良好で, 後出血などの術後合併症もなく, 術後18日目に退院した。現在IFNα投与にて後療法を施行中であるが, 再発を認めていない。透析患者における下大静脈腫瘍塞栓を伴う腎癌に対して外科的治療を施行した症例についての報告例については比較的少なく, 文献的考察も含めて報告する。(著者抄録)A 54-year-old man who had been under hemodialysis therapy for 16 years presented with gross hematuria at our department in February 2005. Imaging findings revealed right renal tumor of8.2 cm in diameter. In addition, the tumor extended into inferior vena cava at the level of the hepatic vein. There were no findings of distant metastasis. Right radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy were performed on April 2006. Histopathological analysis showed that the tumor was renal cell carcinoma of clear cell type, grade 2. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the adjuvant therapy with interferon alpha was initiated. He has been free from recurrence for 22 months after surgery

A DISTANCE LEARNING SYSTEM WITH CUSTOMIZABLE SCREEN LAYOUTS FOR MULTIPLE LEARNING SITUATIONS

In this paper, we propose a new distance learning system that can adapt to various styles of learning activity. We assume that the system is used in distance classes with multiple live-streaming videos. Our system has functions to change the screen layout to best suit for the current learning situation for each of the participants in a class. The system also has a function to efficiently monitor the behavior of many students at a time. These functions enable us to adapt various learning activities in distance learning classes. We implemented a prototype of the proposed system and evaluated it in experimental classes. We confirmed that our system improved the activities in the experimental classes

Potential of Panoramic Radiography as a Screening Method for Oral Hypofunction in the Evaluation of Hyoid Bone Position

The hyoid bone is located in the middle of the cervical muscles involved in oral masticatory function. The position of the hyoid bone is commonly determined by lateral cephalometric analysis. Although cephalometric radiography is commonly used in orthodontic treatment, the modality remains rare; routine dental care would benefit from precise identification of hyoid bone location using a more common modality, such as panoramic radiography. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of panoramic radiography compared to lateral cephalometric radiography for evaluating hyoid bone position as a potential screening method for oral hypofunction. The study included 347 patients referred for both a panoramic radiograph and a lateral cephalometric radiograph. The patients were divided into the following five groups according to the appearance of the hyoid bone in the panoramic radiograph: Group 1: hyoid bone could not be observed, or part of the greater horn was observed; Group 2: part of the hyoid body was observed, but not the most supero-anterior point of the hyoid bone; Group 3: the most supero-anterior point of the hyoid bone was observed; Group 4: all of the hyoid body was observed; Group 5: the hyoid body overlapped the mandible. The gold standard for measurement of hyoid bone position is the lateral cephalometric radiograph. Hyoid bone position as revealed by lateral cephalometric radiograph was compared among the groups. Hyoid bones that were observed in higher positions on lateral cephalometric radiograph were also observed in higher positions on panoramic radiograph. Hyoid bone position can be assessed by panoramic radiography, and this modality might be useful as a screening method for oral hypofunction

A novel dysphagia screening method using panoramic radiography

The purpose of this study was to establish a screening method for dysphagia using panoramic radiography. Seventy patients who had undergone panoramic radiography and videofluorographic swallowing study（VF）were selected. Exclusion criteria were surgery related to tumors, jaw deformity, and poor-quality panoramic radiograph images. Patients were diagnosed with dysphagia based on VF findings and accordingly categorized into Dysphagia（＋）or Dysphagia（−）groups. The control group consisted of 129 individuals who had undergone panoramic radiography for dental treatment. Exclusion criteria were the same as in the Dysphagia（＋）and Dysphagia（−）groups. Two maxillofacial radiologists assessed the vertical and horizontal position of the hyoid bone and measured the distance from the tongue to the palate. The vertical hyoid bone position was significantly lower in the Dysphagia（＋）group than in the control group. The distance from the tongue to the palate was significantly shorter in the control group, measuring 8.5±5.9mm as compared to 15.0±9.5 in the Dysphagia（＋）group and 14.9±10.0 in the Dysphagia（−）group. At least 77％ of patients were diagnosed with dysphagia or suspected of dysphagia because the hyoid body was below the mandibular line on panoramic radiography. Panoramic radiography may be a useful tool for predicting the risk of dysphagia as it reveals the vertical hyoid bone position and the distance from the tongue to the palate

Recent Developments in Community-Based Mental Health Care in Japan: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND: Since the 1950s, mental health care in Japan has been hospital-centered. A set of legislative initiatives were undertaken in 1995, emphasizing the importance of community-based mental health care. However, despite these attempts to develop a community-based mental health care system, the rate of inpatient-based treatment has remained high and the shift from hospital-centered care to community-based has still not fully materialized. AIM: This study aims to conduct a review of the available literature on the development of community-based mental health care in Japan between 2010 and 2020. METHODS: We conducted a standardized literature search in the electronic database Igaku Chuo Zasshi, aiming to identify original studies published between 2010 and 2020 that explored community mental health care in Japan. The included studies outcomes were categorized as performance surveys, service user reports, service provider reports, and educational activities. A descriptive-analytical method was implemented in the current review. RESULTS: A total of 25 studies were examined. Six studies reported surveys assessing the performance of community-based mental health care on the assertive community treatment (ACT), compulsory treatment, home-visit nursing care, physical complications, and a welfare medicine collaboration on a remote islands. Four studies investigated the perspectives of service users or their families on home-visit nursing care, social participation, community program, and legislative revision. Ten studies focused on social withdrawal, service providers perspectives on local population needs, supporting skills, care programs, and the professional growth of psychiatric social workers. Five studies focused on educational approaches for future healthcare professionals and efforts to improve mental health literacy among adolescents. CONCLUSION: This paper provided the first comprehensive review of Japans community-based mental health care. Between 2010 and 2020, community mental health care in Japan evolved in many directions, with the understanding that various needs should be met. Home-visit nursing care and ACT can be considered as the most thoroughly investigated and better developed. Research that adopt rigorous methodologies such as randomized controlled trials is required if the goal is to achieve solid conclusions

Effect of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on the oxidized/reduced state of plasma albumin in rats with chronic liver disease

We examined whether continuous supplementation with branched-chain amino acids phosphorylates ribosomal protein S6, a downstream effector of mammalian target of rapamycin, and improves hypoalbuminemia of rats with chronic liver disease. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a casein diet (control group) or a branched-chain amino acid-supplemented casein diet (branched-chain amino acid group) for 11 weeks with repeated injections of carbon tetrachloride. Throughout this experimental period, no significant difference in plasma albumin concentration was seen between groups. The percentage of reduced albumin within total plasma albumin gradually decreased in both control and branched-chain amino acid groups. After 11 weeks with supplementation, phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 was significantly increased in the liver of rats in the branched-chain amino acid group compared with the control group. Furthermore, the percentage of reduced albumin within total albumin was significantly higher in the branched-chain amino acid group than in the control group. These results indicate that continuous supplementation with branched-chain amino acids in rats with chronic liver disease induces phosphorylation of hepatic ribosomal protein S6 and attenuates decreases in the percentage of reduced albumin, although levels of plasma albumin are not increased

患者との相互作用に見出される看護師の身体のあり様 : 【身体感覚からの察知】と【持ち前の判断と手立ての駆使】に焦点をあてて

本研究の目的は,看護師が患者への気がかりをもとに関わりながら看護をしていくプロセスを探究し,患者との相互作用に見出される看護師の身体のあり様を検討することにある.修正版グラウンデッド・セオリー・アプローチにより,看護師32名の半構成的面接データを分析した.結果として【身体感覚からの察知】,【持ち前の判断と手立ての駆使】,【内に取り込んでわかる】,【押し出される行為】,【関わりから得た手ごたえと方向性のリレー】の5カテゴリーからなるプロセスが見出された.本論文では,プロセス全体のうち,看護師が患者に抱いた気がかりをもとに【身体感覚からの察知】に【持ち前の判断と手立ての駆使】によって「先読み対応」に至る部分までを提示した.This study aims to analyze nurses corporeity through the interaction with patients in order to explore the process in which nurses provide care based on their concern for patients. The modified grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data of semi-structured interviews with 32 nurses. Results generated a total of five categories "corporeally empathizes with," "sensing with corporeal sensibilities," "making good use of innate judgment and effective steps," "effected action" and "the nurse\u27s feedback and direction gained through the interaction." Search for the process of providing "corporeally empathizes with" and "sensing with corporeal sensibilities.

Vitamin B6 in acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion

Background The initial presentation of acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) is indistinguishable from that of complex febrile seizures (FS), which poses a great diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Excitotoxicity is speculated to be the pathogenesis of AESD. Vitamin B6 (VB6) is essential for the biosynthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. The aim of this study is to investigate our hypothesis that VB6 deficiency in the brain may play a role in AESD. Methods We obtained cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from pediatric patients with AESD after early seizures and those with FS. We measured pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) and pyridoxal (PL) concentrations in the CSF samples using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Results The subjects were 5 patients with AESD and 17 patients with FS. Age did not differ significantly between AESD and FS. In AESD, CSF PLP concentration was marginally lower (p = 0.0999) and the PLP-to-PL ratio was significantly (p = 0.0417) reduced compared to those in FS. Conclusions Although it is impossible to conclude that low PLP concentration and PLP-to-PL ratio are causative of AESD, this may be a risk factor for developing AESD. When combined with other markers, this finding may be useful in distinguishing AESD from FS upon initial presentation