CP Violations in Lepton Number Violation Processes and Neutrino Oscillations

We examine the constraints on the MNS lepton mixing matrix from the present and future experimental data of the neutrino oscillation and lepton number violation processes. We introduce a graphical representation of the CP violation phases which appear in the lepton number violation processes such as neutrinoless double beta decay, the $\mu^--e^+$ conversion, and the K decay, $K^-\to\pi^+\mu^-\mu^-.$ Using this graphical representation, we derive the constraints on the CP violation phases in the lepton sector.Comment: 21pp, REVTeX, 9 Figure

Bounds on effective Majorana neutrino masses at HERA

The lepton-number violating process e p \to nu_e l l' X mediated by Majorana neutrinos is studied for the HERA collider for (l l') = (e tau), (mu tau), (mu mu) and (tau tau). Only the muonic decay of the tau is considered. The direct limit on the effective muon Majorana mass, is improved significantly to 4.0 times 10^3 GeV and for the first time direct limits on the analogous effective masses connected with the tau sector are given, namely 4.2 times 10^3 GeV for , 4.4 times 10^3 GeV for and 2.0 times 10^4 GeV for . We find that a more general analysis for an upgraded HERA could improve this values by a factor of up to 40, yet still being orders of magnitude worse than indirect limits.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, revised versio

Dementia-specific risks of scabies: Retrospective epidemiologic analysis of an unveiled nosocomial outbreak in Japan from 1989-90

Background: Although senile dementia patients in long-term care facilities are at leading risk of scabies, the epidemiologic characteristics of this disease have yet to be fully clarified. This study documents the findings of a ward-scale nosocomial outbreak in western Japan from 1989-90, for which permission to publish was only recently obtained. Methods: A retrospective epidemiologic study was performed to identify specific risk factors of scabies among patients with dementia. Analyses were based on a review of medical and nursing records. All inpatients in the affected ward at the time of the outbreak were included in the study. Observational and analytical approaches were employed to assess the findings. Results: Twenty of 65 inpatients in the ward met the case definition of scabies. The outbreak. lasted for almost 10 months and as a result, the spatial distribution of infections showed no localized patterns in the latter phase of the outbreak. The duration of illness significantly decreased after initiation of control measures (P = 0.0067). Movement without assistance (Odds Ratio [OR] = 11.3; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 2.9,44.8) and moving beyond the room (but within the ward) (OR=4.1; 95% CI: 1.4, 12.5) were significantly associated with infection, while types of room (Western or Japanese) and sleeping arrangement (on beds or futons laid directly on the floor) appeared not to be risk factors. Conclusion: Univariate analysis demonstrated the importance of patients' behaviours during daily activities in controlling scabies among senile dementia patients. The findings also support previous evidence that catching scabies from fomites is far less common. Moreover, since cognitive disorders make it difficult for individuals to communicate and understand the implications of risky contacts as well as treatment method, and given the non-specific nature of individual contacts that are often unpredictable, real-time observations might help improve control practices. © 2005 Tsutsumi et al., licensee BioMed Central Ltd.published_or_final_versio

Large Lepton Mixing and Nonsymmetric Mass Matrices with Flavor 2 <-> 3 Symmetry

We analyze the lepton sector of a recently proposed nonsymmetric mass matrix model. Our model gives a unified description of quark and lepton with the same texture form based on an extended flavor $2 \leftrightarrow 3$ symmetry with a phase. By investigating possible types of assignment for masses, we find that the model can lead to large lepton mixings which are consistent with experimental values. We also find that the model predicts a very small value, $1.3\times10^{-10}$, for the lepton mixing matrix element square $|U_{13}|^2$. The CP violating phases in the lepton mixing matrix and a suppression of the averaged neutrino mass in the neutrinoless double beta decay are also predicted.Comment: 15pages, 2figure