Multi bunch GMMA Ray generation experiment at ATF

We construct a new detector to monitor $\gamma$ yields in bunch by bunch basis for the Laser Compton experiment at the KEK ATF which is capable to separate $\gamma$ rays in 5.6ns-spacing multi-bunch operation of the KEK ATF. In this article we report a result of measurement of multi bunch $\gamma$ ray detection for the first time at the KEK ATF.Comment: 6 pagese 4 figures, Proceedings of POSIPOL 2011, Beijing Aug. 201

How Well Can We Reconstruct the ttbar System Near its Threshold at Future e+e- Linear Colliders?

We developed a new method for full kinematical reconstruction of the ttbar system near its threshold at future linear e+e- colliders. In the core of the method lies likelihood fitting which is designed to improve measurement accuracies of the kinematical variables that specify the final states resulting from ttbar decays. The improvement is demonstrated by applying this method to a Monte-Carlo ttbar sample generated with various experimental effects including beamstrahlung, finite acceptance and resolution of the detector system, etc. In most cases the fit brings a broad non-Gaussian distribution of a given kinematical variable to a nearly Gaussian shape, thereby justifying phenomenological analyses based on simple Gaussian smearing of parton-level momenta. The standard deviations of the resultant distributions of various kinematical variables are given in order to facilitate such phenomenological analyses. A possible application of the kinematical fitting method and its expected impact are also discussed.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, 11 figure

A study of the measurement precision of the Higgs boson decaying into tau pairs at the ILC

We evaluate the measurement precision of the production cross section times the branching ratio of the Higgs boson decaying into tau lepton pairs at the International Linear Collider (ILC). We analyze various final states associated with the main production mechanisms of the Higgs boson, the Higgs-strahlung and WW-fusion processes. The statistical precision of the production cross section times the branching ratio is estimated to be 2.6% and 6.9% for the Higgs-strahlung andWW-fusion processes, respectively, with the nominal integrated luminosities assumed in the ILC Technical Design Report; the precision improves to 1.0% and 3.4% with the running scenario including possible luminosity upgrades. The study provides a reference performance of the ILC for future phenomenological analyses.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, 9 tables, revised from v

Gene Expression and the Physiological Role of Transforming Growth Factor-α in the Mouse Pituitary

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, is produced within the mouse anterior pituitaries. However, the cell types of TGF-alpha-expressing cells and the physiological roles of TGF-a within mouse pituitary glands remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to localize TGF-alpha mRNA-expressing cells, and to clarify the involvement of TGF-alpha in estrogen-induced DNA replication in mouse anterior pituitary cells. Northern blot analysis demonstrated TGF-alpha mRNA expression in adult male and female mouse anterior pituitaries. In situ hybridization analysis of the pituitaries in these mice showed that TGF-alpha mRNA-expressing cells in the anterior pituitary are round, oval, and medium-sized. TGF-alpha mRNA was colocalized in most of the growth hormone (GH) mRNA-expressing cells, while only some of the prolactin (PRL) mRNA-expressing cells. DNA replication in the anterior pituitary cells was detected by monitoring the cellular uptake of a thymidine analogue, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in a primary serum-free culture system. Estradiol-17beta (E2) and TGF-alpha treatment increased the number of BrdU-labelled mammotrophs, indicating that E2 and TGF-alpha treatment stimulates the DNA replication in mammotrophs. Immunoneutralization of TGF-alpha with anti-TGF-alpha-antibodies nullified the E2-induced increase in DNA replication. RT-PCR analysis of TGF-alpha mRNA expression in ovariectomized female mice revealed that E2 increases TGF-alpha mRNA levels. These results indicate that the TGF-alpha produced primarily in the somatotrophs mediates the stimulatory effects of estrogen on the DNA replication of pituitary cells in a paracrine or autocrine manner

Cavum Septum Pellucidum and Cavum Vergae With Late-Onset Catatonia

Associations between large cavum septum pellucidum and functional psychosis disorders, especially schizophrenia, have been reported. We report a case of late-onset catatonia associated with enlarged CSP and cavum vergae. A 66-year-old woman was presented with altered mental status and stereotypic movement. She was initially treated with aripiprazole and lorazepam. After 4 weeks, she was treated with electroconvulsive therapy. By 10 treatments, echolalia vanished, and catatonic behavior was alleviated. Developmental anomalies in the midline structure may increase susceptibility to psychosis, even in the elderly.ArticleJOURNAL OF ECT. 29(3):E45-E46 (2013)journal articl

Mutational analysis of the transmembrane α4-helix of Bacillus thuringiensis mosquito-larvicidal Cry4Aa toxin

Cry4Aa, produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, exhibits specific toxicity to larvae of medically important mosquito genera. Cry4Aa functions as a pore-forming toxin, and a helical hairpin (α4-loop-α5) of domain I is believed to be the transmembrane domain that forms toxin pores. Pore formation is considered to be a central mode of Cry4Aa action, but the relationship between pore formation and toxicity is poorly understood. In the present study, we constructed Cry4Aa mutants in which each polar amino acid residues within the transmembrane α4 helix was replaced with glutamic acid. Bioassays using Culex pipiens mosquito larvae and subsequent ion permeability measurements using symmetric KCl solution revealed an apparent correlation between toxicity and toxin pore conductance for most of the Cry4Aa mutants. In contrast, the Cry4Aa mutant H178E was a clear exception, almost losing its toxicity but still exhibiting a moderately high conductivity of about 60% of the wild-type. Furthermore, the conductance of the pore formed by the N190E mutant (about 50% of the wild-type) was close to that of H178E, but the toxicity was significantly higher than that of H178E. Ion selectivity measurements using asymmetric KCl solution revealed a significant decrease in cation selectivity of toxin pores formed by H178E compared to N190E. Our data suggest that the toxicity of Cry4Aa is primarily pore related. The formation of toxin pores that are highly ion-permeable and also highly cation-selective may enhance the influx of cations and water into the target cell, thereby facilitating the eventual death of mosquito larvae