Mass Limit for Light Flavon with Residual Z3Z_3 Symmetry

We present a modified Altarelli and Feruglio $A_4$ model where an additional $A_4$ singlet-prime flavon is introduced. In this model, non-zero $\theta _{13}$ is given by this additional $A_4$ singlet-prime flavon which breaks tri-bimaximal mixing. In the framework of the supersymmetry with $U(1)_R$ symmetry, we obtain vacuum expectation values (VEVs) and VEV alignments of flavons through driving fields. It is considered that flavon induces distinctive flavor violating process if flavon mass is light. Assuming mass of SUSY particles are sufficiently heavy so that the SUSY contributions can be negligible, we discuss the flavor violating Yukawa interaction through flavon exchange in the charged lepton sector. According to the potential analysis, the VEV of flavon breaks $A_4$ down to $Z_3$ in the charged lepton sector and relation among flavon masses is determined. Thanks for the residual $Z_3$ symmetry, many lepton flavor violating decay modes are forbidden except for $\tau \rightarrow \mu \mu \bar{e}$ and $\tau \rightarrow e e \bar{\mu}$. A mass limit of the flavon from these three-body decay modes is $60$~GeV taking into account the current experimental lower bounds at the Belle experiment. In our model, we predict a ratio of the branching ratios $\tau \rightarrow \mu \mu \bar{e}$ and $\tau \rightarrow e e \bar{\mu}$ by using known charged lepton masses. We also find that the production cross section for the flavon can be $\mathcal{O}(1)$ fb. Thus the flavon would be found at the LHC run 2 by searching for 4-tau lepton signal.Comment: 14 pages, final versio

Bipolar anodic electrochemical exfoliation of graphite powders

The electrochemical exfoliation of graphite has attracted considerable attention as a method for large-scale, rapid production of graphene and graphene oxide (GO). As exfoliation typically requires direct electrical contact, and is limited by the shape and/or size of the starting graphite, treatment of small graphite particles and powders, the typical form available commercially, is extremely difficult. In this study, GO nanosheets were successfully prepared from small graphite particles and powders by a bipolar electrochemical process. Graphite samples were placed between two platinum feeder electrodes, and a constant current was applied between the feeder electrodes using dilute sulfuric acid as the electrolyte. Optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to examine the samples obtained after electrolysis. The results obtained from these analyses confirmed that anodic electrochemical exfoliation occurs in the graphite samples, and the exfoliated samples are basically highly crystalline GO nanosheets with a low degree of oxidation (C/O = 3.6–5.3). This simple electrochemical method is extremely useful for preparing large amounts of graphene and GO from small particles of graphite

Bioactive polyamine production by a novel hybrid system comprising multiple indigenous gut bacterial strategies

個々の腸内細菌の生き残り戦略が組み合わさることで、 機能性物質ポリアミンが産生されていることを発見しました. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2018-07-06.Metabolites of the intestinal microbiota are thought to be generated through metabolic pathways spanning multiple taxa of intestinal bacteria. We have previously shown that the level of putrescine, a polyamine found abundantly in the human intestinal lumen, is increased in the colonic lumen following administration of arginine and the probiotic Bifidobacterium sp.; however, the underlying mechanism remained poorly understood. We report a novel pathway for putrescine production from arginine through agmatine involving the collaboration of two bacterial groups, and triggered by environmental acidification (drop in pH to below 6.5 from neutral). This pathway comprises the acid tolerance system of Escherichia coli, representing bacteria that have an arginine-dependent acid resistance system; the energy production system of Enterococcus faecalis, representing bacteria that have an agmatine deiminase system; and the acid production system of the acid-producing bacteria, represented by Bifidobacterium spp. This pathway is unique in that it represents a relationship between the independent survival strategies of multiple bacteria

ACTN1 Mutations Cause Congenital Macrothrombocytopenia

Congenital macrothrombocytopenia (CMTP) is a heterogeneous group of rare platelet disorders characterized by a congenital reduction of platelet counts and abnormally large platelets, for which CMTP-causing mutations are only found in approximately half the cases. We herein performed whole-exome sequencing and targeted Sanger sequencing to identify mutations that cause CMTP, in which a dominant mode of transmission had been suspected but for which no known responsible mutations have been documented. In 13 Japanese CMTP-affected pedigrees, we identified six (46%) affected by ACTN1 variants cosegregating with CMTP. In the entire cohort, ACNT1 variants accounted for 5.5% of the dominant forms of CMTP cases and represented the fourth most common cause in Japanese individuals. Individuals with ACTN1 variants presented with moderate macrothrombocytopenia with anisocytosis but were either asymptomatic or had only a modest bleeding tendency. ACTN1 encodes α-actinin-1, a member of the actin-crosslinking protein superfamily that participates in the organization of the cytoskeleton. In vitro transfection experiments in Chinese hamster ovary cells demonstrated that altered α-actinin-1 disrupted the normal actin-based cytoskeletal structure. Moreover, transduction of mouse fetal liver-derived megakaryocytes with disease-associated ACTN1 variants caused a disorganized actin-based cytoskeleton in megakaryocytes, resulting in the production of abnormally large proplatelet tips, which were reduced in number. Our findings provide an insight into the pathogenesis of CMTP