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Abstract Urgent haploidentical haematopoietic cell transplantation may be considered in cases of severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) without a human leukocyte antigen‐matched donor and suffering from severe infection. However, deciding on allogeneic transplantation in the setting of active systemic infection is challenging due to poor outcomes. This report presents a case of disseminated Magnusiomyces capitatus infection in a 5‐year‐old male who underwent immunosuppressive therapy for hepatitis‐associated SAA. To address the critical situation, granulocyte transfusion was promptly administered from the patient's mother, followed by unmanipulated haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation from the patient's father with posttransplant cyclophosphamide, ultimately resulting in successful rescue.

ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between recent antibiotic exposure and the development of coronary artery lesions (CALs) during the clinical course of Kawasaki disease (KD).DesignData were obtained from the 25th nationwide epidemiological survey of KD conducted in Japan from 2017 to 2018. Baseline characteristics and clinical course were compared between Antibiotics (+) and Antibiotics (–) groups.SettingNationwide survey of KD in Japan.ParticipantsKD patients were enrolled by response to a questionnaire sent to physicians working in pediatrics at hospitals with >100 beds.ExposureAntibiotic exposure within one week before the first hospital visit as KD patients.Main outcome measuresThe relationship between recent antibiotic exposure and the development of coronary artery lesions (CALs).ResultsOut of 28,265 KD patients, 12,918 (45.7%) received antibiotics. In KD patients who received antibiotics in the week before KD diagnosis, the frequency of coronary artery lesions (CALs) at each phase were significantly higher compared to those who did not receive antibiotics. In further analysis using propensity score matching, recent antibiotic exposure and the initial IVIG resistance were associated with CALs at the acute and the sequelae phase. After adjusting for the status of initial IVIG resistance, recent antibiotic exposure remained associated with CALs during the acute phase (adjusted OR 1.29, 95%CI 1.16, 1.43) and the sequelae phase (1.26, 95%CI 1.04, 1.52).ConclusionsThese observations suggest that recent antibiotic exposure might be associated with higher frequency of CAL development in KD patients, possibly by altering the gut microbiota and diminishing beneficial bacteria.

Abstract We investigate the thermalization of high-energy particles injected from the perturbative decay of inflaton during the pre-thermal phase of reheating in detail. In general, thermalization takes a relatively long time in a low-temperature plasma; therefore, the instantaneous thermalization approximation is not justified, even for the reheating of the Standard Model (SM) sector. We consider a pure Yang-Mills (YM) theory as an approximation of the SM sector or a possible dark sector, considering the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effect, a quantum interference effect in a finite temperature plasma. We perform the first numerical calculation to solve the time evolution of the system, including the redshift due to the expansion of the Universe, and show the details of the temperature evolution near the maximum and the behavior of the quasi-attractors at later times. The maximal temperature T max and time scale t max are determined quantitatively, such as T max ≃ 0.05 × Γ I M PI 2 / m I 3 2 / 5 m I $$ {\left({\Gamma}_I{M}_{\textrm{PI}}^2/{m}_I^3\right)}^{2/5}{m}_I $$ and t max ≃ 2 × 103 × Γ I M PI 2 / m I 3 − 3 / 5 m I − 1 $$ {\left({\Gamma}_I{M}_{\textrm{PI}}^2/{m}_I^3\right)}^{-3/5}{m}_I^{-1} $$ in the SM-like system, where m I and Γ I are the mass and decay rate of inflaton. We also provide a similar formula for pure SU(N) and SO(N) YM theories for general values of N and coupling constant α, including T max ∝ α 4/5 and t max ∝ N −2 α −16/5 behaviors and their numerical coefficients. The thermalization occurs in a finite time scale, resulting in a lower maximal temperature of the Universe after inflation than that under the instantaneous thermalization approximation.

We revisit the hybrid inflation model within the framework of the Grand Unified Theory (GUT), focusing on cases where the waterfall phase transition extends over several e-foldings to dilute monopoles. Considering the stochastic effects of quantum fluctuations, we demonstrate that the waterfall fields (i.e., GUT Higgs) maintain a nonzero vacuum expectation value around the waterfall phase transition. By accurately accounting for the number of degrees of freedom of the GUT Higgs field, we establish that these fluctuations can produce observable gravitational waves without leading to an overproduction of primordial black holes. The amplitude of these gravitational waves is inversely proportional to the degrees of freedom of the waterfall fields, thereby providing a unique method to probe the representation of the GUT Higgs.

IntroductionIdiopathic epilepsy (IE) and meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (MUO) are common causes of brain diseases leading to seizures in dogs. In this study, the concentrations of 196 lipid metabolites and nitrogen oxide (NO) production in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of dogs with MUO or IE were measured using a LC-MS/MS and a NOx analyzer, respectively.MethodsNine clinically healthy dogs and 11 and 12 dogs with IE and MUO, respectively, were included in the study.ResultsLipid analysis revealed variations in the levels of four and six lipid metabolites in CSF and plasma, respectively, between the groups. The levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin (PG) F1α (PGF1α), 20-carboxy arachidonic acid (20-carboxy-AA), 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid, and lyso-platelet-activating factor were high in the CSF of dogs with MUO. In addition, the plasma levels of 11,12-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid, 20-carboxy-AA, and oleoylethanolamide were high in dogs with IE, and those of PGF1α were high in dogs with MUO. NO production levels were high in CSF but not in plasma in dogs with MUO or IE.DiscussionIt remains unknown whether these changes represent the cause or effect of diseases of the central nervous system; however, lipid metabolites and NO production in CSF and plasma may be used as diagnostic biomarkers and could be exploited for treating idiopathic or inflammatory epilepsy in dogs.

Abstract We point out that SO(2N) pure Yang-Mills theory provides a candidate for dark matter (DM) without the explicit need to impose any additional symmetry. The DM candidate is a particular type of glueball, which we refer to as a baryonic glueball, that is naturally stable and produced by a novel production mechanism for a moderately large N. In this case, the intercommutation probability of cosmic strings (or macroscopic color flux tubes) is quite low, which offers characteristic gravitational wave signals to test our model. In particular, our model can simultaneously account for both abundance of DM and the recently reported gravitational wave signals detected in pulsar timing array experiments, including NANOGrav.

Thermal-cyclic atomic layer etching of Co blanket film and a fine pattern by plasma oxidation and organometallization were investigated. To obtain a smoothly etched surface and self-limiting etching, a two-step temperature-etching process was used. Co was first oxidized using O2 plasma at a low temperature of 25 °C. Then, the Co oxide formed in the first step was organometallized with acetylacetone (acacH) and sublimed at a high temperature of 210 °C, which is appropriate for organometallization and sublimation. The etched amount per cycle was 0.6 nm. This value is the same as the saturated oxidation amount. The root-mean-square roughness after 20-cycle etching was 0.53 nm, and an atomically smooth etched surface was obtained. From the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, the oxidation state of Co oxide with a 530-eV O1s peak was dominant for organometallization with acacH. As the temperature increased, the O1s XPS peak of the Co oxide shifted lower to 529 eV and formed a columnar-shaped oxide. However, with acacH, oxide was organometallized when the O1s peak was at 530 eV.

We discuss the unique phenomenology of first-order phase transitions catalyzed by primordial black holes (BHs). If the number of BHs within one Hubble volume is smaller than unity at the time of bubble nucleation, each bubble catalyzed around them can expand to the Hubble size, and the universe is eventually filled with true vacuum much after nucleation. This super-slow transition predicts enhanced gravitational wave signals from bubble collisions and can be tested in future observations. Moreover, the remaining rare false vacuum patches give birth to baby BHs, which can account for the abundance of dark matter in our universe.

We explore a dynamical mechanism to realize the emergence of a global U(1)PQ symmetry and its spontaneous breaking at an intermediate scale for an axion solution to the strong CP problem. Such a dynamics is provided by a new supersymmetric QCD near the middle of conformal window that couples to fields spontaneously breaking the U(1)PQ symmetry. A large anomalous dimension of the U(1)PQ breaking fields leads to the suppression of explicit U(1)PQ-violating higher dimensional operators. The U(1)PQ breaking vacuum is generated at a scale hierarchically smaller than the Planck scale by a non-perturbative effect. The U(1)PQ breaking drives the conformal breaking, and all the new quarks become massive. The axion potential is generated by the ordinary color SU(3)C effect as the U(1)PQ symmetry is only anomalous under the SU(3)C. The saxion direction is stabilized by supersymmetry breaking and cosmologically harmless.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and EBV-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV/PTLD) is one of the most devastating complications occurring in pediatric solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Observations of SOT recipients undergoing serial EBV monitoring to inform reduction of immune suppression to prevent EBV-/PTLD has identified patients who maintain chronic high EBV load (CHL) in their blood. The CHL carrier state has been seen more commonly in pediatric compared to adult transplant recipients. Some but not all CHL may progress to EBV/PTLD. However, little is known regarding the biology of this CHL carrier state and the optimal clinical approach to CHL has not been established. This review summarizes the current knowledge and evidence of chronic high EBV load and introduces commonly adopted approaches from experts in this field.

Abstract CP violation and the violation of baryon-minus-lepton number B−L do not necessarily have to occur simultaneously in order to accomplish successful leptogenesis. Instead, it suffices if new CP-violating interactions at high energies result in primordial charge asymmetries, which are then reprocessed into a nonvanishing B−L asymmetry by right-handed neutrinos (RHNs) at lower energies. In this paper, we study this novel mechanism known as wash-in leptogenesis, utilizing axion inflation as the source of high-scale CP violation. We specifically consider axion inflation coupled to the Standard Model hypercharge sector, which results in the dual production of hypermagnetic helicity and fermionic charge asymmetries. Although the survival of these charges is endangered by sphaleron processes, magnetic diffusion, and the chiral plasma instability, we find a large range of viable scenarios. We consistently account for RHN flavor effects and coherence among the Standard Model lepton flavors across a wide range of RHN masses. We find a lower bound of 105···9 GeV on the mass of the lightest RHN involved in wash-in leptogenesis, depending on the onset of turbulence in the chiral plasma and the Hubble scale of inflation. Our model is representative of a broader class of new leptogenesis scenarios and suggests interesting observational signatures with regard to intergalactic magnetic fields, primordial black holes, and gravitational waves.

Abstract Paleotsunami deposit investigations and numerical tsunami computations have been performed to elucidate the source and size of large tsunamis along the Kuril to Japan Trenches, particularly for unusual tsunamis that occurred in the seventeenth century, the 1611 CE Keicho tsunami (M 8.1) along the Japan Trench and seventeenth-century tsunami (> Mw 8.8) along the Kuril Trench, which caused serious damages on the coastal residents and environments. Moreover, several paleotsunami deposits dating from the thirteenth to eighteenth centuries have been reported along the area between the Kuril and Japan subduction zones, but their sources have not been clarified. In this study, we estimated the tsunami sources from numerical simulations using the distribution of fifteenth- to seventeenth-century tsunami deposits at Sekinehama along the coast of the Shimokita Peninsula. Based on numerical simulations with previously proposed fault models, the tsunami deposits showing similar ages at Sekinehama and another site on the coast of Shimokita Peninsula, which are within 50 km apart, could not be explained except with the huge earthquake models (> Mw 9.1), whose rupture zones extend to not only the Kuril or Japan Trenches but also their flexural area. Thus, we modified or newly proposed twelve fault models located in the flexural area between the two trenches to explain tsunami deposits possibly around the seventeenth century at the above-mentioned two sites on the coast of Shimokita Peninsula. Simulations using these models elucidated that the rupture in the shallow or deep plate boundaries with > 14–32 m slip (> Mw 8.55–8.76) is necessary. If the tsunami deposits around the seventeenth century along the Iburi–Hidaka coast in Hokkaido and those at the two sites mentioned above might be left by an identical event, an interplate earthquake with > 18–40 m slip (> Mw 8.62–9.2) in the flexural area is needed. Moreover, this interplate earthquake might have occurred in the deep plate boundary than in the shallower plate boundary based on slip deficit and slow earthquake distribution data. Our results offer significant insights into a large earthquake (> M 8) along the Kuril and Japan Trenches in the fifteenth to seventeenth century.

Abstract A decade after the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake (Mw 9.0), geological surveys were conducted at multiple sites along the Pacific Coast of the tsunami-inundated Tohoku region in Japan, providing thousands of years of tsunami history. However, the challenges of correlation between historical records and geological tsunami deposits and identifying sources of historical and paleotsunamis have newly surfaced. Particularly the simultaneity and source of the 1611 Keicho tsunami in the Tohoku region and the seventeenth-century tsunami in the Hokkaido region are problematic. To solve such major issues, we conducted a tsunami-deposit survey at Sekinehama on the north coast of Shimokita Peninsula, near the junction of the Japan and Kuril trenches. We performed nondestructive analyses (X-ray computed tomography and micro-X-ray-fluorescence core scanning), grain-size analysis, tephra analysis, and radiocarbon dating of sediments from two coastal outcrops and inland drill cores. We identified five tsunami deposits (TD1–TD5) during the last 6 kyr and correlated them at a 200–400 m distance from the coast. They also correlate with previously identified tsunami deposits around the Shimokita Peninsula. From our study on tsunami deposits, we found other washover deposits in the coastal outcrops that are not represented in the inland cores. These indicate minor washover events related to small tsunamis and infrequent storm surges. The modeled age of the latest tsunami deposit is 500–300 cal yr BP (1450–1650 cal CE). This either correlates with two known tsunamis (the 1611 Keicho tsunami and another seventeenth-century tsunami) or is a previously unknown tsunami that occurred in the fifteenth–seventeenth centuries. If the latest tsunami deposit is to be accurately correlated with tsunami deposits previously identified within a 50-km distance from the study site, we need to consider an unknown fifteenth-century tsunami. Our investigation yields insights regarding the tsunami source in the vicinity of the junction of the Japan and Kuril trenches.

Abstract High-energy standard model (SM) particles in the early Universe are generated by the decay of heavy long-lived particles. The subsequent thermalization occurs through the splitting of high-energy primary particles into lower-energy daughters in primordial thermal plasma. The principal example of such processes is reheating after inflation caused by the decay of inflatons into SM particles. Understanding of the thermalization at reheating is extremely important as it reveals the origin of the hot Universe, and could open up new mechanisms for generating dark matter and/or baryon asymmetry. In this paper, we investigate the thermalization of high-energy SM particles in thermal plasma, taking into account the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effect in the leading-log approximation. The whole SM particle content and all the relevant SM interactions are included for the first time, i.e., the full gauge interactions of SU(3) c ×SU(2) L ×U(1) Y and the top Yukawa interaction. The distribution function of each SM species is computed both numerically and analytically. We have analytically obtained the distribution function of each SM species after the first few splittings. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, after a sufficient number of splittings, the particle distributions are asymptotic to certain values at low momentum, independent of the high-energy particles injected by inflaton decay. The results are useful to calculate the DM abundance produced during the pre-thermal phase. An example is provided to illustrate a way to calculate the DM abundance from the scattering between the thermal plasma and high-energy particles in the cascade.

Abstract Massive boulders in landslide and tsunami deposits are prominent geomorphic features in various landscapes. Tracking their movement history is important for reconstructing past geologic dynamics; however, the reworking movements of massive boulders remain unresolved. The boulder field on the Ishigaki Island was formed by repeated tsunamis. Although the individual movement histories of boulders contribute to retrodict the history of different magnitude tsunamis, their radiocarbon ages only correspond to the tsunamis that detached boulders from the reef. Viscous remanent magnetization dating methods have been applied in reworking movements. These methods reveal signals associated with remanent magnetization that gradually grew since the reworking event, which helps to determine the passage of time. The methods were verified by comparison to the radiocarbon ages of un-reworked boulders detached by the recent Meiwa tsunami, while the estimated ages of such two boulders based on the classical relaxation theory contradicted the radiocarbon ages. Here, we show that a method based on the stretched exponential function addressed this contradiction. The reworking movement was estimated using an additional boulder, whose, using our method, radiocarbon age indicated that an older tsunami moved it, whereas the remanent magnetization age unveiled a reworking of the boulder attributed to the Meiwa tsunami.

Abstract We study the pair production of fermions in a time dependent axion background with and without an electric background. We construct the adiabatic mode functions which incorporate the gauge field and the axion velocity dependence of the dispersion relation. The semiclassical approach using this adiabatic basis shows two types of pair production. One is axion-assisted pair production: the presence of the axion velocity gives enhancement and interference effects on the pair production driven by the electric field. The other is axion-driven pair production: the time variation of the axion velocity causes the pair production even though the electric field is absent.

Abstract Spontaneous CP violation, such as the Nelson-Barr (NB) mechanism, is an attractive scenario for addressing the strong CP problem while realizing the observed phase of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) quark-mixing matrix. However, not only the CKM phase but also the baryon asymmetric Universe requires sources of CP violation. In this study, we show that a supersymmetric NB mechanism can naturally accommodate the Affleck-Dine (AD) baryogenesis within a CP-invariant Lagrangian. The model provides flat directions associated with new heavy quarks. Focusing on one of the directions, we find that the correct baryon asymmetry is obtained with a sufficiently low reheating temperature which does not cause the gravitino problem. Some parameter space is consistent with the gravitino dark matter. We assess radiative corrections to the strong CP phase induced by gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking and CP-violating heavy fields and show that the strong CP problem is solved in a viable parameter space where the visible sector supersymmetric particles must be lighter than O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (100) TeV. Even in the case that they are heavier than the TeV scale, our model predicts the neutron electric dipole moment within the reach of the near future experiments. Our model addresses the electroweak naturalness problem, strong CP problem, baryon asymmetric Universe, and dark matter. Then, the model may give a new compelling paradigm of physics beyond the Standard Model.

We study an axion-like particle (ALP) that experiences a first-order phase transition with respect to its mass or potential minimum. This can be realized if the ALP obtains a potential from non-perturbative effects of SU(N) gauge theory that is confined via the first-order phase transition. Similar dynamics are achieved in the so-called trapped misalignment mechanism, where the ALP is trapped in a false vacuum at high temperatures until it begins to oscillate about the true minimum. The resulting ALP abundance is significantly enhanced compared to the standard misalignment mechanism, explaining dark matter in a broader parameter space that is accessible to experiments e.g. IAXO, ALPS-II, and DM-radio. Furthermore, the viable parameter space includes a region of the mass ma≃10−8−10−7eV and the ALP-photon coupling gaγγ≃10−11GeV−1 that can explain the recent observation of very high energy photons from GRB221009A via axion-photon oscillations. The parameter region suggests that the FOPT can generate gravitational waves that explain the NANOGrav hint. If the ALP in this region explains dark matter, then the ALP might have experienced a first-order phase transition. Finally we also discuss cosmological aspects of the dark sector that triggers the FOPT and propose a possible solution to the cooling problem of dark glueballs.

We discuss the formation of cosmic strings or macroscopic color flux tubes after the deconfinement/confinement phase transition in the pure Yang–Mills theory. Based on holographic dual descriptions, these cosmic strings can be interpreted as fundamental (F-) strings or wrapped D-branes (which we call as D-strings) in the gravity side, depending on the structure of the gauge group. In fact, the reconnection probabilities of the F- and D-strings are suppressed by factors of 1/N2 and e−cN, where c=O(1), in a large-N limit, respectively. Supported by the picture of electric–magnetic duality, we discuss that color flux tubes form after the deconfinement/confinement phase transition, just like the formation of local cosmic strings after spontaneous symmetry breaking in the weak-U(1) gauge theory. We use an extended velocity-dependent one-scale model to describe the dynamics of the string network and calculate the gravitational wave signals from string loops. We also discuss the dependence on the size of produced string loops.

Breast cancer metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract is relatively rare. Patients with such disease often develop gastrointestinal symptoms, but it is sometimes asymptomatic. Endoscopic findings of gastric metastasis from breast cancer markedly vary from benign to malignant, and even in suspected malignant cases, it is often difficult to differentiate between primary and metastatic disease. We experienced a case in which an endoscopic examination performed during the treatment for metastatic breast cancer resembled an early-stage gastric cancer. A 71-year-old woman underwent curative surgery for right breast cancer 16 years previously. She underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for early-stage gastric cancer 5 years ago. Two years ago, she developed metastatic disease in the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes, and endocrine therapy was administered. At the same time, a follow-up endoscopy revealed a new elevated lesion, suspected to be an early-stage gastric cancer. However, histological diagnosis of the biopsy was metastasis of breast cancer. One and a half years later, a follow-up endoscopy revealed a gastric lesion that had reduced in size. She is still alive, having received a variety of systemic treatments. Patients with metastatic breast cancer are experiencing prolonged survival. Thus, follow-up endoscopy should be considered after the diagnosis of gastrointestinal metastasis considering the risk of lethal conditions, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation. Our case serves as a reminder to clinicians how difficult it is to determine whether a gastric lesion is primary or metastatic based on endoscopic findings and the importance of communication with endoscopists and pathologists.

Hypersensitivity to mosquito bites (HMB) is a rare disease characterized by transient intense skin reaction and systemic inflammation. Clinical presentation of HMB resembles other mosquito allergic responses, and it can also be difficult to clinically distinguish HMB from other severe allergic reactions. However, a distinctive pathophysiology underlies HMB.HMB belongs to a category of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated natural killer (NK) cell lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD). Hence, HMB may progress to systemic diseases, such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, chronic active EBV disease, and EBV-associated malignancies.A triad of elevated serum IgE, NK lymphocytosis, and detection of EBV DNA in peripheral blood is commonly observed, and identification of EBV-infected NK cells usually facilitates the diagnosis. However, the effective treatment is limited, and its precise etiology remains unknown.Local CD4+ T cell proliferation triggered by mosquito bites appears to help induce EBV reactivation and EBV-infected NK-cell proliferation. These immunological interactions may explain the transient HMB signs and symptoms and the disease progression toward malignant LPD.Further research to elucidate the mechanism of HMB is warranted for better diagnosis and treatment of HMB and other forms of EBV-associated LPD.

Background. The management and outcome of ABO-incompatible (ABO-I) liver transplantation (LT) has been improving over the past few decades. Recently, the introduction of a pathological evaluation of acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) for liver allograft has provided a new recognition of allograft rejection in LT. Methods. One hundred and one pediatric ABO-I LTs performed in our institute were retrospectively analyzed. We assessed the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of acute AMR, focusing on the recipient age and pathological findings. Results. Twelve cases (11.9%) of acute AMR related to ABO-I were observed. Nine cases developed mixed T cell–mediated rejection (TCMR)/AMR. These consisted of 6 patients in the younger age group for whom the preconditioning treatment was not indicated and 4 patients in the older age group to whom rituximab was administered as planned. Two patients in the older age group to whom preoperative rituximab was not administered as planned developed isolated AMR. Acute AMR in the older group required plasma exchange for treatment, regardless of the coexistence of TCMR. In contrast, those in the younger group were successfully treated by intravenous methylprednisolone pulse and intravenous immunoglobulin without plasma exchange, accounting for mild immune reaction. Conclusions. Acute ABO-I AMR can develop simultaneously with TCMR, even in young patients with a compromised humoral immune response following ABO-I LT. Establishing the accurate diagnosis of AMR with a pathological examination, including component 4d staining, is crucial for optimizing treatment.

Abstract A novel acidic morpholine-derivative containing glyceride (M-glyceride) was isolated from the cells of two strains of the thraustochytrid, Aurantiochytrium. The glyceride accounted for approximately 0.1 -0.4% of the lyophilized cells. The glyceride consisted of peaks I (85%) and II (15%). The structures of the intact and acetylated glycerides were elucidated by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC–Q/TOF) and NMR spectroscopy. The hydrate type of M-glyceride was detected as a minor component by LC–MS/MS. By 2D-NMR experiments, peaks I of the intact M-glyceride were elucidated as 1,2-didocosapentaenoyl-glyceryl-2′-oxy-3′-oxomorpholino propionic acid, and peak II was estimated 1,2-palmitoyldocosapentaenoyl- and/or 1,2-docosapentaenoylpalmitoyl-glyceryl-2′-oxy-3′-oxomorpholino propionic acid. The double bond position of docosapentaenoic acid was of the ω − 6 type (C22 = 5.ω − 6). The M-glyceride content varied by the cell cycle. The content was 0.4% of lyophilized cells at the mid logarithmic phase, and decreased to 0.1% at the mid stationary phase. When cells were grown in 1.0 µM M-glyceride-containing growth media, cell growth was stimulated to 110% of the control. With 0.1 µM acetyl M-glyceride, stimulation of 113% of the control was observed. Finding morpholine derivatives in biological components is rare, and 2-hydroxy-3-oxomorpholino propionic acid (auranic acid) is a novel morpholine derivative.

Abstract The recent XENON1T excess in the electron recoil data can be explained by anomaly-free axion-like particle (ALP) dark matter with mass m ϕ = 2.3 ± 0.2 keV and the decay constant f ϕ / q e ≃ 2 × 10 10 Ω ϕ / Ω DM $$ {f}_{\phi }/{q}_e\simeq 2\times {10}^{10}\sqrt{\Omega_{\phi }/{\Omega}_{\mathrm{DM}}} $$ GeV. Intriguingly, the suggested mass and decay constant are consistent with the relation, f ϕ ∼ 10 3 m ϕ M p $$ {f}_{\phi}\sim {10}^3\sqrt{m_{\phi }{M}_p} $$ , predicted in a scenario where the ALP plays the role of the inflaton. This raises a possibility that the ALP dark matter responsible for the XENON1T excess also drove inflation in the very early universe. We study implications of the XENON1T excess for the ALP inflation and thermal history of the universe after inflation. We find that the successful reheating requires the ALP couplings to heavy fermions in the standard model, which results in an instantaneous reheating and subsequent thermalization of the ALPs. Then, an entropy dilution of O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (10) is necessary to explain the XENON1T excess, which can be achieved by decays of the right-handed neutrinos.

Abstract Axion-like particles can source the baryon asymmetry of our Universe through spontaneous baryogenesis. Here we clarify that this is a generic outcome for essentially any coupling of an axion-like particle to the Standard Model, requiring only a non-zero velocity of the classical axion field while baryon or lepton number violating interactions are present in thermal bath. In particular, coupling the axions only to gluons is sufficient to generate a baryon asymmetry in the presence of electroweak sphalerons or the Weinberg operator. Deriving the transport equation for an arbitrary set of couplings of the axion-like particle, we provide a general framework in which these results can be obtained immediately. If all the operators involved are efficient, it suffices to solve an algebraic equation to obtain the final asymmetries. Otherwise one needs to solve a simple set of differential equations. This formalism clarifies some theoretical subtleties such as redundancies in the axion coupling to the Standard Model particles associated with a field rotation. We demonstrate how our formalism automatically evades potential pitfalls in the calculation of the final baryon asymmetry.

Abstract Background The occurrence of sarcoid reactions has been recognized in various cancers. The common location for observing these granulomas is mainly the lymph nodes, but a rare occurrence in the spleen has been reported. Almost all splenic sarcoid reactions associated with gastric cancer have been resected synchronously and diagnosed accidentally, and a rare metachronous occurrence of a sarcoid reaction in the spleen after distal gastrectomy can mimic cancer metastasis. We describe a rare case of a splenic sarcoid reaction recognized in a patient with gastric cancer 6 months after distal gastrectomy. Case presentation An 82-year-old man underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer (T3N0M0, stage IIA). Six months after gastrectomy, CT and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/CT showed the appearance of a splenic mass. We diagnosed solitary splenic metastasis from gastric cancer and performed laparoscopic-assisted splenectomy. His splenic tumor was diagnosed as a sarcoid reaction by histopathological examination. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first report of a splenic sarcoid reaction recognized 6 months after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer without any chemotherapy. The splenic sarcoid reaction and cancer metastasis to the spleen were undistinguishable from the CT and FDG-PET/CT findings. The present case and literature review showed that cases of splenic sarcoid reactions associated with gastric cancer can also be accompanied by the occurrence of these granulomas in lymph nodes. When the appearance of a solitary mass is observed in the spleen after resection of primary cancer, it is necessary to consider not only cancer metastasis but also sarcoid reactions. Retrospective histopathological confirmation of the existence of sarcoid reactions in lymph nodes from resected specimens might possibly avoid incorrect diagnosis and intervention.

Abstract We propose a new radion stabilization mechanism in the Randall-Sundrum spacetime, introducing a bulk SU(N H ) gauge field which confines at a TeV scale. It turns out that the radion is stabilized by the balance between a brane tension and a pressure due to the Casimir energy of the strong SU(N H ) gauge field. We investigate the phase transition between the Randall-Sundrum (compactified) spacetime and a de-compactified spacetime and determine the parameter regime in which eternal (old) inflation is avoided and the phase transition can be completed. In comparison to the Goldberger-Wise mechanism, the 5D Planck mass can be larger than the AdS curvature and a classical description of the gravity is reliable in our stabilization mechanism. We also discuss the effect of the phase transition in cosmology such as an entropy dilution and a production of gravitational waves.

Aim Limited information exists on the factors associated with prolonged procedural time in embolization for trauma patients. We clarified the clinical application of embolization in trauma patients and factors associated with a prolonged procedure time. Methods Medical records of 162 trauma patients who underwent embolization between January 2007 and December 2020 at a regional trauma care center were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into four embolized body regions: chest, abdomen, pelvis, and other. Patient demographics, trauma mechanism, physiology, trauma severity, embolization procedures, and 30‐day mortality were examined. The outcomes were identifying an embolized body region, embolized arteries, and procedure time. Multiple regression model was created to investigate the factors associated with prolonged procedural time in embolization. Results Embolization was mainly undertaken in pelvic fractures (n = 96, 59%) and abdominal organ injuries (n = 57, 35%) and extended to the chest (n = 17, 10%), and other (n = 20, 12%). Approximately 13% (n = 21) of patients underwent embolization in two or more regions. Embolization was more strictly performed in minor artery injuries, for example, external iliac (n = 15, 16%) and lumbar artery (n = 22, 23%) branches in pelvic fractures, and inferior phrenic artery (n = 2, 3.5%) branches in liver injuries. Multiple regression model indicated that the number of embolized arteries (P = 0.021) and number of embolized regions (P

Abstract Background Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare clinical entity caused mainly by extrinsic compression of the celiac axis by the median arcuate ligament (MAL). Severe celiac artery stenosis can lead to the development of collateral circulation, aneurysms, and, rarely, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection. The treatment of MALS involves the surgical release of the MAL. However, a standard procedure with the use of laparoscopy has not been established, and intraoperative complications can lead to severe vascular injury. Case presentation The patient was a 43-year-old man with MALS identified at the onset of SMA dissection. After treatment for the SMA dissection, he underwent laparoscopic MAL release. Using the technique of laparoscopic gastrectomy within the surgical field, we performed laparoscopic MAL release and ganglionectomy safely with a good view. Immediate symptomatic improvement was acquired, and no recurrence was observed at the 20-month follow-up. Conclusion We reported a rare case of MALS and SMA dissection. A horizontal 3D laparoscopic approach of the celiac axis allows for safe, meticulous, and radical MAL release and ganglionectomy.

Abstract We revisit the non-thermal dark matter (DM) production during the thermalization and reheating era after inflation. The decay of inflaton produces high-energy particles that are thermalized to complete the reheating of the Universe. Before the thermalization is completed, DM can be produced from a collision between the high-energy particles and/or the ambient plasma. We calculate the DM abundance produced from these processes for the case where the cross section of the DM production is proportional to the n-th power of the center of mass energy. We find that the collision between the high-energy particles is almost always dominant for n ≳ 4 while it is subdominant for n≲2. The production from the ambient plasma is dominant when n≲3 and the reheating temperature is of the order of or larger than the DM mass. The production from a collision between the high-energy particle and the ambient plasma is important for n ≲ 2 and the reheating temperature is much lower than the DM mass.

Abstract A simple model of dark matter contains a light Dirac field charged under a hidden U(1) gauge symmetry. When a chiral matter content in a strong dynamics satisfies the t’Hooft anomaly matching condition, a massless baryon is a natural candidate of the light Dirac field. One realization is the same matter content as the standard SU(5) × U(1)(B−L) grand unified theory. We propose a chiral [SU(5) × U(1)]4 gauge theory as a unified model of the SM and DM sectors. The low-energy dynamics, which was recently studied, is governed by the hidden U(1)4 gauge interaction and the third-family U 1 B − L 3 $$ \mathrm{U}{(1)}_{{\left(B-L\right)}_3} $$ gauge interaction. This model can realize self-interacting dark matter and alleviate the small-scale crisis of collisionless cold dark matter in the cosmological structure formation. The model can also address the semi-leptonic B-decay anomaly reported by the LHCb experiment.

We discuss vacuum decays catalyzed by spherical and horizonless objects and show that an ultra compact object could catalyze a vacuum decay around it within the cosmological time. The catalytic effect of a horizonless compact object could be more efficient than that of a black hole since in this case there is no suppression of the decay rate due to the decrement of its Bekestein entropy. If there exists another minimum with AdS vacuum in the Higgs potential at a high energy scale, the abundance of compact objects such as monopoles, neutron stars, axion stars, oscillons, Q-balls, black hole remnants, gravastars and so on, could be severely constrained. We find that an efficient enhancement of nucleation rate occurs when the size of the compact object is comparable to its Schwarzschild radius and the bubble radius. Keywords: Higgs metastability, First order phase transition, Compact objects

Abstract Stratigraphic and paleontological investigations in Mugi Town, on the Pacific coast of Shikoku Island, revealed evidence of as many as five tsunami inundations from events along the Nankai Trough between 5581 and 3640 cal yr BP. Nine event deposits (E1–E9) were identified in cores ranging in length from 2 to 6 m, consisting of sandy and gravelly layers interbedded with organic-rich mud. Sedimentary structures in the event deposits observed by computed tomography included normal grading and sharp lower stratigraphic contacts. Event deposits E3, E6, E7, and E8 contained mainly brackish-marine diatom species, suggesting that they had been deposited during inundation by seawater. In addition, fossil diatom assemblages were markedly different above and below event deposits E3, E4, E6, and E8. For example, assemblages below event deposit E6 were dominated by a freshwater species (Ulnaria acus), whereas assemblages above it were predominantly brackish-marine (Diploneis smithii, Fallacia forcipata, and Fallacia tenera). We attributed these changes to the increase of marine influence due to coastal subsidence associated with subduction-zone earthquakes, as documented in the 1946 Showa-Nankai earthquakes. We conclude that event deposits E3, E6, and E8 and perhaps E4 and E7 were deposited by tsunamis generated by subduction zone earthquakes along the Nankai Trough. The ages of these event deposits, as constrained by ten radiocarbon ages, suggest that some of the tsunamis that impacted Mugi Town were correlated with those reported elsewhere along the Nankai Trough, thereby complementing the existing but still incomplete geological record for these events.

Abstract A spontaneously broken hidden U(1) h gauge symmetry can explain both the dark matter stability and the observed relic abundance. In this framework, the light gauge boson can mediate the strong dark matter self-interaction, which addresses astrophysical observations that are hard to explain in collisionless cold dark matter. Motivated by flavoured grand unified theories, we introduce right-handed neutrinos and a flavoured B − L gauge symmetry for the third family U 1 B − L 3 $$ \mathrm{U}{(1)}_{{\left(B-L\right)}_3} $$ . The unwanted relic of the U(1) h gauge boson decays into neutrinos via the kinetic mixing with the U 1 B − L 3 $$ \mathrm{U}{(1)}_{{\left(B-L\right)}_3} $$ gauge boson. Indirect detection bounds on dark matter are systematically weakened, since dark matter annihilation results in neutrinos. However, the kinetic mixing between U 1 B − L 3 $$ \mathrm{U}{(1)}_{{\left(B-L\right)}_3} $$ and U(1) Y gauge bosons are induced by quantum corrections and leads to an observable signal in direct and indirect detection experiments of dark matter. This model can also explain the baryon asymmetry of the Universe via the thermal leptogenesis. In addition, we discuss the possibility of explaining the lepton flavour universality violation in semi-leptonic B meson decays that is recently found in the LHCb experiment.

We point out that the recently proposed Swampland conjecture on the potential gradient can lead to isocurvature perturbations of dark energy, if the quintessence field acquires large quantum fluctuations during high-scale inflation preferred by the conjecture. Also, if the quintessence field is coupled to a dark sector that contains dark matter, isocurvature perturbation of dark matter is similarly induced. Both isocurvature perturbations can be suppressed if the quintessence potential allows a tracker solution in the early Universe. We find that a vector field of mass ≲ O(1) meV is an excellent dark matter candidate in this context, not only because the right abundance is known to be produced by quantum fluctuations during high-scale inflation without running afoul of isocurvature bounds, but also because its coupling to the quintessence does not spoil the flatness of the potential.

Recent pulsar timing data reported by the NANOGrav collaboration may indicate the existence of a stochastic gravitational wave background around f∼10−8 Hz. We explore a possibility to generate such low-frequency gravitational waves from a dark sector phase transition. Assuming that the dark sector is completely decoupled from the visible sector except via the gravitational interaction, we find that some amount of dark radiation should remain until present. The NANOGrav data implies that the amount of dark radiation is close to the current upper bound, which may help mitigate the so-called Hubble tension. If the existence of dark radiation is not confirmed in the future CMB-S4 experiment, it would imply the existence of new particles feebly interacting with the standard model sector at an energy scale of O(1 - 100) MeV.

The novel PQ mechanism replaces the strong CP problem with some challenges in a model building. In particular, the challenges arise regarding i) the origin of an anomalous global symmetry called a PQ symmetry, ii) the scale of the PQ symmetry breaking, and iii) the quality of the PQ symmetry. In this letter, we provide a natural and simple UV completed model that addresses these challenges. Extra quarks and anti-quarks are separated by two branes in the Randall-Sundrum R4×S1/Z2 spacetime while a hidden SU(NH) gauge field condensates in the bulk. The brane separation is the origin of the PQ symmetry and its breaking scale is given by the dynamical scale of the SU(NH) gauge interaction. The (generalized) Casimir force of SU(NH) condensation stabilizes the 5th dimension, which guarantees the quality of the PQ symmetry.

Scalar weak gravity conjectures (SWGCs) attempt to pinpoint the ranges of couplings consistent with a fundamental theory of all interactions. We identify a generic dynamical consequence of these conjectures for cosmology and show that SWGCs imply a particular behavior of the scalar fields in the early universe. A scalar field that develops a large expectation value during inflation must relax to the minimum of effective potential at a later time. SWGCs imply that a homogeneous distribution of the field is unstable with respect to fragmentation into localized lumps, which could potentially lead to significant consequences for cosmology.

We construct charged soliton solutions around spherical charged black holes with no angular momentum in asymptotically flat spacetime. These solutions are non-linear generalizations of charged scalar clouds, dubbed Q-clouds, and they do not contradict the non-existence theorem for free (linear) scalar clouds around charged black holes. These solutions are the first examples of O(3) solutions for Q-clouds around a non-extremal and non-rotating BH in the Abelian gauge theory. We show that a solution exists with an infinitely short cloud in the limit of extremal black holes. We discuss the evolution of Q-cloud in a system with fixed total charge and describe how the existence of Q-clouds is related to the weak-gravity conjecture. The reason that the no-hair theorem by Mayo and Bekenstein cannot be applied to the massive scalar field is also discussed.

Abstract The energy landscape of multiverse cosmology is often modeled by a multi-dimensional random Gaussian potential. The physical predictions of such models crucially depend on the eigenvalue distribution of the Hessian matrix at potential minima. In particular, the stability of vacua and the dynamics of slow-roll inflation are sensitive to the magnitude of the smallest eigenvalues. The Hessian eigenvalue distribution has been studied earlier, using the saddle point approximation, in the leading order of 1/N expansion, where N is the dimensionality of the landscape. This approximation, however, is insufficient for the small eigenvalue end of the spectrum, where sub-leading terms play a significant role. We extend the saddle point method to account for the sub-leading contributions. We also develop a new approach, where the eigenvalue distribution is found as an equilibrium distribution at the endpoint of a stochastic process (Dyson Brownian motion). The results of the two approaches are consistent in cases where both methods are applicable. We discuss the implications of our results for vacuum stability and slow-roll inflation in the landscape.

Abstract We investigate inflation in a multi-dimensional landscape with a hierarchy of energy scales, motivated by the string theory, where the energy scale of Kahler moduli is usually assumed to be much lower than that of complex structure moduli and dilaton field. We argue that in such a landscape, the dynamics of slow-roll inflation is governed by the low-energy potential, while the initial condition for inflation are determined by tunneling through high-energy barriers. We then use the scale factor cutoff measure to calculate the probability distribution for the number of inflationary e-folds and the amplitude of density fluctuations Q, assuming that the low-energy landscape is described by a random Gaussian potential with a correlation length much smaller than M pl. We find that the distribution for Q has a unique shape and a preferred domain, which depends on the parameters of the low-energy landscape. We discuss some observational implications of this distribution and the constraints it imposes on the landscape parameters.

Abstract The string theory predicts many light fields called moduli and axions, which cause a cosmological problem due to the overproduction of their coherent oscillation after inflation. One of the prominent solutions is an adiabatic suppression mechanism, which, however, is non-trivial to achieve in the case of axions because it necessitates a large effective mass term which decreases as a function of time. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we provide an analytic method to calculate the cosmological abundance of coherent oscillation in a general situation under the adiabatic suppression mechanism. Secondly, we apply our method to some concrete examples, including the one where a string axion acquires a large effective mass due to the Witten effect in the presence of hidden monopoles.

Antiviral therapy against cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is indicated for symptomatic infection in the fetus and premature neonates. In mature neonates, the benefit of antiviral therapy for severe CMV infection remains controversial. Additionally, when diagnosing symptomatic CMV disease occurring during the early neonatal period, it is difficult to differentiate between congenital and acquired infections. We herein report a neonatal case of CMV infection complicated with severe thrombocytopenia that was successfully managed with antiviral treatment. A 21-day-old male infant presented with low-grade fever and erythema on his extremities. During outpatient follow-up, he developed petechiae and thrombocytopenia (platelet count 17,000/μL). Subsequent serological examination and molecular detection of CMV confirmed the diagnosis of CMV infection. In consideration of the severe thrombocytopenia, antiviral therapy with valganciclovir 32 mg/kg/day was initiated. The platelet counts increased with decreasing CMV loads. After excluding congenital CMV infection, we discontinued antiviral therapy without relapse of the disease. The present case suggests that neonatal cases of severe symptomatic CMV infection may require antiviral therapy while excluding the possibility of congenital infection. Keywords: Cytomegalovirus, Thrombocytopenia, Neonate, Antiviral therapy

The role of nutrient-sensing pathways in regulation of innate immune response is unexplored. Here the authors show that IL-4 activates the amino-acid sensing pathway in macrophages and leads to polarization of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages via the transcription factor liver X receptor.

We show that the 750 GeV diphoton excess can be explained by introducing vector-like quarks and hidden fermions charged under a hidden U(1) gauge symmetry, which has a relatively large coupling constant as well as a significant kinetic mixing with U(1)Y. With the large kinetic mixing, the standard model gauge couplings unify around 1017 GeV, suggesting the grand unified theory without too rapid proton decay. Our scenario predicts events with a photon and missing transverse momentum, and its cross section is related to that for the diphoton excess through the kinetic mixing. We also discuss other possible collider signatures and cosmology, including various ways to evade constraints on exotic stable charged particles. In some cases where the 750 GeV diphoton excess is due to diaxion decays, our scenario also predicts triphoton and tetraphoton signals.

We provide a theory with a monopole of a strongly-interacting hidden U(1) gauge symmetry that can explain the 750-GeV diphoton excess reported by ATLAS and CMS. The excess results from the resonance of monopole, which is produced via gluon fusion and decays into two photons. In the low energy, there are only mesons and a monopole in our model because any baryons cannot be gauge invariant in terms of strongly interacting Abelian symmetry. This is advantageous of our model because there is no unwanted relics around the BBN epoch.

We propose a variant scenario of spontaneous baryogenesis from asymmetric inflaton based on current–current interactions between the inflaton and matter fields with a non-zero B−L charge. When the inflaton starts to oscillate around the minimum after inflation, it may lead to excitation of a CP-odd component, which induces an effective chemical potential for the B−L number through the current–current interactions. We study concrete inflation models and show that the spontaneous baryogenesis scenario can be naturally implemented in the chaotic inflation in supergravity.

We investigate the backreaction of the Affleck–Dine leptogenesis to inflaton dynamics in the F-term hybrid and chaotic inflation models in supergravity. We determine the lightest neutrino mass in both models so that the predictions of spectral index, tensor-to-scalar ratio, and baryon abundance are consistent with observations.

We study the Witten effect of hidden monopoles on the QCD axion dynamics, and show that its abundance as well as isocurvature perturbations can be significantly suppressed if there is a sufficient amount of hidden monopoles. When the hidden monopoles make up a significant fraction of dark matter, the Witten effect suppresses the abundance of axion with the decay constant smaller than 1012GeV. The cosmological domain wall problem of the QCD axion can also be avoided, relaxing the upper bound on the decay constant when the Peccei–Quinn symmetry is spontaneously broken after inflation.