Superconformal Symmetry in Linear Sigma Model on Supermanifolds

We consider a gauged linear sigma model in two dimensions with Grassmann odd chiral superfields. We investigate the Konishi anomaly of this model and find out the condition for realization of superconformal symmetry on the world-sheet. When this condition is satisfied, the theory is expected to flow into conformal theory in the infrared limit. We construct superconformal currents explicitly and study some properties of this world-sheet theory from the point of view of conformal field theories

Supersymmetry and Branes in M-theory Plane-waves

We study brane embeddings in M-theory plane-waves and their supersymmetry. The relation with branes in AdS backgrounds via the Penrose limit is also explored. Longitudinal planar branes are originated from AdS branes while giant gravitons of AdS spaces become spherical branes which are realized as fuzzy spheres in the massive matrix theory.Comment: 17 pages, JHEP style, references added, typos correcte

On Local Calabi-Yau Supermanifolds and Their Mirrors

We use local mirror symmetry to study a class of local Calabi-Yau super-manifolds with bosonic sub-variety V_b having a vanishing first Chern class. Solving the usual super- CY condition, requiring the equality of the total U(1) gauge charges of bosons \Phi_{b} and the ghost like fields \Psi_{f} one \sum_{b}q_{b}=\sum_{f}Q_{f}, as \sum_{b}q_{b}=0 and \sum_{f}Q_{f}=0, several examples are studied and explicit results are given for local A_{r} super-geometries. A comment on purely fermionic super-CY manifolds corresponding to the special case where q_{b}=0, \forall b and \sum_{f}Q_{f}=0 is also made.\bigskipComment: 17 page

Long-lived neutral-kaon flux measurement for the KOTO experiment

The KOTO ($K^0$ at Tokai) experiment aims to observe the CP-violating rare decay $K_L \rightarrow \pi^0 \nu \bar{\nu}$ by using a long-lived neutral-kaon beam produced by the 30 GeV proton beam at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex. The $K_L$ flux is an essential parameter for the measurement of the branching fraction. Three $K_L$ neutral decay modes, $K_L \rightarrow 3\pi^0$, $K_L \rightarrow 2\pi^0$, and $K_L \rightarrow 2\gamma$ were used to measure the $K_L$ flux in the beam line in the 2013 KOTO engineering run. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate the detector acceptance for these decays. Agreement was found between the simulation model and the experimental data, and the remaining systematic uncertainty was estimated at the 1.4\% level. The $K_L$ flux was measured as $(4.183 \pm 0.017_{\mathrm{stat.}} \pm 0.059_{\mathrm{sys.}}) \times 10^7$ $K_L$ per $2\times 10^{14}$ protons on a 66-mm-long Au target.Comment: 27 pages, 16 figures. To be appeared in Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physic

Measurement of branching fraction ratios and CP asymmetries in B±→DCPK±B^{\pm} \to D_{CP}K^{\pm}

We report results on the decay $B^{-} \to D_{CP}K^{-}$ and its charge conjugate using a data sample of 85.4 million $B\bar{B}$ pairs recorded at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric $e^{+}e^{-}$ storage ring. Ratios of branching fractions of Cabibbo-suppressed to Cabibbo-favored processes are determined to be ${\cal B}(B^- \to D^0 K^-)/{\cal B}(B^- \to D^0 \pi^-)= 0.077 \pm 0.005(stat) \pm 0.006(sys)$, ${\cal B}(B^- \to D_1 K^-)/{\cal B}(B^- \to D_1 \pi^-) = 0.093 \pm 0.018(stat) \pm 0.008(sys)$ and ${\cal B}(B^- \to D_2 K^-)/{\cal B}(B^- \to D_2 \pi^-) = 0.108 \pm 0.019(stat) \pm 0.007(sys)$ where the indices 1 and 2 represent the CP=+1 and CP=$-$1 eigenstates of the $D^{0}-\bar{D^{0}}$ system, respectively. We find the partial-rate charge asymmetries for $B^{-} \to D_{CP}K^{-}$ to be ${\cal{A}}_1 = 0.06 \pm 0.19(stat) \pm 0.04(sys)$ and ${\cal{A}}_2 = -0.19 \pm 0.17(stat) \pm 0.05(sys)$.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review

Evidence for Direct CP Violation in B0 -> K+- pi-+ Decays

We report evidence for direct CP violation in the decay B0 -> K+-pi-+ with 253/fb of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider. Using 275 million B B_bar pairs we observe a B -> K+-pi-+ signal with 2140+-53 events. The measured CP violating asymmetry is Acp(K+-pi-+) = -0.101+-0.025 (stat)+-0.005 (syst), corresponding to a significance of 3.9 sigma including systematics. We also search for CP violation in the decays B+- -> K+-pi0 and B+- -> pi+-pi0. The measured CP violating asymmetries are Acp(K+-pi0) = 0.04+-0.05(stat)+-0.02(syst) and Acp(pi+-pi0) = -0.02+-0.10(stat)+-0.01(syst), corresponding to the intervals -0.05 < Acp(K+-pi0) < 0.13 and -0.18<Acp(pi+-pi0)<0.14 at 90% confidence level.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. submitted to Physical Review Letter

The Toll-Like Receptor Signaling Molecule Myd88 Contributes to Pancreatic Beta-Cell Homeostasis in Response to Injury

Commensal flora and pathogenic microbes influence the incidence of diabetes in animal models yet little is known about the mechanistic basis of these interactions. We hypothesized that Myd88, an adaptor molecule in the Toll-like-receptor (TLR) pathway, regulates pancreatic β-cell function and homeostasis. We first examined β-cells histologically and found that Myd88−/− mice have smaller islets in comparison to C57Bl/6 controls. Myd88−/− mice were nonetheless normoglycemic both at rest and after an intra-peritoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). In contrast, after low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) challenge, Myd88−/−mice had an abnormal IPGTT relative to WT controls. Furthermore, Myd88−/− mice suffer enhanced β-cell apoptosis and have enhanced hepatic damage with delayed recovery upon low-dose STZ treatment. Finally, we treated WT mice with broad-spectrum oral antibiotics to deplete their commensal flora. In WT mice, low dose oral lipopolysaccharide, but not lipotichoic acid or antibiotics alone, strongly promoted enhanced glycemic control. These data suggest that Myd88 signaling and certain TLR ligands mediate a homeostatic effect on β-cells primarily in the setting of injury