Classification of Standard Model Particles in E6E_6 Orbifold Grand Unified Theories

We classify the standard model fermions, which originate from bulk fields of the $\bf{27}$ or $\bar{\bf{27}}$ representation after orbifold breaking, in $E_6$ grand unified theories on 5 or 6-dimensional space-time, under the condition that $q$, $e^c$ and $u^c$ survive as zero modes.Comment: 24 pages, typos corrected, to appear in IJMP

Neutral Points of Oscillation Modes along Equilibrium Sequences of Rapidly Rotating Polytropes in General Relativity --- Application of The Cowling Approximation ---

Relativistic Cowling approximation in which all metric perturbations are omitted is applied to non-axisymmetric infinitesimal oscillations of uniformly rotating general relativistic polytropes. Frequencies of lower order f-modes which are important in analysis of secular instability driven by gravitational radiation are investigated and neutral points of the mode along equilibrium sequences of rotating polytropes are determined. Since this approximation becomes more accurate as stars are more relativistic and/or as they rotates more rapidly, we will be able to analyze how a rotation period of a neutron star may be limited by this instability. Possible errors in determining neutral points caused by omitting metric perturbations are also estimated.Comment: 10 pages LaTeX (AAS style), 2 PostScript figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ, Part 1. An appendix has been added to the old versio

Orbifold Family Unification

We study the possibility of complete family unification in higher-dimensional space-time. Three families of matters in SU(5) grand unified theory are derived from a single bulk multiplet of SU(N) gauge group (N >= 9) in the framework of S^1/Z_2 orbifold models. In the case of the direct orbifold breaking down to the standard model gauge group, there are models in which bulk fields from a single multiplet and a few brane fields compose three families of quarks and leptons.Comment: Comments added, version to appear in Physical Review D (v3); References added (v2); 19 pages (v1

Orbifold Family Unification in SO(2N) Gauge Theory

We study the possibility of family unification on the basis of SO(2N) gauge theory on the five-dimensional space-time, $M^4\times S^1/Z_2$. Several SO(10), $SU(4) \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$ or SU(5) multiplets come from a single bulk multiplet of SO(2N) after the orbifold breaking. Other multiplets including brane fields are necessary to compose three families of quarks and leptons.Comment: 28 page

Development and analytical performance evaluation of an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay for pro-gastrin releasing peptide (ProGRP)

Background: Pro-gastrin releasing peptide ( ProGRP) concentrations in blood play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The automated quantitative ARCHITECT (R) ProGRP assay was developed to aid in the differential diagnosis and in the management of SCLC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of this chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay at multiple sites. Methods: ARCHITECT ProGRP measures ProGRP using a two-step sandwich using monoclonal anti-ProGRP antibodies coated on paramagnetic microparticles and labeled with acridinium. Analytical performance of the assay was evaluated at four sites: Abbott Japan, Denka Seiken, the Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Munich. Results: Total precision (%CV) for nine analyte concentrations was between 2.2 and 5.7. The analytical sensitivity of the assay was between 0.20 pg/mL and 0.88 pg/mL. The functional sensitivity at 20% CV was between 0.66 pg/mL and 1.73 pg/mL. The assay was linear up to 50,000 pg/mL using a 1:10 autodilution protocol. The calibration curve was stable for 30 days. Comparison with the Fujirebio microtiter plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) ProGRP assay gave a slope of 0.93 and a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.99. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the ARCHITECT ProGRP assay has excellent sensitivity, precision, and correlation to a reference method. This assay provides a convenient automated method for ProGRP measurement in serum and plasma in hospitals and clinical laboratories. Clin Chem Lab Med 2009;47:1557-63

Critical Scale-invariance in Healthy Human Heart Rate

We demonstrate the robust scale-invariance in the probability density function (PDF) of detrended healthy human heart rate increments, which is preserved not only in a quiescent condition, but also in a dynamic state where the mean level of heart rate is dramatically changing. This scale-independent and fractal structure is markedly different from the scale-dependent PDF evolution observed in a turbulent-like, cascade heart rate model. These results strongly support the view that healthy human heart rate is controlled to converge continually to a critical state.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. Phys. Rev. Lett., to appear (2004

Multimodal single cell sequencing implicates chromatin accessibility and genetic background in diabetic kidney disease progression

The proximal tubule is a key regulator of kidney function and glucose metabolism. Diabetic kidney disease leads to proximal tubule injury and changes in chromatin accessibility that modify the activity of transcription factors involved in glucose metabolism and inflammation. Here we use single nucleus RNA and ATAC sequencing to show that diabetic kidney disease leads to reduced accessibility of glucocorticoid receptor binding sites and an injury-associated expression signature in the proximal tubule. We hypothesize that chromatin accessibility is regulated by genetic background and closely-intertwined with metabolic memory, which pre-programs the proximal tubule to respond differently to external stimuli. Glucocorticoid excess has long been known to increase risk for type 2 diabetes, which raises the possibility that glucocorticoid receptor inhibition may mitigate the adverse metabolic effects of diabetic kidney disease

Real-time observation of the dry oxidation of the Si(100) surface with ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

We have applied ambient-pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with Si 2p chemical shifts to study the real-time dry oxidation of Si(100), using pressures in the range of 0.01-1 Torr and temperatures of 300-530 ??C, and examining the oxide thickness range from 0 to ???25 A. The oxidation rate is initially very high (with rates of up to ???225 Ah) and then, after a certain initial thickness of the oxide in the range of 6-22 A is formed, decreases to a slow state (with rates of ???1.5-4.0 Ah). Neither the rapid nor the slow regime is explained by the standard Deal-Grove model for Si oxidation.open171