Kobe Gakuin University

Random matrix theory (RMT) provides a powerful framework for analyzing universal features of strongly coupled physical systems. In quantum chromodynamics (QCD), cold quark matter at asymptotically high density is expected to exhibit color superconductivity (CSC), the analogue of superconductivity in condensed-matter systems. Although CSC phases have been studied within RMT primarily in the macroscopic large-N limit, where N denotes the matrix size, it has remained unclear whether an RMT exists that realizes CSC in the microscopic large-N limit. Here we answer this question in the affirmative by introducing a novel non-Hermitian chiral random matrix model. For three quark flavors, we show that the model exhibits spontaneous breaking of color SU(3) and flavor SU(3) symmetries down to the diagonal SU(3) subgroup, thereby reproducing color-flavor locking in dense QCD. For two flavors, we find that color SU(3) is spontaneously broken to SU(2) while the chiral symmetry SU(2)L & times;SU(2)R remains unbroken, consistent with the two-flavor color-superconducting phase.

Introduction Boric acid poisoning can present with gastrointestinal symptoms and characteristic “boiled lobster” rash. It may lead to renal and hepatic failure and can be fatal. Hemodialysis is recommended in severe cases. However, evidence of its efficacy in eliminating boric acid remains limited.Case A 56-year-old male was brought to the emergency department after ingesting 91 g of boric acid, which likely exceeds the estimated lethal dose, along with surfactant-based toilet cleaner, and a pyrethroid-containing insecticide during a suicide attempt. Gastric lavage was performed since computed tomography revealed residual boric acid in the stomach. He underwent two consecutive rounds of hemodialysis. The plasma boron concentrations were measured, noting half-lives of 2.46 and 3.51 h during hemodialysis and 48.3 h without hemodialysis. He was discharged without sequelae after six days of hospitalization.Discussion Accelerated elimination of boric acid during hemodialysis was evident in the present case. When managing cases of boric acid poisoning exceeding a lethal dose, hemodialysis should be considered.

The urgent need for sustainable peptide manufacturing has accelerated efforts to replace conventional N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)-based solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) with greener alternatives. Here, we present a practical SPPS protocol that uses water as the reaction medium and eliminates hazardous organic solvents. The method leverages nanoassemblies formed from Fmoc-protected amino acids, coupling reagents, and bases, which create reactive interfacial microenvironments that enhance local concentration and promote efficient peptide bond formation under aqueous conditions. These nanoassemblies are readily prepared without specialized equipment and are compatible with microwave-assisted coupling, enabling scalability and semi-automation using existing SPPS platforms. Using this approach, we synthesized various peptides, including β-endorphin (31 residues), with yields and purities comparable to those obtained using conventional DMF-based SPPS. By integrating DMF-free chemistry with nanoassembly-driven reactivity, this work introduces a reaction-field-based strategy for peptide synthesis and provides a simple and eco-friendly platform aligned with the principles of green chemistry.

Quantifying predictive uncertainty is essential for safe and trustworthy real-world AI deployment. However, the fully nonparametric estimation of conditional distributions remains challenging for multivariate targets. We propose Tomographic Quantile Forests (TQF), a nonparametric, uncertainty-aware, tree-based regression model for multivariate targets. TQF learns conditional quantiles of directional projections n⊤y as functions of the input x and the direction n. At inference, it aggregates quantiles across many directions and reconstructs the multivariate conditional distribution by minimizing the sliced Wasserstein distance via an efficient alternating scheme with convex subproblems. Unlike classical directional-quantile approaches that typically produce only convex quantile regions and require training separate models for different directions, TQF covers all directions with a single model to reconstruct the full conditional distribution itself, naturally overcoming any convexity restrictions. We evaluate TQF on synthetic and real-world datasets, and release the source code on GitHub.

Appropriate motor function assessment is crucial in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Tapping may be a way to assess changes in motor function. To compare tapping with existing motor function assessments. Seventeen SMA patients who received risdiplam. Eight patients had type 2, and nine had type 3. Nine were male, and eight were female. Average age was 42.3 years (SD 14.1 years). Fourteen patients used wheelchairs, and three were able to walk. All patients were able to take food orally. Ten patients had spontaneous respiration, and seven had nocturnal NPPV. Fourteen patients had SMN2 copy number 3, three had copy number 4, and three had a history of nusinersen administration. Before the start of risdiplam administration and after a certain period following administration, the number of taps over 30 seconds using tablet-based software, the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE), and the Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM) were evaluated and compared. The duration of risdiplam administration ranged from 1 to 3 years (mean 2.2, SD 0.7). Prior to risdiplam initiation, the total number of taps ranged from 60 to 202 (137.6, 44.6), HFMSE scores ranged from 0 to 63 (12.3, 20.2), and RULM scores ranged from 1 to 37 (14.9, 11.2). Significant correlations were found between the total number of taps and HFMSE (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.711), between the total number of taps and RULM (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.907), and between HFMSE and RULM (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.756). HFMSE showed a floor effect with other parameters. The total number of taps after administration ranged from 89 to 197 (142.7, 38.3), HFMSE scores ranged from 0 to 62 (12.6, 20.6), and RULM scores ranged from 1 to 37 (15.1, 11.8). There were no significant differences in the values of each item compared to before administration. Comparing the number of taps in the first 5 seconds with the number of taps in the last 5 seconds, 10 cases showed an increase and 7 cases showed a decrease compared to before the initiation of risdiplam administration. The significant correlation between the total number of taps and existing motor function assessments indicates that SMA motor function can be evaluated using tapping. Comparing the number of taps in the first 5 seconds with the number of taps in the last 5 seconds may indicate the degree of fatigue, suggesting that tapping can also be used as an indicator of fatigue. Tapping may capture changes before and after risdiplam administration, which were not observed in existing motor function assessments, making it a useful tool for evaluating motor function.