Modular symmetry and non-Abelian discrete flavor symmetries in string compactification

We study the modular symmetry in magnetized D-brane models on $T^2$. Non-Abelian flavor symmetry $D_4$ in the model with magnetic flux $M=2$ (in a certain unit) is a subgroup of the modular symmetry. We also study the modular symmetry in heterotic orbifold models. The $T^2/Z_4$ orbifold model has the same modular symmetry as the magnetized brane model with $M=2$, and its flavor symmetry $D_4$ is a subgroup of the modular symmetry.Comment: 28 page

Neutrino oscillation and expected event rate of supernova neutrinos in adiabatic explosion model

We study how the influence of the shock wave appears in neutrino oscillations and the neutrino spectrum using density profile of adiabatic explosion model of a core-collapse supernova which is calculated in an implicit Lagrangian code for general relativistic spherical hydrodynamics. We calculate expected event rates of neutrino detection at SK and SNO for various theta_{13} values and both normal and inverted hierarchies. The predicted event rates of bar{nu}_e and nu_e depend on the mixing angle theta_{13} for the inverted and normal hierarchies, respectively, and the influence of the shock appears for about 2 - 8 s when sin^2 2 theta_{13} is larger than 10^{-3}. These neutrino signals for the shock propagation is decreased by < 30 % for bar{nu}_e in inverted (SK) or by < 15 % for nu_e in normal hierarchy (SNO) compared with the case without shock. The obtained ratio of the total event for high-energy neutrinos (20 MeV < E_{nu} < 60 MeV) to low-energy neutrinos (5 MeV < E_{nu} < 20 MeV) is consistent with the previous studies in schematic semi-analytic or other hydrodynamic models of the shock propagation. The time dependence of the calculated ratio of the event rates of high-energy to low-energy neutrinos is a very useful observable which is sensitive to theta_{13} and hierarchies. Namely, time-dependent ratio shows clearer signal of the shock propagation that exhibits remarkable decrease by at most factor \sim 2 for bar{nu}_e in inverted (SK), whereas it exhibits smaller change by \sim 10 % for nu_e in normal hierarchy (SNO). Observing time-dependent high-energy to low-energy ratio of the neutrino events thus would provide a piece of very useful information to constrain theta_{13} and mass hierarchy, and eventually help understanding the propagation how the shock wave propagates inside the star.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Creep motion in a granular pile exhibiting steady surface flow

We investigate experimentally granular piles exhibiting steady surface flow. Below the surface flow, it has been believed exisitence of a `frozen' bulk region, but our results show absence of such a frozen bulk. We report here that even the particles in deep layers in the bulk exhibit very slow flow and that such motion can be detected at an arbitrary depth. The mean velocity of the creep motion decays exponentially with depth, and the characteristic decay length is approximately equal to the particle-size and independent of the flow rate. It is expected that the creep motion we have seeen is observable in all sheared granular systems.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure

H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus isolated from conjunctiva of a whooper swan with neurological signs

An H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was isolated from conjunctiva of a whooper swan with neurological signs, which was captured during the latest H5N1 HPAI outbreak in Japan. The conjunctival swab contained a larger amount of the virus in comparison with the tracheal swab. This is the first report on H5N1 virus isolation from the conjunctiva of a wild bird, and the result may suggest the conjunctival swab to be a critical sample for H5N1 HPAIV detection in waterfowl. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA gene indicated that the virus falls into H5N1 clade 2.3.2.1.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (NIAID contract HHSN266200700009C)National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (NIAID contract HHSN266200700007C

Multiple photon effects in fermion-(anti)fermion scattering at SSC energies

We use the theory of Yennie, Frautschi and Suura to realize, via Monte Carlo methods, the process f\,\bbbarf\to f'\,\bbbarf'+n\gamma at SSC and LHC energies, where $f$ and $f'$ are quarks or leptons. QED infrared divergences are canceled to all orders in perturbation theory. The resulting Monte Carlo event generator, SSC-YFS2, is used to study the effects of initial-state photon radiation on these processes in the SSC environment. Sample Monte Carlo data are presented and discussed. We find that the respective multiple-photon effects must be taken into account in discussing precise predictions for SSC physics processes.Comment: 14 pages + 8 figures + 1 tabl

Neutrino oscillations in magnetically driven supernova explosions

We investigate neutrino oscillations from core-collapse supernovae that produce magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) explosions. By calculating numerically the flavor conversion of neutrinos in the highly non-spherical envelope, we study how the explosion anisotropy has impacts on the emergent neutrino spectra through the Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein effect. In the case of the inverted mass hierarchy with a relatively large theta_(13), we show that survival probabilities of electron type neutrinos and antineutrinos seen from the rotational axis of the MHD supernovae (i.e., polar direction), can be significantly different from those along the equatorial direction. The event numbers of electron type antineutrinos observed from the polar direction are predicted to show steepest decrease, reflecting the passage of the magneto-driven shock to the so-called high-resonance regions. Furthermore we point out that such a shock effect, depending on the original neutrino spectra, appears also for the low-resonance regions, which leads to a noticeable decrease in the electron type neutrino signals. This reflects a unique nature of the magnetic explosion featuring a very early shock-arrival to the resonance regions, which is in sharp contrast to the neutrino-driven delayed supernova models. Our results suggest that the two features in the electron type antineutrinos and neutrinos signals, if visible to the Super-Kamiokande for a Galactic supernova, could mark an observational signature of the magnetically driven explosions, presumably linked to the formation of magnetars and/or long-duration gamma-ray bursts.Comment: 25 pages, 21 figures, JCAP in pres

Synthetic Plasmodium-Like Hemozoin Activates the Immune Response: A Morphology - Function Study

Increasing evidence points to an important role for hemozoin (HZ), the malaria pigment, in the immunopathology related to this infection. However, there is no consensus as to whether HZ exerts its immunostimulatory activity in absence of other parasite or host components. Contamination of native HZ preparations and the lack of a unified protocol to produce crystals that mimic those of Plasmodium HZ (PHZ) are major technical limitants when performing functional studies with HZ. In fact, the most commonly used methods generate a heterogeneous nanocrystalline material. Thus, it is likely that such aggregates do not resemble to PHZ and differ in their inflammatory properties. To address this issue, the present study was designed to establish whether synthetic HZ (sHZ) crystals produced by different methods vary in their morphology and in their ability to activate immune responses. We report a new method of HZ synthesis (the precise aqueous acid-catalyzed method) that yields homogeneous sHZ crystals (Plasmodium-like HZ) which are very similar to PHZ in their size and physicochemical properties. Importantly, these crystals are devoid of protein and DNA contamination. Of interest, structure-function studies revealed that the size and shape of the synthetic crystals influences their ability to activate inflammatory responses (e.g. nitric oxide, chemokine and cytokine mRNA) in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our data confirm that sHZ possesses immunostimulatory properties and underline the importance of verifying by electron microscopy both the morphology and homogeneity of the synthetic crystals to ensure that they closely resemble those of the parasite. Periodic quality control experiments and unification of the method of HZ synthesis are key steps to unravel the role of HZ in malaria immunopathology

ST3Gal.I sialyltransferase relevance in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The T antigen is a tumor-associated structure whose sialylated form (the sialyl-T antigen) involves the altered expression of sialyltransferases and has been related with worse prognosis. Since little or no information is available on this subject, we investigated the regulation of the sialyltransferases, able to sialylate the T antigen, in bladder cancer progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Matched samples of urothelium and tumor tissue, and four bladder cancer cell lines were screened for: <it>ST3Gal.I</it>, <it>ST3Gal.II </it>and <it>ST3Gal.IV </it>mRNA level by real-time PCR. Sialyl-T antigen was detected by dot blot and flow cytometry using peanut lectin. Sialyltransferase activity was measured against the T antigen in the cell lines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancers, <it>ST3Gal.I </it>mRNA levels were significantly higher than corresponding urothelium (p < 0.001) and this increase was twice more pronounced in cancers with tendency for recurrence. In muscle-invasive cancers and matching urothelium, <it>ST3Gal.I </it>mRNA levels were as elevated as nonmuscle-invasive cancers. Both non-malignant bladder tumors and corresponding urothelium showed <it>ST3Gal.I </it>mRNA levels lower than all the other specimen groups. A good correlation was observed in bladder cancer cell lines between the <it>ST3Gal.I </it>mRNA level, the ST activity (r = 0.99; p = 0.001) and sialyl-T antigen expression, demonstrating that sialylation of T antigen is attributable to ST3Gal.I. The expression of sialyl-T antigens was found in patients' bladder tumors and urothelium, although without a marked relationship with mRNA level. The two <it>ST3Gal.I </it>transcript variants were also equally expressed, independently of cell phenotype or malignancy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ST3Gal.I plays the major role in the sialylation of the T antigen in bladder cancer. The overexpression of <it>ST3Gal.I </it>seems to be part of the initial oncogenic transformation of bladder and can be considered when predicting cancer progression and recurrence.</p

Leishmania-Induced IRAK-1 Inactivation Is Mediated by SHP-1 Interacting with an Evolutionarily Conserved KTIM Motif

Parasites of the Leishmania genus can rapidly alter several macrophage (MØ) signalling pathways in order to tame down the innate immune response and inflammation, therefore favouring their survival and propagation within their mammalian host. Having recently reported that Leishmania and bacterial LPS generate a significantly stronger inflammatory response in animals and phagocytes functionally deficient for the Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (SHP-1), we hypothesized that Leishmania could exploit SHP-1 to inactivate key kinases involved in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling and innate immunity such as IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK-1). Here we show that upon infection, SHP-1 rapidly binds to IRAK-1, completely inactivating its intrinsic kinase activity and any further LPS-mediated activation as well as MØ functions. We also demonstrate that the SHP-1/IRAK-1 interaction occurs via an evolutionarily conserved ITIM-like motif found in the kinase domain of IRAK-1, which we named KTIM (Kinase Tyrosyl-based Inhibitory Motif). This regulatory motif appeared in early vertebrates and is not found in any other IRAK family member. Our study additionally reveals that several other kinases (e.g. Erk1/2, IKKα/β) involved in downstream TLR signalling also bear KTIMs in their kinase domains and interact with SHP-1. We thus provide the first demonstration that a pathogen can exploit a host protein tyrosine phosphatase, namely SHP-1, to directly inactivate IRAK-1 through a generally conserved KTIM motif