Neutrinos that violate CPT, and the experiments that love them

Recently we proposed a framework for explaining the observed evidence for neutrino oscillations without enlarging the neutrino sector, by introducing CPT violating Dirac masses for the neutrinos. In this paper we continue the exploration of the phenomenology of CPT violation in the neutrino sector. We show that our CPT violating model fits the existing SuperKamiokande data at least as well as the standard atmospheric neutrino oscillation models. We discuss the challenge of measuring CP violation in a neutrino sector that also violates CPT. We point out that the proposed off-axis extension of MINOS looks especially promising in this regard. Finally, we describe a method to compute CPT violating neutrino effects by mocking them up with analog matter effects.Comment: 17 pages, 3 eps figure

Morphology, carbohydrate distribution, gene expression, and enzymatic activities related to cell wall hydrolysis in four barley varieties during simulated malting

Many biological processes, such as cell wall hydrolysis and the mobilisation of nutrient reserves from the starchy endosperm, require stringent regulation to successfully malt barley (Hordeum vulgare) grain in an industrial context. Much of the accumulated knowledge defining these events has been collected from individual, unrelated experiments, and data have often been extrapolated from Petri dish germination, rather than malting, experiments. Here, we present comprehensive morphological, biochemical, and transcript data from a simulated malt batch of the three elite malting cultivars Admiral, Navigator, and Flagship, and the feed cultivar Keel. Activities of lytic enzymes implicated in cell wall and starch depolymerisation in germinated grain have been measured, and transcript data for published cell wall hydrolytic genes have been provided. It was notable that Flagship and Keel exhibited generally similar patterns of enzyme and transcript expression, but exhibited a few key differences that may partially explain Flagship's superior malting qualities. Admiral and Navigator also showed matching expression patterns for these genes and enzymes, but the patterns differed from those of Flagship and Keel, despite Admiral and Navigator having Keel as a common ancestor. Overall (1,3;1,4)-β-glucanase activity differed between cultivars, with lower enzyme levels and concomitantly higher amounts of (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan in the feed variety, Keel, at the end of malting. Transcript levels of the gene encoding (1,3;1,4)-β-glucanase isoenzyme EI were almost three times higher than those encoding isoenzyme EII, suggesting a previously unrecognised importance for isoenzyme EI during malting. Careful morphological examination showed that scutellum epithelial cells in mature dry grain are elongated but expand no further as malting progresses, in contrast to equivalent cells in other cereals, perhaps demonstrating a morphological change in this critical organ over generations of breeding selection. Fluorescent immuno-histochemical labelling revealed the presence of pectin in the nucellus and, for the first time, significant amounts of callose throughout the starchy endosperm of mature grain.Natalie S. Betts, Laura G. Wilkinson, Shi F. Khor, Neil J. Shirley, Finn Lok, Birgitte Skadhauge, Rachel A. Burton, Geoffrey B. Fincher and Helen M. Collin

CPT Violation and the Nature of Neutrinos

In order to accommodate the neutrino oscillation signals from the solar, atmospheric, and LSND data, a sterile fourth neutrino is generally invoked, though the fits to the data are becoming more and more constrained. However, it has recently been shown that the data can be explained with only three neutrinos, if one invokes CPT violation to allow different masses and mixing angles for neutrinos and antineutrinos. We explore the nature of neutrinos in such CPT-violating scenarios. Majorana neutrino masses are allowed, but in general, there are no longer Majorana neutrinos in the conventional sense. However, CPT-violating models still have interesting consequences for neutrinoless double beta decay. Compared to the usual case, while the larger mass scale (from LSND) may appear, a greater degree of suppression can also occur.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

Resonant flavor conversion of supernova neutrinos and neutrino parameters

The unknown neutrino parameters may leave detectable signatures in the supernova (SN) neutrino flux. However, even the contribution from the MSW flavor transition alone could cause ambiguity in the interpretation to the neutrino signals because of the uncertain local density profile of the SN matter and the model-dependent SN neutrino spectral parameters. A specific parametrization to the unknown local density profile is proposed in this work, and the contribution from the standard MSW effect is investigated through a multi-detector analysis of the SN neutrinos. In establishing the model-independent scheme, results based on the existing spectral models are included. The limitation of the analysis is also discussed.Comment: Revised, 14 pages, 7 figure

Non-Abelian Discrete Symmetries and Neutrino Masses: Two Examples

Two recent examples of non-Abelian discrete symmetries (S_3 and A_4) in understanding neutrino masses and mixing are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, no figure, invited contribution to NJP focus issue on neutrino

Effect of indomethacin on S. typhimurium and cholera toxin-induced fluid accumulation in pig jejunum

We have investigated the influence of prostaglandins (PGs) on the Salmonella typhimurium (St) and cholera toxin (CT)-induced fluid accumulation in jejunum of 9-10 weeks (18-20 kg) old female pigs. St (1010 colony forming units) and CT (56/ig) were instilled in separated tiedoff loops for 8 hours. Before instillation, and again after 4 hours, pigs were given an intravenous dose of the cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin, or saline alone (control). In the St-loops indomethacin had no effect on the fluid accumulation, 9.1 ± 1.3 vs 8.2±0.5 mg fluid/mg loop dry weight, whereas in CT-Ioops, indomethacin reduced fluid accumulation significantly from 35±2 to 22±3 mg fluid/mg loop dry weight (P\u3c0.05). Our preliminary results indicate that PGs are not involved in St-induced fluid accumulation in pig jejunum, which is in contrast to the case in CT -induced fluid accumulation

Prevalence of Obesity-Related Disease in a Danish Population – The Results of an Algorithm-Based Screening Program

Claus B Juhl,1– 4 Else Marie Bladbjerg,3,5 Bibi Gram,3 Torben Knudsen,3,6 Mette Munk Lauridsen,3,6 Niels-Peter Brøchner Nygaard,1,3,7 Nina Drøjdahl Ryg,1,2,4 Lars Skadhauge,3,8 Anna-Marie Bloch Münster3,5 1Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark; 2Steno Diabetes Center Odense, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; 3University of Southern Denmark, Department of Regional Health Research, Odense, Denmark; 4OPEN, Open Patient Data Explorative, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; 5Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark; 6Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark; 7Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark; 8Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, DenmarkCorrespondence: Claus B Juhl, Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, DK-6700, Denmark, Tel +45 6086 7172, Email [email protected]: The prevalence of obesity continues to rise. People with obesity are at increased risk of several diseases. We tested an algorithm-based screening program for people with a BMI above 30 kg/m2 and present data on the prevalence of previously undiagnosed obesity-related diseases.Patients and Methods: Seven hundred and sixty-nine persons with BMI > 30 kg/m2 and age 18– 60 years were screened for diabetes (assessed by glycosylated hemoglobin and oral glucose tolerance test at HbA1c 43– 48 mmol/mol), sleep apnea (screened by questionnaires and assessed by cardiorespiratory monitoring at indication of sleep disorder), liver steatosis or liver fibrosis (assessed by biochemistry and fibroscan) and arterial hypertension (assessed by both office and 24-hour blood pressure measurement). A reference group of people with a BMI of 18.5– 29.9 kg/m2 was established.Results: Of those referred, 73.0% were women. We identified new diabetes in 4.2%, prediabetes in 9.1%, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea in 25.1%, increased liver fat and increased liver stiffness in 68.1% and 17.4%, respectively, and hypertension or masked hypertension in 19.0%. The prevalence of diseases was much higher among men and increased with BMI. Except for hypertension, we found few participants with undiagnosed disease in the reference group.Conclusion: An algorithm-based screening program is feasible and reveals undiagnosed obesity-related disease in a large proportion of the participants. The disproportional referral pattern calls for a tailored approach aiming to include more men with obesity.Trial Registration: Inclusion of the non-obese group was approved by the Scientific Ethics Committee of The Region of Southern Denmark (project identification number: S-20210091), and the study was reported at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05176132).Plain Language Summary: The number of people with obesity is going up, and they are at a higher risk for various diseases. We tested a screening program for people referred with a BMI over 30 kg/m2 and presented the prevalence of diseases related to obesity. We screened 769 people aged 18 to 60 years with a BMI over 30 kg/m2 for diabetes (biochemistry and glucose tolerance test), sleep apnea (both questionnaires and home monitoring), liver disease (biochemistry and liver scan) and high blood pressure (office and 24-hour readings). We also tested a reference group of people with BMI 18.5-30 kg/m2. Among those screened, 73.0% were women. We found new cases of diabetes in 4.2%, prediabetes in 9.1%, sleep apnea in 25.1%, increased liver fat in 68.1%, increased liver stiffness in 17.4%, and hypertension or masked hypertension in 19.0%. The diseases were more common in men and increased with both higher BMI and age. Except for hypertension, we found few cases in the reference groups. The screening program uncovered undiagnosed obesity-related diseases in a large group of individuals. The uneven distribution of referrals suggests we need a customized approach to include more men with obesity.Keywords: diabetes, pre-diabetes, sleep apnea, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, hypertensio

LHC signals for neutrino mass model in bilinear R-parity violating mAMSB

We investigate a neutrino mass model in which the neutrino data is accounted for by bilinear R-parity violating supersymmetry with anomaly mediated supersymmetry breaking. We focus on the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) phenomenology, studying the reach of generic supersymmetry search channels with leptons, missing energy and jets. A special feature of this model is the existence of long lived neutralinos and charginos which decay inside the detector leading to detached vertices. We demonstrate that the largest reach is obtained in the displaced vertices channel and that practically all of the reasonable parameter space will be covered with an integrated luminosity of 10 fb-1. We also compare the displaced vertex reaches of the LHC and Tevatron.Comment: 27 page

Disentangling hydroxynitrile glucoside biosynthesis in a barley (Hordeum vulgare) metabolon provides access to elite malting barleys for ethyl carbamate-free whisky production

Barley produces several specialized metabolites, including five α-, β-, and γ-hydroxynitrile glucosides (HNGs). In malting barley, presence of the α-HNG epiheterodendrin gives rise to undesired formation of ethyl carbamate in the beverage production, especially after distilling. Metabolite-GWAS identified QTLs and underlying gene candidates possibly involved in the control of the relative and absolute content of HNGs, including an undescribed MATE transporter. By screening 325 genetically diverse barley accessions, we discovered three H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum (wild barley) lines with drastic changes in the relative ratios of the five HNGs. Knock-out (KO)-lines, isolated from the barley FIND-IT resource and each lacking one of the functional HNG biosynthetic genes (CYP79A12, CYP71C103, CYP71C113, CYP71U5, UGT85F22 and UGT85F23) showed unprecedented changes in HNG ratios enabling assignment of specific and mutually dependent catalytic functions to the biosynthetic enzymes involved. The highly similar relative ratios between the five HNGs found across wild and domesticated barley accessions indicate assembly of the HNG biosynthetic enzymes in a metabolon, the functional output of which was reconfigured in the absence of a single protein component. The absence or altered ratios of the five HNGs in the KO-lines did not change susceptibility to the fungal phytopathogen Pyrenophora teres causing net blotch. The study provides a deeper understanding of the organization of HNG biosynthesis in barley and identifies a novel, single gene HNG-0 line in an elite spring barley background for direct use in breeding of malting barley, eliminating HNGs as a source of ethyl carbamate formation in whisky production.</p

A Simplest A4 Model for Tri-Bimaximal Neutrino Mixing

We present a see-saw $A_4$ model for Tri-Bimaximal mixing which is based on a very economical flavour symmetry and field content and still possesses all the good features of $A_4$ models. In particular the charged lepton mass hierarchies are determined by the $A_4\times Z_4$ flavour symmetry itself without invoking a Froggatt-Nielsen U(1) symmetry. Tri-Bimaximal mixing is exact in leading order while all the mixing angles receive corrections of the same order in next-to-the-leading approximation. As a consequence the predicted value of $\theta_{13}$ is within the sensitivity of the experiments which will take data in the near future. The light neutrino spectrum, typical of $A_4$ see-saw models, with its phenomenological implications, also including leptoproduction, is studied in detail.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figure