Universal Texture of Quark and Lepton Mass Matrices

Against the conventional picture that the mass matrix forms in the quark sectors will take somewhat different structures from those in the lepton sectors, a possibility that all the mass matrices of quarks and leptons have the same form as in the neutrinos is investigated. For the lepton sectors, the model leads to a nearly bimaximal mixing with the prediction |U_{e3}|^2=m_e/2m_\mu=0.0024 and \tan^2\theta_{sol} \simeq m_{\nu 1}/m_{\nu 2}, and so on. For the quark sectors, it can lead to reasonable values of the CKM mixing matrix and masses: |V_{us}|\simeq \sqrt{m_d/m_s}, |V_{ub}| \simeq |V_{cb}|\sqrt{m_u/m_c}, |V_{td}| \simeq |V_{cb}|\cdot |V_{us}|, and so on.Comment: 9 pages, Latex, talk given at The 4th workshop on "Neutrino Oscillations and their Origin" (NOON2003) (Kanazawa, Japan, 10--14 Feb. 2002). To appear in the Proceeding

Constraints from Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

We examine the constraints from the recent HEIDELBERG-MOSCOW double beta decay experiment. It leads us to the almost degenerate or inverse hierarchy neutrino mass scenario. In this scenario, we obtain possible upper bounds for the Majorana CP violating phase in the lepton sector by incorporating the data from the neutrino oscillation, the single beta decay experiments, and from the astrophysical observation. We also predict the neutrino mass that may be measurable in the future beta decay experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Electron Transfer Reaction in the Triplet State : Role of Ferrocene as an Electron Donor(Chemistry)

Quenching of the triplet state of methylene blue by ferrocene and p-phenylenediamine in ethanol has been investigated by an emission-absorption flash technique. The triplet dye is quenched by ferrocene and p-phenylenediamine at a diffusion-controlled rate, yielding the semi-reduced dye. Efficiency of the semi-reduced dye formation is 0.09 and 1.0 for ferrocene and p-phenylenediamine, respectively. Since the triplet level of the dye is lower than that of ferrocene, quenching of the triplet dye by ferrocene seems to occur through the charge (electron) transfer interaction

Pathological Features of New Animal Models for Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease characterized by immune mediated biliary damage and frequent appearance of autoantibodies against mitochondrial enzymes. There is almost no useful animal model that is globally recognized and routinely used, however, several unique animal models manifested the characteristic clinical and pathological features of human PBC within the last 5 years. Herein, we compare the pathological features of previously reported and newly introduced novel animal models of PBC. Knowledge and understanding of the strengths and the limitations of each animal model have led to the development of promising therapies and novel tools to characterize these clinical conditions. Moreover, suitability of the model for the intended purpose should be confirmed by further research and analysis

Environmental fluctuations of the Lake Chany complex in western Siberia based on NOAA images

The Lake Chany complex, located in Western Siberia, consists of the large shallow lakes with an average depth of about 2m. The lake area fluctuates according to water level that depends closely on the amount of inflow( snow-melt) and the evaporation, since the lake complex has no outflow river. Based on NOAA/AVHRR satellite normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data of the ice-free periods in 2000 and 2001, we evaluated the seasonal changes in the lake area and the surroundingu vegetations of the Lake Chany complex. In late April or early May, the maximum lake area was abserved and the lake area decreased drastically until late May or early June. Then, the lake area decreased gradually from early June to late August. The lake area in August was about 70% of the maximum. Then, the area tends to increase by early October. Compared with the ground truth in August 2001, the seasonally fluctuated areas on NOAA images corresponded to the vast vegetations with several km in width of reed (Phragmites communis) stands which seem to be influenced by the inflow of snow meltwater and the growth of reeds.Article信州大学山地水環境教育研究センター研究報告 2: 1-4(2004)departmental bulletin pape

Solution-processed n-type organic thin-film transistors with high field-effect mobility

We report the performance of solution-processed n-type organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) based on C60 derivatives. Long-chain alkyl-substituted C60, C60-fused N-methylpyrrolidine-meta-C12 phenyl (C60MC12), was used as a semiconducting layer. The C60MC12-thin-film transistor shows high electron mobility of 0.067 cm2/V s in saturation regime. From the result of x-ray diffraction analysis, the C60MC12 active layer forms highly ordered crystalline film. We found that self-assemble ability of long alkyl chains plays an important role for fabrication of highly ordered crystalline film, leading to achievement of high electron mobility in solution-processed n-type OTFTs

Immunohistochemical detection of procalcitonin in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma

A 25-year-old woman with fever and epigastric pain was referred to our hospital. Blood examination showed significant liver dysfunction, markedly high C-reactive protein (CRP 19.1 mg/dL) and procalcitonin (48.3 ng/mL) levels. Dynamic computed tomography showed a tumor approximately 120 mm in size in the right lobe of the liver, but with no abscess formation. The patient was hospitalized and started on antibiotics; her CRP level improved, but the procalcitonin level did not decrease. Histopathological examination of the liver tumor biopsy revealed fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC). Positive staining of the FLC with an anti-procalcitonin antibody suggested the production of procalcitonin