757 research outputs found
Evidence for an oscillatory signature in atmospheric neutrino oscillation
Muon neutrino disappearance probability as a function of neutrino flight
length L over neutrino energy E was studied. A dip in the L/E distribution was
observed in the data, as predicted from the sinusoidal flavor transition
probability of neutrino oscillation. The observed L/E distribution constrained
nu_mu nu_tau neutrino oscillation parameters; 1.9x10^-3 < Delta m^2 <
3.0x10^-3 eV^2 and \sin^2(2theta) > 0.90 at 90% confidence level.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR
Search for nucleon decay via modes favored by supersymmetric grand unification models in Super-Kamiokande-I
We report the results for nucleon decay searches via modes favored by
supersymmetric grand unified models in Super-Kamiokande. Using 1489 days of
full Super-Kamiokande-I data, we searched for , , and modes. We found no
evidence for nucleon decay in any of these modes. We set lower limits of
partial nucleon lifetime 2.3, 1.3,
1.3 and 1.0 years at 90% confidence level for , , and modes, respectively. These results give a strong constraint on
supersymmetric grand unification models.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figure
Solar neutrino measurements in Super-Kamiokande-I
The details of Super--Kamiokande--I's solar neutrino analysis are given.
Solar neutrino measurement in Super--Kamiokande is a high statistics collection
of B solar neutrinos via neutrino-electron scattering. The analysis method
and results of the 1496 day data sample are presented. The final oscillation
results for the data are also presented.Comment: 32pages, 57figures, submitted to Physical Review
Three flavor neutrino oscillation analysis of atmospheric neutrinos in Super-Kamiokande
We report on the results of a three-flavor oscillation analysis using
Super-Kamiokande~I atmospheric neutrino data, with the assumption of one mass
scale dominance (0). No significant flux change due to
matter effect, which occurs when neutrinos propagate inside the Earth for
0, has been seen either in a multi-GeV -rich sample
or in a -rich sample. Both normal and inverted mass hierarchy
hypotheses are tested and both are consistent with observation. Using
Super-Kamiokande data only, 2-dimensional 90 % confidence allowed regions are
obtained: mixing angles are constrained to and for the normal mass hierarchy. Weaker constraints,
and , are obtained
for the inverted mass hierarchy case.Comment: 7 figures, 3 table
Search for Dark Matter WIMPs using Upward Through-going Muons in Super-Kamiokande
We present the results of indirect searches for Weakly Interacting Massive
Particles (WIMPs) with 1679.6 live days of data from the Super-Kamiokande
detector using neutrino-induced upward through-going muons. The search is
performed by looking for an excess of high energy muon neutrinos from WIMP
annihilations in the Sun, the core of the Earth, and the Galactic Center, as
compared to the number expected from the atmospheric neutrino background. No
statistically significant excess was seen. We calculate flux limits in various
angular cones around each of the above celestial objects. We obtain
conservative model-independent upper limits on WIMP-nucleon cross-section as a
function of WIMP mass and compare these results with the corresponding results
from direct dark matter detection experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 14 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Limit On the Neutrino Magnetic Moment Using 1496 Days of Super-Kamiokande-i Solar Neutrino Data
A search for a non-zero neutrino magnetic moment has been conducted using
1496 live days of solar neutrino data from {\SK}. Specifically, we searched for
distortions to the energy spectrum of recoil electrons arising from magnetic
scattering due to a non-zero neutrino magnetic moment. In the absence of clear
signal, we found at 90% C.L. by
fitting to the Super-Kamiokande day/night spectra. The fitting took into
account the effect of neutrino oscillation on the shapes of energy spectra.
With additional information from other solar neutrino and KamLAND experiments
constraining the oscillation region, a limit of at 90% C.L. was obtained.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Mapping Dynamic Histone Acetylation Patterns to Gene Expression in Nanog-depleted Murine Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells (ESC) have the potential to self-renew indefinitely and
to differentiate into any of the three germ layers. The molecular mechanisms
for self-renewal, maintenance of pluripotency and lineage specification are
poorly understood, but recent results point to a key role for epigenetic
mechanisms. In this study, we focus on quantifying the impact of histone 3
acetylation (H3K9,14ac) on gene expression in murine embryonic stem cells. We
analyze genome-wide histone acetylation patterns and gene expression profiles
measured over the first five days of cell differentiation triggered by
silencing Nanog, a key transcription factor in ESC regulation. We explore the
temporal and spatial dynamics of histone acetylation data and its correlation
with gene expression using supervised and unsupervised statistical models. On a
genome-wide scale, changes in acetylation are significantly correlated to
changes in mRNA expression and, surprisingly, this coherence increases over
time. We quantify the predictive power of histone acetylation for gene
expression changes in a balanced cross-validation procedure. In an in-depth
study we focus on genes central to the regulatory network of Mouse ESC,
including those identified in a recent genome-wide RNAi screen and in the
PluriNet, a computationally derived stem cell signature. We find that compared
to the rest of the genome, ESC-specific genes show significantly more
acetylation signal and a much stronger decrease in acetylation over time, which
is often not reflected in an concordant expression change. These results shed
light on the complexity of the relationship between histone acetylation and
gene expression and are a step forward to dissect the multilayer regulatory
mechanisms that determine stem cell fate.Comment: accepted at PLoS Computational Biolog
The Fission Yeast Stress-Responsive MAPK Pathway Promotes Meiosis via the Phosphorylation of Pol II CTD in Response to Environmental and Feedback Cues
The RRM-type RNA-binding protein Mei2 is a master regulator of meiosis in fission yeast, in which it stabilizes meiosis-specific mRNAs by blocking their destruction. Artificial activation of Mei2 can provoke the entire meiotic process, and it is suspected that Mei2 may do more than the stabilization of meiosis-specific mRNAs. In our current study using a new screening system, we show that Mei2 genetically interacts with subunits of CTDK-I, which phosphorylates serine-2 residues on the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II (Pol II CTD). Phosphorylation of CTD Ser-2 is essential to enable the robust transcription of ste11, which encodes an HMG-type transcription factor that regulates the expression of mei2 and other genes necessary for sexual development. CTD Ser-2 phosphorylation increases under nitrogen starvation, and the stress-responsive MAP kinase pathway, mediated by Wis1 MAPKK and Sty1 MAPK, is critical for this stress response. Sty1 phosphorylates Lsk1, the catalytic subunit of CTDK-I. Furthermore, a feedback loop stemming from activated Mei2 to Win1 and Wis4 MAPKKKs operates in this pathway and eventually enhances CTD Ser-2 phosphorylation and ste11 transcription. Hence, in addition to starting meiosis, Mei2 functions to reinforce the commitment to it, once cells have entered this process. This study also demonstrates clearly that the stress-responsive MAP kinase pathway can modulates gene expression through phosphorylation of Pol II CTD
Interactions between growth-dependent changes in cell size, nutrient supply and cellular elemental stoichiometry of marine Synechococcus
The factors that control elemental ratios within phytoplankton, like carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P), are key to biogeochemical cycles. Previous studies have identified relationships between nutrient-limited growth and elemental ratios in large eukaryotes, but little is known about these interactions in small marine phytoplankton like the globally important Cyanobacteria. To improve our understanding of these interactions in picophytoplankton, we asked how cellular elemental stoichiometry varies as a function of steady-state, N- and P-limited growth in laboratory chemostat cultures of Synechococcus WH8102. By combining empirical data and theoretical modeling, we identified a previously unrecognized factor (growth-dependent variability in cell size) that controls the relationship between nutrient-limited growth and cellular elemental stoichiometry. To predict the cellular elemental stoichiometry of phytoplankton, previous theoretical models rely on the traditional Droop model, which purports that the acquisition of a single limiting nutrient suffices to explain the relationship between a cellular nutrient quota and growth rate. Our study, however, indicates that growth-dependent changes in cell size have an important role in regulating cell nutrient quotas. This key ingredient, along with nutrient-uptake protein regulation, enables our model to predict the cellular elemental stoichiometry of Synechococcus across a range of nutrient-limited conditions. Our analysis also adds to the growth rate hypothesis, suggesting that P-rich biomolecules other than nucleic acids are important drivers of stoichiometric variability in Synechococcus. Lastly, by comparing our data with field observations, our study has important ecological relevance as it provides a framework for understanding and predicting elemental ratios in ocean regions where small phytoplankton like Synechococcus dominates
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