Proper-time Resolution Function for Measurement of Time Evolution of B Mesons at the KEK B-Factory

The proper-time resolution function for the measurement of the time evolution of B mesons with the Belle detector at KEKB is studied in detail. The obtained resolution function is applied to the measurement of B meson lifetimes, the B0-B0bar oscillation frequency and time-dependent CP asymmetries.Comment: 25 pages, 18 figures, to be published in NIM A, replaced with revised versio

Effects of ethyl-esterization, chain-lengths, unsaturation degrees, and hyperthermia on carcinostatic effect of omega-hydroxylated fatty acids

Aim: To evaluate promotive effect of hyperthermia on the carcinostatic activity of synthesized omega-hydroxy fatty acids (wHFAs) and their ethylesters agaist Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells. Methods: EAT cells were cultured with either wHFAs or their ethylester derivatives in a water bath at either 37 °C or 42 °C for 30 min, followed by incubation in a CO2 incubator for 20 or 72 h. Mitochondrial dehydrogenase-based WST-1 assay and trypan blue dye exclusion assay were then conducted after incubation. Morphological changes were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: Omega-HFA having a saturated 16-carbon straight-chain (wH16:0) was the most carcinostatic (at 37 °C – viability level: 60.0%; at 42 °C – 49.6% (WST-1)) among saturated and unsaturated wHFAs with 12, 15 or 16 carbon atoms, when administrated to EAT cells at 100 µM for 20 h. Carcinostatic activity was markedly enhanced by ethyl-esterization of saturated fatty acids, such as wH16:0 (at 37 °C – 42.3%; at 42 °C – 11.2% , ibid) and wH15:0 (at 37 °C – 74.6%; at 42 °C – 25.3% , ibid), and their unsaturated counterparts were extremely effective only in combination with hyperthermia. Prolongation of the incubation period to 72 h at the same concentration increased appreciably their carcinostatic effect (wH16:0 ethylesther: 1.3%; wH15:0 ethylesther: 8.0%). These values were also supported by dye exclusion assay. The carcinostatic activity enhanced more markedly by hyperthermia (1.2%; 2.1%, ibid). SEM shows that wH16:0 ethylester-exposed EAT cells underwent extensive injury, such as deformation of cell structure or disappearance of microvilli. Conclusions: wH16:0 ethylester possesses high carcinostatic activity in vitro in combination with hyperthermia and may be utilized as potent anticancer therapeutic agent.Цель: проанализировать усиливающий эффект гипертермии на канцеростатическую активность синтезированных омегагидроксилированных жирных кислот (HFAs) и их этиловых эфиров по отноению к клеткам асцитной опухоли рлиха (EAT). Методы: клетки EAT инкубировали с HFAs или их этилэфирными производными на водной ане при 37 ° или 42 ° в течение 30 мин с дальнейим культивированием в 2 инкубаторе на протяжении 20 или 72 ч, после чего анализировали жизнеспособность клеток методами анализа WST-1, основанного на активности митохондриальных дегидрогеназ, и по включению трипанового синего. Морфологические изменения клеток определяли с использованием сканирующей электронной микроскопии. Результаты: при культивации клеток EAT в присутствии 100 M соединений в течение 20 ч омега-HFA с насыщенной 16-углеродной прямой цепью (H16:0) проявляли наиболее выраженный канцеростатический эффект (при 37 ° уровень жизнеспосоности составил 60,0%; при 42 ° 49,6% (WST-1)) по сравнению с таковым насыщенных и ненасыщенных HFAs, содержащих 12, 15 или 16 атомов углерода. анцеростатическая активность значительно возрастала при этилэтерификации насыщенных жирных кислот, таких как H16:0 (при 37 ° 42,3%; при 42 ° 11,2%, ibid) и H15:0 (при 37 ° 74,6%; при 42 ° 25,3% , ibid), в то время как производные ненасыщенных кислот были высокоэффективны только в комбинации с гипертермией. Увеличение периода инкубации клеток до 72 ч при той же концентрации веществ приводило к значительному увеличению их канцеростатического действия (этиловый эфир H16:0 1,3%; этиловый эфир H15:0 ethylesther 8,0%), подтвержденного данными окраски трипановым синим. рименение гипертермии также усиливало канцеростатическое действие соединений (1,2%; 2,1%, ibid). Результаты исследования методом SEM показали, что клетки EAT, инкубированные с этиловым эфиром H16:0, разруаются с нарушением клеточной структуры и исчезновением микроволокон. Выводы: в комбинации с гипертермией этиловый эфир H16:0 про ет высокую канцеростатическую активность in vitro, что говорит о возможности применения соединения в терапии опухолевых заболеваний

Neutral B Flavor Tagging for the Measurement of Mixing-induced CP Violation at Belle

We describe a flavor tagging algorithm used in measurements of the CP violation parameter sin2phi_1 at the Belle experiment. Efficiencies and wrong tag fractions are evaluated using flavor-specific B meson decays into hadronic and semileptonic modes. We achieve a total effective efficiency of $ 28.8 +- 0.6 %.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figure

Direct CP Violation, Branching Ratios and Form Factors B→πB \to \pi, B→KB \to K in BB Decays

The $B \to \pi$ and $B \to K$ transitions involved in hadronic B decays are investigated in a phenomenological way through the framework of QCD factorization. By comparing our results with experimental branching ratios from the BELLE, BABAR and CLEO Collaborations for all the B decays including either a pion or a kaon, we propose boundaries for the transition form factors $B \to \pi$ and $B \to K$ depending on the CKM matrix element parameters $\rho$ and $\eta$. From this analysis, the form factors required to reproduce the experimental data for branching ratios are $F^{B \to \pi}= 0.31 \pm 0.12$ and $F^{B \to K}= 0.37\pm 0.13$. We calculate the direct CP violating asymmetry parameter, $a_{CP}$, for $B \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \pi$ and $B \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} K$ decays, in the case where $\rho-\omega$ mixing effects are taken into account. Based on these results, we find that the direct CP asymmetry for $B^{-} \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \pi^{-}$, $\bar{B}^{0} \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \pi^{0}$, $B^{-} \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} K^{-}$, and $\bar{B}^{0} \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \bar{K}^{0}$, reaches its maximum when the invariant mass $\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ is in the vicinity of the $\omega$ meson mass. The inclusion of $\rho-\omega$ mixing provides an opportunity to erase, without ambiguity, the phase uncertainty mod$(\pi)$ in the determination of the CKM angles $\alpha$ in case of $b\to u$ and $\gamma$ in case of $b \to s$.Comment: 74 pages, 15 figures, 8 tables. A few misprints corrected, two references adde

Abnormalities in Osteoclastogenesis and Decreased Tumorigenesis in Mice Deficient for Ovarian Cancer G Protein-Coupled Receptor 1

Ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor 1 (OGR1) has been shown to be a proton sensing receptor in vitro. We have shown that OGR1 functions as a tumor metastasis suppressor gene when it is over-expressed in human prostate cancer cells in vivo. To examine the physiological functions of OGR1, we generated conditional OGR1 deficient mice by homologous recombination. OGR1 deficient mice were viable and upon gross-inspection appeared normal. Consistent with in vitro studies showing that OGR1 is involved in osteoclastogenesis, reduced osteoclasts were detected in OGR1 deficient mice. A pH-dependent osteoclasts survival effect was also observed. However, overall abnormality in the bones of these animals was not observed. In addition, melanoma cell tumorigenesis was significantly inhibited in OGR1 deficient mice. OGR1 deficient mice in the mixed background produced significantly less peritoneal macrophages when stimulated with thioglycolate. These macrophages also showed altered extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) activation and nitric oxide (NO) production in response to lipopolysaccharide. OGR1-dependent pH responses assessed by cAMP production and cell survival in macrophages or brown fat cells were not observed, presumably due to the presence of other proton sensing receptors in these cells. Our results indicate that OGR1's role in osteoclastogenesis is not strong enough to affect overall bone development and its role in tumorigenesis warrants further investigation. The mice generated can be potentially used for several disease models, including cancers or osteoclast-related diseases

Observation of B+ -> p pbar pi+, B0 -> p pbar K0, and B+ -> p pbar K*+

We report the first observation of a b -> u type charmless baryonic B decay, B+ -> p pbar pi+, as well as b -> s type B0 -> p pbar K0 and B+ -> p pbar K*+ decays. The analysis is based on a 78fb^{-1} data sample recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEKB. We find BF(B+ -> p pbar pi+) = (3.06^{+0.73}_{-0.62} \pm 0.37)*10^{-6}, BF(B0 -> p pbar K0) =(1.88^{+0.77}_{-0.60} \pm 0.23)*10^{-6}, and BF(B+ -> p pbar K*+) = (10.3^{+3.6 + 1.3}_{-2.8 -1.7})*10^{-6}. We also update BF(B+ -> p pbar K+) = (5.66^{+0.67}_{-0.57} \pm 0.62)* 10^{-6}, and present an upper limit on BF(B0 -> p pbar K*0) at the 90% confidence level. A common feature of the observed decay modes is threshold peaking in baryon pair invariant mass.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure file

Search for the Lepton-Flavor-Violating Decay τ−→μ−η\tau^- \to \mu^- \eta at Belle

We have searched for the Lepton Flavor Violating decay $\tau^- \to \mu^- \eta$ using a data sample of 84.3 fb$^{-1}$ accumulated with the Belle detector at KEK. The $\eta$-meson was detected through the decay modes: $\eta \to \gamma\gamma$ and $\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$. No signal candidates are found, and we obtain an upper limit for the branching fraction ${\cal B}(\tau^- \to \mu^- \eta)<3.4\times 10^{-7}$ at the 90% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to Phys.Rev.Let

Japanese Female Professional Soccer Players’ Views on Second Career Development

The purpose of this study was to analyze professional, Japanese, female soccer athletes’ views on second career development and perceived support from the Women’s Empowerment Professional Football League, Japan. This study was underpinned by occupational socialization theory and utilized a qualitative, collective case study design through demographic questionnaires, in-depth face-to-face semistructured interviews, and reflexive thematic analysis. Participants were six current professional soccer players of one professional team of the Women’s Empowerment League. Three themes were generated from the data: (a) avoiding washout effects in second career opportunities, (b) the importance of dual-career pathway opportunities, and (c) professional development and second career training. These findings reflected how participants’ first career as a professional athlete became ingrained within their identity and shaped future desires and preparations for second careers. They also reflect the difficulty participants experienced balancing a professional athletic career with part-time office work for financial stability as well as planning for a second career linked to soccer. Players expressed a need for second career preparation to be facilitated by their clubs and the Women’s Empowerment League, and we provide implications and recommendations to support this work

Measurement of K^+K^- production in two-photon collisions in the resonant-mass region

K^+K^- production in two-photon collisions has been studied using a large data sample of 67 fb^{-1} accumulated with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e^+e^- collider. We have measured the cross section for the process gamma gamma -> K^+ K^- for center-of-mass energies between 1.4 and 2.4 GeV, and found three new resonant structures in the energy region between 1.6 and 2.4 GeV. The angular differential cross sections have also been measured.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Euro. Phys. Jour.