Pendulum Leptogenesis

We propose a new non-thermal Leptogenesis mechanism that takes place during the reheating epoch, and utilizes the Ratchet mechanism. The interplay between the oscillation of the inflaton during reheating and a scalar lepton leads to a dynamical system that emulates the well-known forced pendulum. This is found to produce driven motion in the phase of the scalar lepton which leads to the generation of a non-zero lepton number density that is later redistributed to baryon number via sphaleron processes. This model successfully reproduces the observed baryon asymmetry, while simultaneously providing an origin for neutrino masses via the seesaw mechanism.Comment: 14 pages, no figures; minor revision to match PL

金沢市における用水保全施策の特徴と用水の地域的役割

本稿の作成には，平成29～31年度科学研究費補助金基盤研究（Ｃ）「市街地内農業用水の適正な利用と維持管理に関するガバナンスの構築（代表者：山下亜紀郎，課題番号：17K03236）」の一部である

Electroencephalogram Analysis Regarding Visual Information Processing in a Grapheme-color Synesthete

In order to explore characteristics of visual information processing in grapheme-color synesthesia, we examined behavior (response correctness and reaction time) and temporal activities of EEG during the performance of two kinds of "embedded shape tasks" in one synesthete and 16 nonsynesthetic subjects. We used three black capital letters, including one letter which a synesthetic subject perceived in color. The target grapheme was made of a letter which a synesthetic subject perceived in color (TASK1), and one that was not perceived in color (TASK2). There was a significant difference in reaction time between the two tasks. Measuring the difference in amplitude of EEG activity at P4 between the two tasks, biphasic activity change was observed. At 232.5 ms in the late phase, the bilateral occipital and parietal lobes, and the left frontal lobe were activated. These results suggest that biphasic activity change is related to different visual information processing in synesthesia; the early phase is related to directing attention to a shape with color, while the late phase to the recognition of a shape with color. It is also suggested that activated areas of the brain in the late phase function separately in causing grapheme-color synesthesia

Introduction to the Financial System and Securities & Exchange System Reform Act in Japan

This translation of an original Japanese language work, by Hiroshi Naka and Akio Nakamura, both of the Japanese Ministry of Finance, details the reforms of Japan\u27s financial and securities & exchange system made under the recently enacted System Reform Act. The major reforms under the Act include: (1) altering the Glass Steagall rule (the separation of securities business and banking business) in Japan so that banks and securities companies can engage in each other\u27s business through their subsidiaries; (2) extending securities regulations to some new types of structured finance; (3) amending public offering provisions and providing new articles for private placement; and (4) amending and adding provisions to secure the soundness of banking operations, including capital requirements, and safeguards against harmful side effects (firewalls) which may arise from a bank\u27s moving into securities business. This English language translation, along with the translators\u27 detailed notes, provide an insightful look into these reforms

A novel phosphorylation-independent interaction between SMG6 and UPF1 is essential for human NMD

Eukaryotic mRNAs with premature translation-termination codons (PTCs) are recognized and eliminated by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). NMD substrates can be degraded by different routes that all require phosphorylated UPF1 (P-UPF1) as a starting point. The endonuclease SMG6, which cleaves mRNA near the PTC, is one of the three known NMD factors thought to be recruited to nonsense mRNAs via an interaction with P-UPF1, leading to eventual mRNA degradation. By artificial tethering of SMG6 and mutants thereof to a reporter mRNA combined with knockdowns of various NMD factors, we demonstrate that besides its endonucleolytic activity, SMG6 also requires UPF1 and SMG1 to reduce reporter mRNA levels. Using in vivo and in vitro approaches, we further document that SMG6 and the unique stalk region of the UPF1 helicase domain, along with a contribution from the SQ domain, form a novel interaction and we also show that this region of the UPF1 helicase domain is critical for SMG6 function and NMD. Our results show that this interaction is required for NMD and for the capability of tethered SMG6 to degrade its bound RNA, suggesting that it contributes to the intricate regulation of UPF1 and SMG6 enzymatic activitie