166 research outputs found
Ground-state electric quadrupole moment of 31Al
Ground-state electric quadrupole moment of 31Al (I =5/2+, T_1/2 = 644(25) ms)
has been measured by means of the beta-NMR spectroscopy using a spin-polarized
31Al beam produced in the projectile fragmentation reaction. The obtained Q
moment, |Q_exp(31Al)| = 112(32)emb, are in agreement with conventional shell
model calculations within the sd valence space. Previous result on the magnetic
moment also supports the validity of the sd model in this isotope, and thus it
is concluded that 31Al is located outside of the island of inversion.Comment: 5 page
Environmental radiation at Izu-Oshima after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident
Environmental radiation at Izu-Oshima Island was observed six months after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1-NPP). A car-borne survey of the dose rate in air was conducted over the entire island and the results were compared with measurements performed in 2005 (i.e., before the accident). The activity concentrations of cesium-134 and cesium-137 were also measured using a germanium detector. The dose rate in air was found to be 2.9 ± 1.2 times higher than that in 2005 and cesium-134 was detected on Izu-Oshima Island. These results are attributed to the accident at the F1-NPP
Search for extraterrestrial antineutrino sources with the KamLAND detector
We present the results of a search for extraterrestrial electron
antineutrinos ('s) in the energy range using the KamLAND detector. In an exposure of
4.53 kton-year, we identify 25 candidate events. All of the candidate events
can be attributed to background, most importantly neutral current atmospheric
neutrino interactions, setting an upper limit on the probability of B
solar 's converting into 's at
(90% C.L.), if we assume an undistorted shape. This limit
corresponds to a solar flux of or an event
rate of above the energy threshold
. The present data also allows us to set more
stringent limits on the diffuse supernova neutrino flux and on the annihilation
rates for light dark matter particles.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure
Measurement of the 8B Solar Neutrino Flux with the KamLAND Liquid Scintillator Detector
We report a measurement of the neutrino-electron elastic scattering rate from
8B solar neutrinos based on a 123 kton-day exposure of KamLAND. The
background-subtracted electron recoil rate, above a 5.5 MeV analysis threshold
is 1.49+/-0.14(stat)+/-0.17(syst) events per kton-day. Interpreted as due to a
pure electron flavor flux with a 8B neutrino spectrum, this corresponds to a
spectrum integrated flux of 2.77+/-0.26(stat)+/-0.32(syst) x 10^6 cm^-2s^-1.
The analysis threshold is driven by 208Tl present in the liquid scintillator,
and the main source of systematic uncertainty is due to background from
cosmogenic 11Be. The measured rate is consistent with existing measurements and
with Standard Solar Model predictions which include matter enhanced neutrino
oscillation.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Measurement of the CP Violation Parameter sin(2phi_1) in B^0_d Meson Decays
We present a measurement of the Standard Model CP violation parameter
sin(2phi_1) based on a 10.5 fb^{-1} data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S)
resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e+e- collider. One
neutral B meson is reconstructed in the J/psi K_S, psi(2S) K_S, chi_{c1} K_S,
eta_c K_S, J/psi K_L or J/psi pi^0 CP-eigenstate decay channel and the flavor
of the accompanying B meson is identified from its charged particle decay
products. From the asymmetry in the distribution of the time interval between
the two B-meson decay points, we determine sin(2phi_1) = 0.58 +0.32-0.34 (stat)
+0.09-0.10 (syst).Comment: LaTex, 13 pages, 3 figures, submitted to P.R.
Measurement of B0d - B0d-bar mixing rate from the time evolution of dilepton events at the Upsilon(4S)
We report a determination of the B0d - B0d-bar mixing parameter Delta-m_d
based on the time evolution of dilepton yields in Upsilon(4S) decays. The
measurement is based on a 5.9 /fb data sample collected by the Belle detector
at KEKB. The proper-time difference distributions for same-sign and
opposite-sign dilepton events are simultaneously fitted to an expression
containing Delta-m_d as a free parameter. Using both muons and electrons, we
obtain Delta-m_d = 0.463 +- 0.008(stat.) +- 0.016(sys.) ps^{-1} This is the
first determination of Delta-m_d from time evolution measurements at the
Upsilon(4S). We also place limits on possible CPT violations.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure
Silencing Nuclear Pore Protein Tpr Elicits a Senescent-Like Phenotype in Cancer Cells
Background: Tpr is a large coiled-coil protein located in the nuclear basket of the nuclear pore complex for which many different functions were proposed from yeast to human. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we show that depletion of Tpr by RNA interference triggers G0–G1 arrest and ultimately induces a senescent-like phenotype dependent on the presence of p53. We also found that Tpr depletion impairs the NES [nuclear export sequence]-dependent nuclear export of proteins and causes partial co-depletion of Nup153. In addition Tpr depletion impacts on level and function of the SUMO-protease SENP2 thus affecting SUMOylation regulation at the nuclear pore and overall SUMOylation in the cell. Conclusions: Our data for the first time provide evidence that a nuclear pore component plays a role in controlling cellular senescence. Our findings also point to new roles for Tpr in the regulation of SUMO-1 conjugation at the nuclear pore and directly confirm Tpr involvement in the nuclear export of NES-proteins
Constraints on from A Three-Flavor Oscillation Analysis of Reactor Antineutrinos at KamLAND
We present new constraints on the neutrino oscillation parameters , , and from a
three-flavor analysis of solar and KamLAND data. The KamLAND data set includes
data acquired following a radiopurity upgrade and amounts to a total exposure
of 3.49 \textyen times 10^{32} target-proton-year. Under the assumption of
{\textyen it CPT} invariance, a two-flavor analysis (/textyen mbox{\textyen
theta_{13} = 0}) of the KamLAND and solar data yields the best-fit values
\textyen tan^{2} \textyen theta_{12} = 0.444^{+0.036}_{-0.030} and \textyen
Delta m^{2}_{21} = 7.50^{+0.19}_{-0.20} \textyen times 10^{-5} ~ {\textyen rm
eV}^{2}; a three-flavor analysis with \textyen theta_{13} as a free
parameter yields the best-fit values \textyen tan^{2} \textyen theta_{12} =
0.452^{+0.035}_{-0.033}, \textyen Delta m^{2}_{21} = 7.50^{+0.19}_{-0.20}
\textyen times 10^{-5} ~ {\textyen rm eV}^{2}, and \textyen sin^{2} \textyen
theta_{13} = 0.020^{+0.016}_{-0.016}. This \textyen theta_{13} interval is
consistent with other recent work combining the CHOOZ, atmospheric and
long-baseline accelerator experiments. We also present a new global \textyen
theta_{13} analysis, incorporating the CHOOZ, atmospheric and accelerator
data, which indicates \textyen sin^{2} \textyen theta_{13} =
0.009^{+0.013}_{-0.007}. A nonzero value is suggested, but only at the
79\textyen% C.L.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures. Version as published in PRD. The dChi2-map and
prompt energy spectrum for this analysis are available at
http://www.awa.tohoku.ac.jp/KamLAND/4th_result_data_release/4th_result_data_release.htm
Combinations of physiologic estrogens with xenoestrogens alter calcium and kinase responses, prolactin release, and membrane estrogen receptor trafficking in rat pituitary cells
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Xenoestrogens such as alkylphenols and the structurally related plastic byproduct bisphenol A have recently been shown to act potently via nongenomic signaling pathways and the membrane version of estrogen receptor-α. Though the responses to these compounds are typically measured individually, they usually contaminate organisms that already have endogenous estrogens present. Therefore, we used quantitative medium-throughput screening assays to measure the effects of physiologic estrogens in combination with these xenoestrogens.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied the effects of low concentrations of endogenous estrogens (estradiol, estriol, and estrone) at 10 pM (representing pre-development levels), and 1 nM (representing higher cycle-dependent and pregnancy levels) in combinations with the same levels of xenoestrogens in GH<sub>3</sub>/B6/F10 pituitary cells. These levels of xenoestrogens represent extremely low contamination levels. We monitored calcium entry into cells using Fura-2 fluorescence imaging of single cells. Prolactin release was measured by radio-immunoassay. Extracellular-regulated kinase (1 and 2) phospho-activations and the levels of three estrogen receptors in the cell membrane (ERα, ERβ, and GPER) were measured using a quantitative plate immunoassay of fixed cells either permeabilized or nonpermeabilized (respectively).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All xenoestrogens caused responses at these concentrations, and had disruptive effects on the actions of physiologic estrogens. Xenoestrogens reduced the % of cells that responded to estradiol via calcium channel opening. They also inhibited the activation (phosphorylation) of extracellular-regulated kinases at some concentrations. They either inhibited or enhanced rapid prolactin release, depending upon concentration. These latter two dose-responses were nonmonotonic, a characteristic of nongenomic estrogenic responses.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Responses mediated by endogenous estrogens representing different life stages are vulnerable to very low concentrations of these structurally related xenoestrogens. Because of their non-classical dose-responses, they must be studied in detail to pinpoint effective concentrations and the directions of response changes.</p
Lifespan-Extending Effects of Royal Jelly and Its Related Substances on the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
One of the most important challenges in the study of aging is to discover compounds with longevity-promoting activities and to unravel their underlying mechanisms. Royal jelly (RJ) has been reported to possess diverse beneficial properties. Furthermore, protease-treated RJ (pRJ) has additional pharmacological activities. Exactly how RJ and pRJ exert these effects and which of their components are responsible for these effects are largely unknown. The evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that control longevity have been indicated. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether RJ and its related substances exert a lifespan-extending function in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and to gain insights into the active agents in RJ and their mechanism of action.We found that both RJ and pRJ extended the lifespan of C. elegans. The lifespan-extending activity of pRJ was enhanced by Octadecyl-silica column chromatography (pRJ-Fraction 5). pRJ-Fr.5 increased the animals' lifespan in part by acting through the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16, the activation of which is known to promote longevity in C. elegans by reducing insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS). pRJ-Fr.5 reduced the expression of ins-9, one of the insulin-like peptide genes. Moreover, pRJ-Fr.5 and reduced IIS shared some common features in terms of their effects on gene expression, such as the up-regulation of dod-3 and the down-regulation of dod-19, dao-4 and fkb-4. 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which was present at high concentrations in pRJ-Fr.5, increased lifespan independently of DAF-16 activity.These results demonstrate that RJ and its related substances extend lifespan in C. elegans, suggesting that RJ may contain longevity-promoting factors. Further analysis and characterization of the lifespan-extending agents in RJ and pRJ may broaden our understanding of the gene network involved in longevity regulation in diverse species and may lead to the development of nutraceutical interventions in the aging process
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