Accumulation efficiency of degradable matter during the early grain-filling period in rice

The dry weight of cellular contents in the whole rice plant (dWc/dt) is partitioned from the crop growth rate (dW/dt), and the resulting rate represents the accumulation efficiency of degradable matter (dWc/dW). The grain yielding ability and stability are significantly affected by the dry matter partitioning to cell wall during grain filling stage. Comparative studies for dWc/dW during the early grain-filling period were conducted using diverse genotypes of rice varieties in eight experimental fields in Japan, China, and Thailand for 2 yr to develop a simplified process model with submodels for partitioning. Nine rice varieties-2 japonica, 3 indica, indica×japonica, indica×javanica, javanica, and NERICA-were used. dWc/dW was measured by enzymatic analysis. The relationship between dW/dt and the accumulation rate of cellular contents per unit ground area (dWc/dt) was described using a linear regression equation, and the proportionality factor k (slope), which represents accumulation efficiency, was estimated using data from each variety. The k values varied from 0.570 for the traditional indica cv. Ch86 (CH) to 0.765 for the WAB450 line (WA), which is a NERICA variety. High values of dWc/dW were observed in the modern varieties developed by remote crossing [Takanari (TA) and WA]. The average k value from the results of multi-site experiments was 0.681.TA and WA showed high accumulation efficiency by high sink activity under various dW/dts that fluctuated according to environmental conditions at the cultivation sites. Conversely, CH, classified as a "grassy rice" phenotype, formed a cell wall during the early grain-filling period.Article信州大学農学部AFC報告 13: 1-11 (2015)departmental bulletin pape

One-loop contributions of charginos and neutralinos to W-pair production in E+ E- collisions

We study the one-loop effects of charginos and neutralinos on the helicity amplitudes for \eeww in the minimal supersymmetric standard model. The calculation is tested by using two methods. First, the sum rule for the form factors between \eeww and the process where the external $W^\pm$ bosons are replaced by the corresponding Goldstone bosons $\omega^\pm$ is employed to test the analytic expression and the accuracy of the numerical program. Second, the decoupling property in the large mass limit is used to test the overall normalization of the amplitudes. These two tests are most effectively carried out when the amplitudes are expanded in terms of the modified minimal subtraction ($\bar{\rm MS}$) couplings of the standard model. The resulting perturbation expansion is valid at collider energies below and around the threshold of the light supersymmetric particles. We find that the corrections to the cross section of the longitudinally polarized $W$-pair production can be as large as -1.4% at the threshold of the light chargino-pair production for large scattering angles. We also study the effects of the CP-violating phase in the chargino and neutralino sectors on the helicity amplitudes. We find that the resulting CP-violating asymmetries can be at most 0.1%.Comment: 30 pages, 25 figures, Final verision, To appear in Physical Review D, Several sentences are improve

Phase Evolution of Trirutile Li₀.₅FeF₃ for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Extensive studies on trirutile Li₀.₅FeF₃ phase have been commissioned in the context of the Li–Fe–F system for Li-ion batteries. However, progress in electrochemical and structural studies has been greatly encumbered by the low electrochemical reactivity of this material. In order to advance this class of materials, a comprehensive study into the mechanisms of this phase is necessary. Therefore, herein, we report for the first time overall reaction mechanisms of ordered trirutile Li₀.₅FeF₃ at elevated temperatures of 90 °C with the aid of a thermally stable ionic liquid electrolyte. Ordered trirutile Li₀.₅FeF₃ is prepared by high-energy ball milling combined with heat treatment followed by electrochemical tests, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray absorption spectroscopic analyses. Our results reveal that a reversible topotactic Li⁺ extraction/insertion from/into the trirutile structure occurs in a two-phase reaction with a minor volume change (1.09% between Li₀.₅FeF₃ and Li₀.₁₁FeF₃) in the voltage range of 3.2–4.3 V. The extension of the lower cutoff voltage to 2.5 V results in a conversion reaction to LiF and rutile FeF₂ during discharging. The subsequent charge triggers the formation of the disordered trirutile structure at 4.3 V without showing the reconversion from LiF and rutile FeF₂ to ordered trirutile Li₀.₅FeF₃ or FeF₃

Testing Supersymmetry in the Associated Production of CP-odd and Charged Higgs Bosons

In the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), the masses of the charged Higgs boson ($H^\pm$) and the CP-odd scalar ($A$) are related by $M_{H^+}^2=M_A^2+m_W^2$. Furthermore, because the coupling of $W^-$-$A$-$H^+$ is fixed by gauge interaction, the tree level production rate of $q \bar q' \to W^{\pm \ast} \to A H^\pm$ depends only on one supersymmetry parameter --the mass ($M_A$) of $A$. We show that to a good approximation this conclusion also holds at the one-loop level. Consequently, this process can be used to distinguish MSSM from its alternatives (such as a general two-Higgs-doublet model) by verifying the above mass relation, and to test the prediction of the MSSM on the product of the decay branching ratios of $A$ and $H^\pm$ in terms of only one single parameter -- $M_A$.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, RevTe

Structural modification by adding Li cations into Mg/Cs-TFSA molten salt facilitating Mg electrodeposition

Free volume around Mg ions in Li/Mg/Cs-TFSA by adding Li cations would facilitate the Mg electrodeposition, which has been studied by Raman spectroscopy, high-energy X-ray diffraction, and reverse Monte Carlo structural refinement using molecular mechanics.</p

Enhancement of Loop Induced H±W∓Z0H^\pm W^\mp Z^0 Vertex in Two Higgs-doublet Model

The non-decoupling effects of heavy Higgs bosons as well as fermions on the loop-induced $H^\pm W^\mp Z^0$ vertex are discussed in the general two Higgs doublet model. The decay width of the process $H^+ \to W^+ Z^0$ is calculated at one-loop level and the possibility of its enhancement is explored both analytically and numerically. We find that the novel enhancement of the decay width can be realized by the Higgs non-decoupling effects with large mass-splitting between the charged Higgs boson and the CP-odd one. This is due to the large breakdown of the custodial $SU(2)_V$ invariance in the Higgs sector. The branching ratio can amount to $10^{-2} \sim 10^{-1}$ for $m_{H^\pm} = 300$ GeV within the constraint from the present experimental data. Hence this mode may be detectable at LHC or future $e^+e^-$ linear colliders.Comment: 31+1 pages, Latex with 8 eps-file

Generalized screening theorem for Higgs decay processes in the two-doublet model

The radiative corrections to the decay processes of the neutral ($CP$-even) Higgs boson ($H$) into a longitudinal gauge boson pair, {\it i.e.}, $H \rightarrow Z_{L}Z_{L}$ and $H \rightarrow W_{L}^{+}W_{L}^{-}$ are analyzed in the two-Higgs doublet model by assuming that all of the Higgs boson masses are much greater than the $W$ and $Z$ bosons'. These calculations are motivated to see if one could see potentially large virtual effects to these decay rates due to the charged and $CP$-odd neutral Higgs boson masses ($m_{G}$ and $m_{A}$, respectively) which are supposed to be larger than $m_{H}$. It is pointed out that, although the radiative corrections to the decay width $\Gamma (H\rightarrow W_{L}^{+}W_{L}^{-})$ depend sensitively in general on $m_{G}$ and $m_{A}$, there occurs a screening effect, {\it i.e.,} cancellation in leading terms once we set $m_{G}=m_{A}$, so that the radiative corrections tend to be minimized. It is also pointed out that the decay rate $\Gamma (H\rightarrow Z_{L}Z_{L})$ is fairly insensitive to the other heavier Higgs masses and is possibly a good measuring tool of the Higgs mixing angle. The mechanism of these screening phenomena in the Higgs decays is explained on the basis of a new screening theorem, which we postulate with reference to the custodial symmetry in the Higgs potential.Comment: 42 pages, latex, 9 figure

Repeated Enterocutaneous Fistula in a Munchausen Syndrome Patient

Munchausen syndrome is a rare type of mental disorder in which the patient fakes illness to gain attention and sympathy. Patients may lie about symptoms, make themselves appear sick, or make themselves purposely unwell. We describe a case of repeated enterocutaneous fistula in Munchausen syndrome. A 53-year-old Japanese male was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of a high-flow enterocutaneous fistula. Surgery was performed two times, but the fistula recurred each time. Chopsticks with blood on them were coincidentally detected in the trash in the patient’s room. It was revealed that the enterocutaneous fistula was caused by self-mutilation. A psychiatrist was consulted, and the patient was diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome. The psychiatrist initiated treatment and the patient admitted the self-harm. His prolonged wound site was closed and he was able to be discharged. There has been no recurrence of the self-harm as of this writing, 3 years later. The treatment of Munchausen syndrome is difficult and early detection is important