Three-Flavour Neutrino-Mixing Implications of the LSND Result

The LSND result is shown to fit into a minimal three-flavour neutrino-mixing scenario capable of describing all known experimental facts provided the large Delta M^2 = m_3^2 - m_2^2 \sim m_3^2 - m_1^2 lies in the range 2.5 x 10^{-1} < Delta M^2 < 3.0 eV^2. In this range the value of P_{\mu\tau} is expected to be about 5% or larger.Comment: 10 pages, 2 eps figures, LaTeX 2.09, revised for Physics Letters

Constraints on long-baseline neutrino oscillations from the results of neutrino oscillation experiments

It is shown that in the two schemes with four massive neutrinos which are compatible with the results of all neutrino oscillation experiments, the probabilities of nu_e disappearance and nu_mu->nu_e appearance in long-baseline experiments are severely constrained.Comment: 7 pages, including 2 figures. Talk presented by C. Giunti at TAUP97, September 7-11, 1997, Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Ital

Constraints from Neutrino Oscillation Experiments on the Effective Majorana Mass in Neutrinoless Double β\beta-Decay

We determine the possible values of the effective Majorana neutrino mass $|< m > |= |\sum_j U_{ej}^2 m_j|$ in the different phenomenologically viable three and four-neutrino scenarios. The quantities $U_{\alpha j}$ ($\alpha = e,\mu,\tau,...$) denote the elements of the neutrino mixing matrix and the Majorana neutrino masses $m_j$ ($j=1,2,3,...$) are ordered as $m_1 < m_2 < ...$ Assuming $m_1 \ll m_3$ in the three-neutrino case and $m_1 \ll m_4$ in the four-neutrino case, we discuss, in particular, how constraints on $| |$ depend on the mixing angle relevant in solar neutrino oscillations and on the three mass-squared differences obtained from the analyses of the solar, atmospheric and LSND data. If neutrinoless double $\beta$-decay proceeds via the mechanism involving $||$, conclusions about neutrinoless double $\beta$-decay can be drawn. If one of the two viable four-neutrino schemes (Scheme A) is realized in nature, $||$ can be as large as 1 eV and neutrinoless double $\beta$-decay could possibly be discovered in the near future. In this case a Majorana CP phase of the mixing matrix $U$ could be determined. In the other four-neutrino scheme (Scheme B) there is an upper bound on $||$ of the order of $10^{-2}$ eV. In the case of three-neutrino mixing the same is true if the neutrino mass spectrum is hierarchical, however, if there exist two quasi-degenerate neutrinos and the first neutrino has a much smaller mass, values of $||$ as large as $\sim 0.1$ eV are possible.Comment: 15 pages, REVTEX, 2 figures, final version to be published in Phys. Lett.

A new ordering principle for the classical statistical analysis of Poisson processes with background

Inspired by the recent proposal by Feldman and Cousins of a ``unified approach to the classical statistical analysis of small signals'' based on a choice of ordering in Neyman's construction of classical confidence intervals, I propose a new ordering principle for the classical statistical analysis of Poisson processes with background which minimizes the effect on the resulting confidence intervals of the observation of less background events than expected. The new ordering principle is applied to the calculation of the confidence region implied by the recent null result of the KARMEN neutrino oscillation experiment.Comment: 16 pages including 5 figures, RevTeX. Final version published in Phys. Rev. D 59 (1999) 05300

Changing trends in residents-as-teachers across graduate medical education

BACKGROUND: Teaching residents how to teach is a critical part of residents' training in graduate medical education (GME). The purpose of this study was to assess the change in resident-as-teacher (RaT) instruction in GME over the past 15 years in the US. METHODS: We used a quantitative and qualitative survey of all program directors (PDs) across specialties. We compared our findings with a previous work from 2000-2001 that studied the same matter. Finally, we qualitatively analyzed PDs' responses regarding the reasons for implementing and not implementing RaT instruction. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-one PDs completed the survey, which yields a response rate of 12.6%. Over 80% of PDs implement RaT, an increase of 26.34% compared to 2000-2001. RaT instruction uses multiple methods with didactic lectures reported as the most common, followed by role playing in simulated environments, then observing and giving feedback. Residents giving feedback, clinical supervision, and bedside teaching were the top three targeted skills. Through our qualitative analysis we identified five main reasons for implementing RaT: teaching is part of the residents' role; learners desire formal RaT training; regulatory bodies require RaT training; RaT improves residents' education; and RaT prepares residents for their current and future roles. CONCLUSION: The use of RaT instruction has increased significantly in GME. More and more PDs are realizing its importance in the residents' formative training experience. Future studies should examine the effectiveness of each method for RaT instruction

Neutrino Masses and Mixing one Decade from Now

We review the status of neutrino masses and mixings in the light of the solar and atmospheric neutrino data. The result from the LSND experiment is also considered. We discuss the present knowledge and the expected sensitivity to the neutrino mixing parameters in the simplest schemes proposed to reconcile these data some of which include a light sterile neutrino in addition to the three standard ones.Comment: 16 pages Latex file using elsart.sty. Seven postscript figures included. Talk given at the ICFA/ECFA Workshop "Neutrino Factories based on Muon Storage Rings, nu-FACT99", Lyon, July 1999. Typo in Eq. 8 correcte

Low Energy Neutrino Physics after SNO and KamLAND

In the recent years important discoveries in the field of low energy neutrino physics (E$_\nu$ in the $\approx$ MeV range) have been achieved. Results of the solar neutrino experiment SNO show clearly flavor transitions from $\nu_e$ to $\nu_{\mu,\tau}$. In addition, the long standing solar neutrino problem is basically solved. With KamLAND, an experiment measuring neutrinos emitted from nuclear reactors at large distances, evidence for neutrino oscillations has been found. The values for the oscillation parameters, amplitude and phase, have been restricted. In this paper the potential of future projects in low energy neutrino physics is discussed. This encompasses future solar and reactor experiments as well as the direct search for neutrino masses. Finally the potential of a large liquid scintillator detector in an underground laboratory for supernova neutrino detection, solar neutrino detection, and the search for proton decay $p \to K^+ \nu$ is discussed.Comment: Invited brief review, World Scientific Publishing Compan

Tamm-Horsfall Protein Regulates Mononuclear Phagocytes in the Kidney

Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP), also known as uromodulin, is a kidney-specific protein produced by cells of the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle. Although predominantly secreted apically into the urine, where it becomes highly polymerized, THP is also released basolaterally, toward the interstitium and circulation, to inhibit tubular inflammatory signaling. Whether, through this latter route, THP can also regulate the function of renal interstitial mononuclear phagocytes (MPCs) remains unclear, however. Here, we show that THP is primarily in a monomeric form in human serum. Compared with wild-type mice, THP-/- mice had markedly fewer MPCs in the kidney. A nonpolymerizing, truncated form of THP stimulated the proliferation of human macrophage cells in culture and partially restored the number of kidney MPCs when administered to THP-/- mice. Furthermore, resident renal MPCs had impaired phagocytic activity in the absence of THP. After ischemia-reperfusion injury, THP-/- mice, compared with wild-type mice, exhibited aggravated injury and an impaired transition of renal macrophages toward an M2 healing phenotype. However, treatment of THP-/- mice with truncated THP after ischemia-reperfusion injury mitigated the worsening of AKI. Taken together, our data suggest that interstitial THP positively regulates mononuclear phagocyte number, plasticity, and phagocytic activity. In addition to the effect of THP on the epithelium and granulopoiesis, this new immunomodulatory role could explain the protection conferred by THP during AKI

Limits on the neutrino magnetic moment from the MUNU experiment

The MUNU experiment was carried out at the Bugey nuclear power reactor. The aim was the study of electron antineutrino-electron elastic scattering at low energy. The recoil electrons were recorded in a gas time projection chamber, immersed in a tank filled with liquid scintillator serving as veto detector, suppressing in particular Compton electrons. The measured electron recoil spectrum is presented. Upper limits on the neutrino magnetic moment were derived and are discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures Added reference: p.3, 1st col., TEXONO Added sentence: p.4, 1st col., electron attachement Modified sentence: p.5, 1st col., readout sequence Added sentence: p.5, 1st col., fast rise time cu

Effects of neutrino oscillations and neutrino magnetic moments on elastic neutrino-electron scattering

We consider elastic antineutrino-electron scattering taking into account possible effects of neutrino masses and mixing and of neutrino magnetic moments and electric dipole moments. Having in mind antineutrinos produced in a nuclear reactor we compute, in particular, the weak-electromagnetic interference terms which are linear in the magnetic (electric dipole) moments and also in the neutrino masses. We show that these terms are, however, suppressed compared to the pure weak and electromagnetic cross section. We also comment upon the possibility of using the electromagnetic cross section to investigate neutrino oscillations.Comment: 12 pages, REVTEX file, no figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.