Scalar Top Quark as the Next-to-Lightest Supersymmetric Particle

We study phenomenologically the scenario in which the scalar top quark is lighter than any other standard supersymmetric partner and also lighter than the top quark, so that it decays to the gravitino via stop -> W^+ b G. In this case, scalar top quark events would seem to be very difficult to separate from top quark pair production. However, we show that, even at a hadron collider, it is possible to distinguish these two reactions. We show also that the longitudinal polarization of the final $W^+$ gives insight into the scalar top and wino/Higgsino mixing parameters.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX, 7 figures, minor typographical correction

Lem2p (LEM2) and Cmp7p (CHMP7) function in ESCRT-dependent nuclear envelope remodeling in fission yeast

ESCRT‐III proteins have been implicated in sealing the nuclear envelope in mammals, both during nuclear assembly and following mechanical disruption. This sealing process requires the ESCRT‐II/ESCRT‐ III hybrid protein CHMP7 and the AAA ATPase VPS4. It remains unclear, however, how CHMP7 is recruited to breaches of the nuclear envelope. The fission yeast S. pombe is an attractive genetic model system for investigating this role of the ESCRT pathway because, in fission yeast, the nuclear envelope develops fenestrations that must be closed twice per cell cycle: upon mitotic entry when duplicated spindle pole bodies (SPB) are incorporated into the nuclear envelope and after a successful cell cycle when the SPBs are ejected back to cytoplasm. Here we report that deletion of fission yeast vps4 leads to severe defects in nuclear morphology and integrity, which causes delayed segregation of duplicated SPBs, asymmetric nuclear bipartition in mitosis, and slow growth. Interestingly, these phenotypes are spontaneously suppressed by loss‐of‐function mutations that arise in cmp7 (pombe CHMP7) or lem2, a member of the LEM (Lap2‐Emerin‐Man1) family of inner nuclear membrane proteins—implying that all three function in the same pathway. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that Lem2p acts as a nuclear site‐specific adaptor to recruit Cmp7p to the nuclear envelope

Z boson transverse momentum spectrum from the lepton angular distributions

In view of recent discussions concerning the possibly limiting energy resolution systematics on the measurement of the Z boson transverse momentum distribution at hadron colliders, we propose a novel measurement method based on the angular distributions of the decay leptons. We also introduce a phenomenological parametrization of the transverse momentum distribution that adapts well to all currently available predictions, a useful tool to quantify their differences.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Electron Tomography of HIV-1 Infection in Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue

Critical aspects of HIV-1 infection occur in mucosal tissues, particularly in the gut, which contains large numbers of HIV-1 target cells that are depleted early in infection. We used electron tomography (ET) to image HIV-1 in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of HIV-1–infected humanized mice, the first three-dimensional ultrastructural examination of HIV-1 infection in vivo. Human immune cells were successfully engrafted in the mice, and following infection with HIV-1, human T cells were reduced in GALT. Virions were found by ET at all stages of egress, including budding immature virions and free mature and immature viruses. Immuno-electron microscopy verified the virions were HIV-1 and showed CD4 sequestration in the endoplasmic reticulum of infected cells. Observation of HIV-1 in infected GALT tissue revealed that most HIV-1–infected cells, identified by immunolabeling and/or the presence of budding virions, were localized to intestinal crypts with pools of free virions concentrated in spaces between cells. Fewer infected cells were found in mucosal regions and the lamina propria. The preservation quality of reconstructed tissue volumes allowed details of budding virions, including structures interpreted as host-encoded scission machinery, to be resolved. Although HIV-1 virions released from infected cultured cells have been described as exclusively mature, we found pools of both immature and mature free virions within infected tissue. The pools could be classified as containing either mostly mature or mostly immature particles, and analyses of their proximities to the cell of origin supported a model of semi-synchronous waves of virion release. In addition to HIV-1 transmission by pools of free virus, we found evidence of transmission via virological synapses. Three-dimensional EM imaging of an active infection within tissue revealed important differences between cultured cell and tissue infection models and furthered the ultrastructural understanding of HIV-1 transmission within lymphoid tissue

Cisternal Organization of the Endoplasmic Reticulum during Mitosis

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of animal cells is a single, dynamic, and continuous membrane network of interconnected cisternae and tubules spread out throughout the cytosol in direct contact with the nuclear envelope. During mitosis, the nuclear envelope undergoes a major rearrangement, as it rapidly partitions its membrane-bound contents into the ER. It is therefore of great interest to determine whether any major transformation in the architecture of the ER also occurs during cell division. We present structural evidence, from rapid, live-cell, three-dimensional imaging with confirmation from high-resolution electron microscopy tomography of samples preserved by high-pressure freezing and freeze substitution, unambiguously showing that from prometaphase to telophase of mammalian cells, most of the ER is organized as extended cisternae, with a very small fraction remaining organized as tubules. In contrast, during interphase, the ER displays the familiar reticular network of convolved cisternae linked to tubules

Angular Correlations in Top Quark Pair Production and Decay at Hadron Colliders

We show how to observe sizable angular correlations between the decay products of the top quark and those of the anti-top quark in top quark pair production and decay at hadron colliders. These correlations result from the large asymmetry in the rate for producing like-spin versus unlike-spin top quark pairs provided the appropriate spin axes are used. The effects of new physics at production or decay on these correlations are briefly discussed.Comment: 34 pages, revtex, including 12 uuencoded postscript figure

Microtubules in Bacteria: Ancient Tubulins Build a Five-Protofilament Homolog of the Eukaryotic Cytoskeleton

Microtubules play crucial roles in cytokinesis, transport, and motility, and are therefore superb targets for anti-cancer drugs. All tubulins evolved from a common ancestor they share with the distantly related bacterial cell division protein FtsZ, but while eukaryotic tubulins evolved into highly conserved microtubule-forming heterodimers, bacterial FtsZ presumably continued to function as single homopolymeric protofilaments as it does today. Microtubules have not previously been found in bacteria, and we lack insight into their evolution from the tubulin/FtsZ ancestor. Using electron cryomicroscopy, here we show that the tubulin homologs BtubA and BtubB form microtubules in bacteria and suggest these be referred to as “bacterial microtubules” (bMTs). bMTs share important features with their eukaryotic counterparts, such as straight protofilaments and similar protofilament interactions. bMTs are composed of only five protofilaments, however, instead of the 13 typical in eukaryotes. These and other results suggest that rather than being derived from modern eukaryotic tubulin, BtubA and BtubB arose from early tubulin intermediates that formed small microtubules. Since we show that bacterial microtubules can be produced in abundance in vitro without chaperones, they should be useful tools for tubulin research and drug screening

The t W- Mode of Single Top Production

The t W- mode of single top production is proposed as an important means to study the weak interactions of the top quark. While the rate of this mode is most likely too small to be observed at Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron, it is expected to be considerably larger at the CERN LHC. In this article the inclusive t W- rate is computed, including O(1 / log (m_t^2 / m_b^2)) corrections, and when combined with detailed Monte Carlo simulations including the top and W decay products, indicate that the t W- single top process may be extracted from the considerable t tbar and W+ W- j backgrounds at low luminosity runs of the LHC.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

QCD Corrections to Spin Correlations in Top Quark Production at Lepton Colliders

Spin correlations, using a generic spin basis, are investigated to leading order in QCD for top quark production at lepton colliders. Even though, these radiative corrections induce an anomalous gamma/Z magnetic moment for the top quarks and allow for single, real gluon emission, their effects on the top quark spin orientation are very small. The final results are that the top (or anti-top) quarks are produced in an essentially unique spin configuration in polarized lepton collisions even after including the O(alpha_{s}) QCD corrections.Comment: 32 pages, REVTeX, 13 Postscript figures, psfig.sty and here.sty are required. Several references added, Tables 3, 4 and 5 are change

Gut microbiota utilize immunoglobulin A for mucosal colonization

The immune system responds vigorously to microbial infection while permitting lifelong colonization by the microbiome. Mechanisms that facilitate the establishment and stability of the gut microbiota remain poorly described. We found that a regulatory system in the prominent human commensal Bacteroides fragilis modulates its surface architecture to invite binding of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in mice. Specific immune recognition facilitated bacterial adherence to cultured intestinal epithelial cells and intimate association with the gut mucosal surface in vivo. The IgA response was required for B. fragilis (and other commensal species) to occupy a defined mucosal niche that mediates stable colonization of the gut through exclusion of exogenous competitors. Therefore, in addition to its role in pathogen clearance, we propose that IgA responses can be co-opted by the microbiome to engender robust host-microbial symbiosis