Measuring the CP-violating phase by a long base-line neutrino experiment with Hyper-Kamiokande

We study the sensitivity of a long-base-line (LBL) experiment with neutrino beams from the High Intensity Proton Accelerator (HIPA), that delivers 10^{21} POT per year, and a proposed 1Mt water-Cherenkov detector, Hyper-Kamiokande (HK) 295km away from the HIPA, to the CP phase (delta_{M N S}) of the three-flavor lepton mixing matrix. We examine a combination of the nu_mu narrow-band beam (NBB) at two different energies, vev{p_pi}=2, 3GeV, and the bar{nu}_mu NBB at vev{p_pi}=2GeV. By allocating one year each for the two nu_mu beams and four years for the bar{nu}_mu beam, we can efficiently measure the nu_mu to nu_e and bar{nu}_mu to bar{nu}_e transition probabilities, as well as the nu_mu and bar{nu}_mu survival probabilities. CP violation in the lepton sector can be established at 4sigma (3sigma) level if the MSW large-mixing-angle scenario of the solar-neutrino deficit is realized, |\dmns| or |delta{M N S}-180^{circ}| > 30^{circ}, and if 4|U_{e3}|^2 (1-|U_{e3}|^2) equiv sin^2 2 theta_{CHOOZ} > 0.03 (0.01). The phase delta_{M N S} is more difficult to constrain by this experiment if there is little CP violation, delta_{M N S} sim 0^{circ} or 180^{circ}, which can be distinguished at 1sigma level if sin^2 2 theta_{CHOOZ} >~ 0.01.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, we add 1 figure, some refrences, and minor corrections. PLB published versio

Deformation of Equilibrium Shape of a Vesicle Induced by Injected Flexible Polymers

Using field theoretic approach, we study equilibrium shape deformation of a vesicle induced by the presence of enclosed flexible polymers, which is a simple model of drug delivery system or endocytosis. To evaluate the total free energy of this system, it is necessary to calculate the bending elastic energy of the membrane, the conformation entropy of the polymers and their interactions. For this purpose, we combine phase field theory for the membrane and self-consistent field theory for the polymers. Simulations on this coupled model system for axiosymmetric shapes show a shape deformation of the vesicle induced by introducing polymers into it. We examined the dependence of the stability of the vesicle shape on the chain length of the polymers and the packing ratio of the vesicle. We present a simple model calculation that shows the relative stability of the prolate shape compared to the oblate shape.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Application of Hamamatsu MPPC to T2K Neutrino Detectors

A special type of Hamamatsu MPPC, with a sensitive area of 1.3x1.3mm^2 containing 667 pixels with 50x50um^2 each, has been developed for the near neutrino detector in the T2K long baseline neutrino experiment. About 60 000 MPPCs will be used in total to read out the plastic scintillator detectors with wavelength shifting fibers. We report on the basic performance of MPPCs produced for T2K.Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of NDIP 2008, Aix-les-Bains, France, June 15-20, 200

Mapping candidate QTLs related to plant persistency in red clover

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a diploid (2n = 14), self-incompatible legume that is widely cultivated as a forage legume in cold geographical regions. Because it is a short-lived perennial species, improvement of plant persistency is the most important objective for red clover breeding. To develop a marker-assisted selection (MAS) approach for red clover, we identified candidate QTLs related to plant persistency. Two full-sib mapping populations, 272 × WF1680 and HR × R130, were used for QTL identification. Resistance to Sclerotinia trifoliorum and Fusarium species, as well as to winter hardiness, was investigated in the laboratory and in field experiments in Moscow region (Russia), and Sapporo (Japan). With the genotype data derived from microsatellite and other DNA markers, candidate QTLs were identified by simple interval mapping (SIM), Kruskal–Wallis analysis (KW analysis) and genotype matrix mapping (GMM). A total of 10 and 23 candidate QTL regions for plant persistency were identified in the 272 × WF1680 and the HR × R130 mapping populations, respectively. The QTLs identified by multiple mapping approaches were mapped on linkage group (LG) 3 and LG6. The significant QTL interactions identified by GMM explained the higher phenotypic variation than single effect QTLs. Identification of haplotypes having positive effect QTLs in each parent were first demonstrated in this study for pseudo-testcross mapping populations in plant species using experimental data. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00122-009-1253-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Performance of Multi-Pixel Photon Counters for the T2K near detectors

We have developed a Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC) for the neutrino detectors of T2K experiment. About 64,000 MPPCs have been produced and tested in about a year. In order to characterize a large number of MPPCs, we have developed a system that simultaneously measures 64 MPPCs with various bias voltage and temperature. The performance of MPPCs are found to satisfy the requirement of T2K experiment. In this paper, we present the performance of 17,686 MPPCs measured at Kyoto University.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure

Expression of epithelial calcium transport system in rat cochlea and vestibular labyrinth

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The low luminal Ca²⁺concentration of mammalian endolymph in the inner ear is required for normal hearing and balance. We recently reported the expression of mRNA for a Ca²⁺-absorptive transport system in primary cultures of semicircular canal duct (SCCD) epithelium.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We now identify this system in native vestibular and cochlear tissues by qRT-PCR, immunoblots and confocal immunolocalization. Transcripts were found and quantified for several isoforms of epithelial calcium channels (TRPV5, TRPV6), calcium buffer proteins (calbindin-D9K, calbindin-D28K), sodium-calcium exchangers (NCX1, NCX2, NCX3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase (PMCA1, PMCA2, PMCA3, and PMCA4) in native SCCD, cochlear lateral wall (LW) and stria vascularis (SV) of adult rat as well as Ca²⁺channels in neonatal SCCD. All components were expressed except TRPV6 in SV and PMCA2 in SCCD. 1,25-(OH)₂vitamin D₃(VitD) significantly up-regulated transcripts of TRPV5 in SCCD, calbindin-D9K in SCCD and LW, NCX2 in LW, while PMCA4 in SCCD and PMCA3 in LW were down-regulated. The expression of TRPV5 relative to TRPV6 was in the sequence SV > Neonatal SCCD > Adult SCCD > LW > primary culture SCCD. Expression of TRPV5 protein from primary culture of SCCD did not increase significantly when cells were incubated with VitD (1.2 times control; P > 0.05). Immunolocalization showed the distribution of TRPV5 and TRPV6. TRPV5 was found near the apical membrane of strial marginal cells and both TRPV5 and TRPV6 in outer and inner sulcus cells of the cochlea and in the SCCD of the vestibular system.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings demonstrate for the first time the expression of a complete Ca²⁺absorptive system in native cochlear and vestibular tissues. Regulation by vitamin D remains equivocal since the results support the regulation of this system at the transcript level but evidence for control of the TRPV5 channel protein was lacking.</p

noxin, a novel stress-induced gene involved in cell cycle and apoptosis

We describe a novel stress-induced gene, noxin, and a knockout mouse line with an inactivated noxin gene. The noxin gene does not have sequelogs in the genome and encodes a highly serine-rich protein with predicted phosphorylation sites for ATM, Akt, and DNA-dependent protein kinase kinases; nuclear localization signals; and a Zn finger domain. noxin mRNA and protein levels are under tight control by the cell cycle. noxin, identified as a nitric oxide-inducible gene, is strongly induced by a wide range of stress signals: gamma- and UV irradiation, hydrogen peroxide, adriamycin, and cytokines. This induction is dependent on p53. Noxin accumulates in the nucleus in response to stress and, when ectopically expressed, Noxin arrests the cell cycle at G1; although it also induces p53, the cell cycle arrest function of Noxin is independent of p53 activity. noxin knockout mice are viable and fertile; however, they have an enlarged heart, several altered hematopoietic parameters, and a decreased number of spermatids. Importantly, loss or downregulation of Noxin leads to increased cell death. Our results suggest that Noxin may be a component of the cell defense system: it is activated by various stress stimuli, helps cells to withdraw from cycling, and opposes apoptosis