Evidence of the purely leptonic decay B- --> tau- nu(tau)

We present the first evidence of the decay B- --> tau- nu(tau), using 414 fb(-1) of data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider. Events are tagged by fully reconstructing one of the B mesons in hadronic modes. We detect the signal with a significance of 3.5 standard deviations including systematics and measure the branching fraction to be B(B- --> tau- nu(tau)) = (1.79(-0.49) +0.56(stat)(-0.51) +0.46(syst)) x 10(-4). This implies that fB = 0.229(-0.031) +0.036(stat)(-0.037) +0.034(syst) GeV and is the first direct measurement of this quantity.

Study of decay mechanisms in B--->Lambdac+ppi- decays and observation of low-mass structure in the Lambdac+p system

Using a sample of 152 x 10(6) BB pairs accumulated with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider, we study the decay mechanism of three-body charmed decay B- --> Lambdac+ ppi-. The intermediate two-body decay B--->Sigmac (2455)0 p is observed for the first time with a branching fraction of (3.7 +/- 0.7 +/- 0.4 +/- 1.0) x 10(-5) and a statistical significance of 8.4sigma. We also observe a low-mass enhancement in the (Lambdac+p) system, which can be parametrized as a Breit-Wigner function with a mass of (3.35(-0.02)(+0.01) +/-0.02) GeV/c2 and a width of (0.07(-0.03)(+0.04) +/-0.04) GeV/c2. We measure its branching fraction to be (3.9(-0.7)(+0.8) +/- 0.4 +/- 1.0) x 10(-5) with a statistical significance of 6.2sigma. The errors are statistical, systematic, and that of the Lambdac+-->pK- pi+ decay branching fraction.

Measurement of the quark mixing parameter cos2phi1 using time-dependent Dalitz analysis of B0 -->D[KS(0)pi + pi-]h0

We present a measurement of the angle phi1 of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa unitarity triangle using a time-dependent Dalitz analysis of D-->KS(0)pi + pi- decays produced in neutral B meson decay to a neutral D meson and a light meson (B0-->D*h0). The method allows a direct extraction of 2phi1 and, therefore, helps to resolve the ambiguity between 2phi1 and pi-2phi1 in the measurement of sin2phi1. We obtain sin2phi1= 0.78 +/- 0.44 +/- 0.22 and cos2varphi1 = 1.87(-0.53-0.32)(+0.40 + 0.22). The sign of cos2phi1 is determined to be positive at 98.3% C.L.

Measurement of forward-backward asymmetry and Wilson coefficients in B --> K*l+l-

We report the first measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry and the ratios of Wilson coefficients and in A9/A7 and A10/A7 in B --> K*l+l-, where l represents an electron or a muon. We find evidence for the forward-backward asymmetry with a significance of 3.4sigma. The results are obtained from a data sample containing 386 x 10(6) BB pairs that were collected on the Y(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider.

Observation of b-->dgamma and determination of /Vtd/Vts/

We report the observation of the flavor-changing neutral current process b-->dgamma using a sample of 386 x 106 B meson pairs accumulated by the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider. We measure branching fractions for the exclusive modes B--->rho-gamma, B0rho0gamma, and B0omegagamma. Assuming that these three modes are related by isospin, we find B(B-->(rho,gamma)gamma)=[Formula: See Text] with a significance of 5.1sigma. This result is used to determine the ratio of Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements /Vtd/Vts/ to be [Formula: See Text].

Measurement of the branching fraction, polarization, and asymmetry for decays, and determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase

We have measured the branching fraction , longitudinal polarization fraction f(L), and CP asymmetry coefficients A and S for B(0) --> rho(+) rho(-) decays with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+) e(-) collider using 253 Fb(-1) of data. We obtain B = [22.8 +/- 3.8(stat)(+2.3)(-2.6)(syst)] x 10(-6), f(L) = 0.941 (+0.034)(-0.040)(stat) +/- 0.030(syst). A = 0.00 +/- 0.30(stat) +/- 0.09(syst) and S = 0.08 +/- 0.09(syst). These values are used to constrain the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase ; the solution consistent with the standard model is phi(2) = (88 +/- 17) degrees or 59 degrees < phi(2) < 115 degrees at 90% C.L.

Targeted Disruption of Gb3/CD77 Synthase Gene Resulted in the Complete Deletion of Globo-series Glycosphingolipids and Loss of Sensitivity to Verotoxins

To examine whether globotriaosylceramide (Gb3/CD77) is a receptor for verotoxins (VTs) in vivo, sensitivity of Gb3/CD77 synthase null mutant mice to VT-2 and VT-1 was analyzed. Although wild-type mice died after administration of 0.02 microg of VT-2 or 1.0 microg of VT-1, the mutant mice showed no reaction to doses as much as 100 times that administered to wild types. Expression analysis of Gb3/CD77 in mouse tissues with antibody revealed that low, but definite, levels of Gb3/CD77 were expressed in the microvascular endothelial cells of the brain cortex and pia mater and in renal tubular capillaries. Corresponding to the Gb3/CD77 expression, tissue damage with edema, congestion, and cytopathic changes was observed, indicating that Gb3/CD77 (and its derivatives) exclusively function as a receptor for VTs in vivo. The lethal kinetics were similar regardless of lipopolysaccharide elimination in VT preparation, suggesting that basal Gb3/CD77 levels are sufficient for lethal effects of VTs.

Determination of /Vub/ from measurements of the inclusive charmless semileptonic partial rates of B mesons using full reconstruction tags

We present a measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element /Vub/, based on 253 fb(-1) of data collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB e+ e- asymmetric collider. Events are tagged by fully reconstructing one of the B mesons, produced in pairs from Gamma(4S). The signal for b --> u semileptonic decay is distinguished from the b --> c background using the hadronic mass Mx, the leptonic invariant mass squared q2 and the variable P+ [triple bond] Ex - /px/. The results are obtained for events with p(l)* > or = 1 GeV/c, in three kinematic regions (1) Mx < 1.7 GeV/c2, (2) Mx < 1.7 GeV/c2 combined with q2 > 8 GeV2/c2, and by (3) P+ < 0.66 GeV/c. The matrix element /Vub/ is found to be (4.09 +/- 0.19 +/- 0.20(+0.14) -0.15 +/- 0.18) x 10(-3), where the errors are statistical, systematic including Monte Carlo modeling, theoretical, and from shape function parameter determination, respectively.

Measurements of B decays to two kaons

We report measurements of B meson decays to two kaons using 253 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e+ e- collider. We find evidence for signals in B+ --> K0 K+ and B0 --> K0 K0 with significances of 3.0sigma and 3.5sigma, respectively. (Charge-conjugate modes are included.) The corresponding branching fractions are measured to be [symbol: see text](B+ --> K0 K+) = (1.0 +/- 0.4 +/- 0.1) x 10(-6) and [symbol: see text](B0 --> K0 K0) = (0.8 +/- 0.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(-6). These decay modes are examples of hadronic bd transitions. No signal is observed in the decay B0 --> K+ K-, and we set an upper limit of 3.7 x 10(-7) at 90% confidence level.

Measurements of the branching fraction and polarization in B+ --> rho+ K*0 decays

We present the results of a study of the charmless vector-vector decay B+ --> rho+ K*0, based on 253 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider. We obtain the branching fraction B(B+ --> rho+ K*0) = [8.9 +/- 1.7(stat) +/- 1.2(syst)] x 10(-6). We also perform a helicity analysis of the rho and K* vector mesons, and obtain the longitudinal polarization fraction f(L)(B+ --> rho+ K*0) = 0.43 +/- 0.11(stat)(-0.02)(+0.05) (syst).

Sensory nerve-dominant nerve degeneration and remodeling in the mutant mice lacking complex gangliosides

Gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingo-lipids, are enriched in the mammalian nervous system. Since mutant mice with disrupted beta1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferase (GM2/GD2 synthase) were generated, there have been several studies on the pathology of the mutant mice, i.e. mild functional disorders and Wallerian degeneration in the peripheral nervous system. To further analyze the chronological alteration in the mutant mice, we examined the peripheral and CNS mainly with morphological approaches, such as electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Accordingly with the sensory dysfunction, neural degeneration, glial proliferation and synaptic remodeling in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord were found in adult mice. Thick astrocytic processes with densely packed glial filaments were extended among the neuropils and around blood vessels. Morphological changes in the synaptic vesicles and modes of synaptic contacts with central terminals were detected, suggesting synaptic remodeling following the degeneration. These results suggest that complex gangliosides are essential in the maintenance of integrity in architecture and function of the nervous system, lack of which results in neural degeneration in a sensory nerve-dominant manner.

Improved evidence for direct CP violation in B0-->pi+pi- decays and model-independent constraints on phi2

We present a new measurement of the time-dependent CP-violating parameters in B(0)--> pi(+)pi(-) decays with 275 x 10(6) BB pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider operating at the Gamma(4S) resonance. We find 666 +/- 43 B(0) --> pi(+)pi(-) events and measure the CP-violating parameters: S(pipi) = -0.67 +/- 0.16(stat) +/- 0.06(syst) and A(pipi) = +0.56 +/- 0.12(stat) +/- 0.06(syst). We find evidence for large direct CP violation with a significance greater than 4 standard deviations for any S(pipi) value. Using isospin relations, we obtain 95.4% confidence intervals for the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark-mixing matrix angle phi(2) of 0 degree < phiv(2) < 19 degrees and 71 degrees < phi(2) < 180 degrees.

Studies of CP violation in B-->J/PsiK* decays

CP violation in B-->J/PsiK* decays is studied using an angular analysis in a data sample of 253 fb(-1) recorded with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider. The flavor separated measurements of the decay amplitudes indicate no evidence for direct CP violation. T-odd CP violation is studied using the asymmetries in triple product correlations, and the results are consistent with the standard model null predictions. The time-dependent angular analysis gives the following values of CP-violating parameters: sin(2phi(1) = 0.24 +/- 0.31 +/- 0.05 and cos(2phi(1)=0.56 +/- 0.79 +/- 0.11.

Measurement of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in B0 --> K(s)0K(s)0K(s)0 decay

We present a measurement of CP-violation parameters in the B0 --> K(s)0K(s)0K(s)0 decay based on a sample of 275 x 10(6) BB pairs collected at the upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e+e- collider. One neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in the decay B0 --> K(s)0K(s)0K(s)0, and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. CP-violation parameters are obtained from the asymmetry in the distributions of the proper-time interval between the two B decays: S = +1.26 +/- 0.68(stat) +/- 0.20(syst) and [symbol: see text] = +0.54 +/- 0.34(stat) +/- 0.09(syst).

Observation of B+ --> plambdagamma

We report the first observation of the radiative hyperonic B decay B+ --> plambdagamma, using a 140 fb(-1) data sample recorded on upsilom(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy e+e- collider. The measured branching fraction is [symbol: see text](B+ --> plambdagamma) = (2.16(+0.58)(-0.53) +/- 0.20) x 10(-6). We examine its M(plambda) distribution and observe a peak near threshold. This feature is expected by the short-distance b --> sgamma transition. A search for B+ --> pepsilon0gamma yields no significant signal, and we set a 90% confidence-level upper limit on the branching fraction of [symbol: see textB+ --> pepsilon0gamma <4.6 x 10(-6).

Evidence for B0 --> D+ D- and observation of B- --> D0D- and B- -->D0D*- decays

We report evidence for B(0) --> D(0)D(-) and the first observation of the decay modes B(-) --> D(0)D(-) and B(-) --> D(0)D(*-) based on a sample of 152 x 10(6) BB events collected by the Belle detector at KEKB. The branching fractions for B(0) --> D(+) D(-), B--->D(0)D(-), and B--> D(0)D(*-) are found to be (1.91 +/- 0.51 +/- 0.30) x10(-4), (4.83 +/- 0.78 +/- 0.58) x 10(-4), and (4.57 +/- 0.71 +/- 0.56) x 10(-4), respectively. Charge asymmetries in the B---> D(0)D(-) and B(-) --> D(0)D(*-) channels are consistent with zero.

Measurement of the time-dependent CP-violating asymmetry in B(0)-->K(0)(S)pi(0)gamma decays

We present a new measurement of CP-violation parameters in B(0)-->K(0)(S)pi(0)gamma decay based on a sample of 275 x 10(6) BB pairs collected at the Gamma(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. One of the B mesons is fully reconstructed in the B(0)-->K(0)(S)pi(0)gamma decay. The flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. CP-violation parameters are obtained from the asymmetry in the distribution of the proper time intervals between the two B decays. We obtain SK(0)(S)(pi(0)gamma) = -0.58(+0.46)(-0.38)(stat) +/- 0.11(syst) and AK(0)(S)(pi(0)gamma) = +0.03 +/- 0.34(stat) +/- 0.11(syst), for the K(0)(S)pi(0) invariant mass covering the full range up to 1.8 GeV/c2. We also measure the CP-violation parameters for the case B(0)-->K(*0)(-->K(0)(S)pi(0))gamma and obtain S(K(*0)gamma) = -0.79(+0.63)(-0.50)(stat) +/- 0.10(syst) for A(K(*0)gamma) fixed at 0.

Measurement of polarization and triple-product correlations in B-->phiK* decays

We present measurements of decay amplitudes and triple-product correlations in B-->phiK* decays based on 253 fb(-1) of data recorded at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) storage ring. The decay amplitudes for the three different helicity states are determined from the angular distributions of final-state particles. The longitudinal polarization amplitudes are found to be 0.45 +/- 0.05 +/- 0.02 for B0-->phiK(*0) and 0.52 +/- 0.08 +/- 0.03 for B+ -->phiK(*+) decays. CP- and T-odd CP-violating triple-product asymmetries are measured to be consistent with zero.

Observation of the D1(2420)-->Dpi + pi- decays

We report on the first observation of D0/1(2420)-->D0pi- pi+ and D+/1(2420-->D+ pi- pi+ decays (where the contribution from the dominant known D1-->D*pi decay mode is excluded) in the B- -->D0/1pi-) and (-)B0-->D+/1pi- decays, respectively. The observation is based on 15.2 x 10(7) B(-)B events collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB collider. We also set 90% confidence level upper limits for the branching fractions of the four following decays: B- -->D0/1pi-, D01-->D(*0)pi- pi+, (-)B0-->D+/1pi-, D+/1-->D(*+) pi- pi+, B- -->D(*0)2(2460)pi-, D(*0)2 -->D(*0) pi- pi+, (-)B0-->D(*+)2(2460)pi-, D(*+)2-->D(*+)pi- pi+.

Observation of a near-threshold omegaJ/psi mass enhancement in exclusive B-->KomegaJ/psi decays

We report the observation of a near-threshold enhancement in the omegaJ/psi invariant mass distribution for exclusive B-->KomegaJ/psi decays. The results are obtained from a 253 fb(-1) data sample that contains 275 x 10(6) BB pairs that were collected near the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy e(+)e(-) collider. The statistical significance of the omegaJ/psi mass enhancement is estimated to be greater than 8sigma.

Observation of B0-->pi0pi0

We report the observation of the decay B0-->pi(0)pi(0), using a 253 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider. The measured branching fraction is B(B0-->pi(0)pi(0))=(2.3(+0.4+0.2)(-0.5-0.3))x10(-6), with a significance of 5.8 standard deviations including systematic uncertainties. We also make a measurement of the direct CP violating asymmetry in this mode.

Observation of an isotriplet of excited charmed baryons decaying to lambda+c pi

We report the observation of an isotriplet of excited charmed baryons, decaying into Lambda(+)(c)pi(-), Lambda(+)(c)pi(0), and Lambda(+)(c)pi(+). We measure the mass differences M(Lambda(+)(c)pi)-M(Lambda(+)(c)) and widths to be 515.4(+3.2+2.1)(-3.1-6.0) MeV/c(2), 61(+18+22)(-13-13) MeV for the neutral state; 505.4(+5.8+12.4)(-4.6-2.0) MeV/c(2), 62(+37+52)(-23-38) MeV for the charged state; and 514.5(+3.4+2.8)(-3.1-4.9) MeV/c(2), 75(+18+12)(-13-11) MeV for the doubly charged state, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. These results are obtained from a 281 fb(-1) data sample collected with the Belle detector near the Upsilon(4S) resonance, at the KEKB asymmetric energy e(+)e(-) collider.

Study of B0-->rho+/- pi-/+ time-dependent CP violation at Belle

We present a time-dependent analysis of CP violation in B0-->rho(+/-)pi(-/+) decays based on a 140 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEKB. We obtain the charge asymmetry A(rhopi)(CP)=-0.16+/-0.10(stat)+/-0.02(syst). An unbinned maximum-likelihood fit to the Deltat distributions yields C(rhopi)=0.25+/-0.17(stat)+0.02-0.06(syst), DeltaC(rhopi)=0.38+/-0.18(stat)+0.02-0.04(syst), S(rhopi)=-0.28+/-0.23(stat)+0.10-0.08(syst), and DeltaS(rhopi)=-0.30+/-0.24(stat)+/-0.09(syst). The direct CP violation parameters for B-->rho(+)pi(-) and B-->rho(-)pi(+) decays are A(+-)(rhopi)=-0.02+/-0.16(stat)+0.05-0.02(syst) and A(-+)(rhopi)=-0.53+/-0.29(stat)+0.09-0.04(syst).

Observation of B+-->K1(1270)+gamma

We report the observation of the radiative decay B+-->K1(1270)(+) gamma using a data sample of 140 fb(-1) taken at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider. We find the branching fraction to be B(B+-->K1(1270)(+)gamma)=(4.3+/-0.9(stat.)+/-0.9(syst.))x10(-5) with a significance of 7.3sigma. We find no significant signal for B+-->K1(1400)(+)gamma and set an upper limit B(B+-->K1(1400)(+)gamma)<1.5 x 10(-5) at the 90% confidence level. We also measure inclusive branching fractions for B+-->K+pi+pi-gamma and B0-->K0pi+pi-gamma in the mass range 1 GeV/c(2)<M(K+(0)pi+pi-)<2 GeV/c(2).

Study of the suppressed decays B- -->[K+pi-](D)K- and B- -->[K+pi-]Dpi-

We report a study of the suppressed decays B--->[K(+)pi(-)](D)K- and B--->[K(+)pi(-)](D)pi(-), where [K(+)pi(-)](D) indicates that the K+pi(-) pair originates from a neutral D meson. These decay modes are sensitive to the unitarity triangle angle varphi(3). We use a data sample containing 275 x 10(6) BB pairs recorded at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e(+)e(-) storage ring. The signal for B--->[K(+)pi(-)](D)K- is not statistically significant, and we set a limit r(B)<0.27 at 90% confidence level, where r(B) is the magnitude of the ratio of amplitudes |A(B--->D 0K-)/A(B--->D0K-)|. We observe a signal with 6.4sigma statistical significance in the related mode, B--->[K(+)pi(-)](D)pi(-).

Measurement of neutrino oscillation with KamLAND: evidence of spectral distortion

We present results of a study of neutrino oscillation based on a 766 ton/year exposure of KamLAND to reactor antineutrinos. We observe 258 nu (e) candidate events with energies above 3.4 MeV compared to 365.2+/-23.7 events expected in the absence of neutrino oscillation. Accounting for 17.8+/-7.3 expected background events, the statistical significance for reactor nu (e) disappearance is 99.998%. The observed energy spectrum disagrees with the expected spectral shape in the absence of neutrino oscillation at 99.6% significance and prefers the distortion expected from nu (e) oscillation effects. A two-neutrino oscillation analysis of the KamLAND data gives Deltam(2)=7.9(+0.6)(-0.5)x10(-5) eV(2). A global analysis of data from KamLAND and solar-neutrino experiments yields Deltam(2)=7.9(+0.6)(-0.5)x10(-5) eV(2) and tan((2)theta=0.40(+0.10)(-0.07), the most precise determination to date.

Search for D0-D0 mixing in D0 --> K+ pi(-) decays and measurement of the doubly-Cabibbo-suppressed decay rate

We have searched for mixing in the D(0)-D (0) system by measuring the decay-time distribution of D(0) --> K(+) pi(-) decays. The analysis uses 90 fb(-1) of data collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+) e(-) collider. We fit the decay-time distribution for the mixing parameters x' and y' and also for the parameter R(D), which is the ratio of the rate for the doubly-Cabibbo-suppressed decay D(0)--> K+ pi(-) to that for the Cabibbo-favored decay D(0)--> K-pi(+). We do these fits both assuming CP conservation and allowing for CP violation. We use a frequentist method to obtain a 95% C.L. region in the x'(2) - y' plane. Assuming no mixing, we measure R(D) = (0.381 +/- 0.017(+0.008)(-0.016))%.

Observation of B0-->D*sJ(2317)+K- decay

The decays B0-->D+sJK- and B0-->D-sJpi+ are studied for the first time. A significant signal is observed in the B0-->D*sJ(2317)+K- decay channel with B(B0-->D*sJ(2317)+K-) x B(D*sJ(2317)+-->D+spi0)=(5.3(+1.5)(-1.3)+/-0.7+/-1.4) x 10(-5). No signals are observed in the B0-->D*sJ(2317)-pi+, B0-->DsJ(2460)+K-, and B 0-->DsJ(2460)-pi+ decay modes, and upper limits are obtained. The analysis is based on a data set of 140 fb(-1) collected by the Belle experiment at the asymmetric e+e- collider KEKB.

Measurement of the branching fraction and CP asymmetry in B+ --> rho+pi0

We report a measurement of the branching fraction for the decay B+ --> rho(+) pi(0) based on a 140 fb(-1) data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. We measure the branching fraction B(B(+) --> rho(+)pi(0)) = (13.2 +/- 2.3(stat)(+1.4)(-1.9)(syst)) x 10(-6), and the CP-violating asymmetry A(CP)(B-/+ -->rho(-/+)pi(0))=0.06 +/- 0.17(stat)(+0.04)(-0.05)(syst).

Over-expression of GM1 enhances cell proliferation with epidermal growth factor without affecting the receptor localization in the microdomain in PC12 cells

Sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, gangliosides, are expressed at high levels in the nerve tissues and various tumor cells. Although a number of studies on the roles of gangliosides in the regulation of cell proliferation have been performed, the mechanisms for the regulation are not well understood. We established PC12 transfectant cells over-expressing GM1 using cloned beta1,3-galactosyltransferase (EC: 2.4.1.62) cDNA, and analyzed their growth and growth signals with epidermal growth factor (EGF). Over-expression of GM1 enhanced the cell proliferation with EGF under low serum culture conditions. The phosphorylation levels of EGF receptor and downstream MAP kinases after EGF stimulation were sustained even after 60 min in the transfectant cells. In contrast with Swiss3T3 cells, in which we previously reported growth suppression with GM1 over-expression due to a dramatic change in the intracellular localization of PDGF receptor, PC12 transfectant cells with beta1,3-galactosyltransferase cDNA showed no clear changes in the intracellular localization of EGF receptor in the microdomain/raft fractionation experiments compared with the vector control cells. These results suggested that the effects of GM1 expression on the nature of microdomains and growth signals depend on the cell types and receptors analyzed.

Study of time-dependent CP violation in B0-->J/psipi0 decays

We report a measurement of CP asymmetry parameters in the decay B0(B (0))-->J/psipi(0), which is governed by the b-->cc d transition. The analysis is based on a 140 fb(-1) data sample accumulated at the Upsilon(4S) resonance by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson in the J/psipi(0) final state is fully reconstructed for events used in this analysis. The accompanying B meson flavor is identified by its decay products. From the distribution of proper-time intervals between the two B decays, we obtain the following CP-violating parameters: S(J/psipi(0))=-0.72+/-0.42(stat)+/-0.09(syst) and A(J/psipi(0))=-0.01+/-0.29(stat)+/-0.03(syst).

Observation of B+-->LambdaLambdaK+

We report the first observation of the charmless hyperonic B decay, B+-->LambdaLambdaK+, using a 140 fb(-1) data sample recorded at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB (e+)(e-) collider. The measured branching fraction is B(B+-->LambdaLambdaK+) = (2.91(+0.90)(-0.70) +/- 0.38) x 10(-6). We also perform a search for the related decay mode B+-->LambdaLambdapi+, but do not find a significant signal. We set a 90% confidence-level upper limit of B(B+-->LambdaLambdapi+) < 2.8 x 10(-6).

Search for CP violation in the decay B0-->D*+/-D-/+

We report a search for CP-violating asymmetry in B0-->D(*+/-)D-/+ decays. The analysis employs two methods of B0 reconstruction: full and partial. In the full reconstruction method all daughter particles of the B0 are required to be detected; the partial reconstruction technique requires a fully reconstructed D- and only a slow pion from the D(*+)-->D0pi(+)(slow) decay. From a fit to the distribution of the time interval corresponding to the distance between two B meson decay points we calculate the CP-violating parameters and find the significance of nonzero CP asymmetry to be 2.7 standard deviations.

Evidence for direct CP violation in B0-->K+pi- decays

We report evidence for direct CP violation in the decay B0-->K+pi(-) with 253 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider. Using 275x10(6) BB pairs we observe a B-->K+/-pi(-/+) signal with 2140+/-53 events. The measured CP violating asymmetry is A(CP)(K+pi(-))=-0.101+/-0.025(stat)+/-0.005(syst), corresponding to a significance of 3.9sigma including systematics. We also search for CP violation in the decays B+-->K+pi(0) and B+-->pi(+)pi(0). The measured CP violating asymmetries are A(CP)(K+pi(0))=0.04+/-0.05(stat)+/-0.02(syst) and A(CP)(pi(+)pi(0))=-0.02+/-0.10(stat)+/-0.01(syst), corresponding to the intervals -0.05<A(CP)(K+pi(0))<0.13 and -0.18<A(CP)(pi(+)pi(0))<0.14 at 90% confidence level.

Evidence for B0-->rho0pi0

We present the first evidence of the decay B0-->rho(0)pi(0), using 140 fb(-1) of data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. We detect 15.1+/-4.8 signal events with a significance of 3.5 standard deviations and measure the branching fraction to be B(B0-->rho(0)pi(0))=(5.1+/-1.6(stat)+/-0.9(syst))x10(-6).

Evidence for B+-->omegal+nu

We have searched for the decay B+-->omegal(+)nu (l=e or mu) in 78 fb(-1) of Upsilon(4S) data (85x10(6)BB events) accumulated with the Belle detector. The final state is fully reconstructed using the omega decay into pi(+)pi(-)pi(0), combined with detector hermeticity to estimate the neutrino momentum. A signal of 414+/-125 events is found in the data, corresponding to a branching fraction of (1.3+/-0.4+/-0.2+/-0.3)x10(-4), where the first two errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. The third error reflects the estimated form-factor uncertainty.

Inclusive measurement of the photon energy spectrum in b --> sgamma decays

We report a fully inclusive measurement of the flavor changing neutral current decay b --> sgamma in the energy range 1.8 GeV < or = E*gamma < or = 2.8 GeV, covering 95% of the total spectrum. Using 140 fb(-1), we obtain B(b --> sgamma) = (3.55+/-0.32(+0.30+0.11)(-0.31-0.07)) x 10(-4), where the errors are statistical, systematic, and from theory corrections. We also measure the first and second moments of the photon energy spectrum above 1.8 GeV and obtain (Egamma) = 2.292+/-0.026+/-0.034 GeV and (E2gamma) - (Egamma)2 = 0.0305+/-0.0074+/-0.0063 GeV2, where the errors are statistical and systematic.

Glycosphingolipids in engineered mice: insights into function

Recent success in the cloning of glycosyl-transferase genes involved in the synthesis of GSLs has enabled us to modulate the expression profiles of GSLs in cultured cells and experimental animals, and allowed novel approaches to obtain clear elucidation of individual enzyme products by observing the resulting phenotypic changes in the mutant animals and transfected cells. In this review, recent progress in the study of glycosyltransferases involved in the synthesis and modification of GSLs has been summarized with special emphasis on their function.

Observation of B+-->psi(3770)K+

We report the first observation of the decay B+-->psi(3770)K+ where the psi(3770) is reconstructed in the D0(-)D(0) and D+D- decay channels. The obtained branching fraction is B(B+-->psi(3770)K+)=(0.48+/-0.11+/-0.07)x10(-3). We have measured the branching fraction for the decay B+-->D0(-)D0K+ to be (1.17+/-0.21+/-0.15)x10(-3) and set a 90% confidence level upper limit of 0.90 x 10(-3) for the decay B+-->D+D-K+. We also present the results of a search for possible decays to D(-)D and D0(-)D(0)pi(0) of the recently observed X(3872) particle. The analysis is based on 88 fb(-1) of data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider.

Measurement of the CP asymmetry in B-->Xs gamma

Direct CP violation in the b-->sgamma process is a sensitive probe of physics beyond the standard model. We report a measurement of the CP asymmetry in B-->X(s)gamma, where the hadronic recoil system X(s) is reconstructed using a pseudoreconstruction technique. In this approach there is negligible contamination from b-->dgamma decays, which are expected to have a much larger CP asymmetry. We find A(CP)=0.002+/-0.050(stat)+/-0.030(syst) for B-->X(s)gamma events having recoil mass smaller than 2.1 GeV/c(2). The analysis is based on a data sample of 140 fb(-1) recorded at the upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) storage ring.

Study of CP violating effects in time dependent B0(B0)-->D(*)-/+pi+/- decays

We report measurements of time dependent decay rates for B0(B(0))-->D((*)-/+)pi(+/-) decays and extraction of CP violation parameters containing phi(3). Using fully reconstructed D((*))pi events from a 140 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance, we obtain the CP violation parameters for D(*)pi and Dpi decays, 2R(D((*))pi)sin((2phi(1)+phi(3)+/-delta(D((*))pi)), where R(D((*))pi) is the ratio of the magnitudes of the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed and Cabibbo-favored amplitudes, and delta(D((*))pi) is the strong phase difference between them. Under the assumption of delta(D((*))pi) being close to either 0 degrees or 180 degrees, we obtain |2R(D(*)pi)sin((2phi(1)+phi(3))|=0.060+/-0.040(stat)+/-0.019(syst) and |2R(Dpi)sin((2phi(1)+phi(3))|=0.061+/-0.037(stat)+/-0.018(syst).

Observation of large CP violation and evidence for direct CP violation in B0-->pi(+)pi(-) decays

We report the first observation of CP violation in B0-->pi(+)pi(-) decays based on 152x10(6) gamma (4S)-->BB decays collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. We reconstruct a B0-->pi(+)pi(-) CP eigenstate and identify the flavor of the accompanying B meson from its decay products. From the distribution of the time intervals between the two B meson decay points, we obtain A(pipi)=+0.58+/-0.15(stat)+/-0.07(syst) and S(pipi)=-1.00+/-0.21(stat)+/-0.07(syst). We rule out the CP-conserving case, A(pipi)=S(pipi)=0, at a level of 5.2 standard deviations. We also find evidence for direct CP violation with a significance at or greater than 3.2 standard deviations for any S(pipi) value.

Measurement of /V(ub)/ using inclusive B-->X(u)lnu decays with a novel X(u)-reconstruction method

We report the measurement of an inclusive partial branching fraction for charmless semileptonic B decay and the extraction of /V(ub)/. Candidates for B-->X(u)lnu are identified with a novel X(u) reconstruction method based on neutrino reconstruction via missing 4-momentum and a technique called "simulated annealing." Based on 86.9 fb(-1) of data taken with the Belle detector, we obtain DeltaB(B-->X(u)lnu;M(X)<1.7 GeV/c2,q2>8.0 GeV2/c2)=[7.37+/-0.89(stat)+/-1.12(syst)+/-0.55(b-->c)+/-0.24(b-->u)]x10(-4) and determine |V(ub)|=[4.66+/-0.28(stat)+/-0.35(syst)+/-0.17(b-->c)+/-0.08(b-->u)+/-0.58(theory)]x10(-3).

Observation of the radiative decay D0-->phigamma

We report the observation of the decay D0-->phigamma with a statistical significance of 5.4sigma in 78.1 fb(-1) of data collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB e+e- collider. This is the first observation of a flavor-changing radiative decay of a charmed meson. The Cabibbo- and color-suppressed decays D0-->phipi(0), phieta are also observed for the first time. We measure branching fractions B(D0-->phigamma)=[2.60(+0.70)(-0.61)(stat)+0.15-0.17(syst)] x 10(-5), B(D0-->phipi(0))=[8.01+/-0.26(stat)+/-0.47(syst)] x 10(-4), and B(D0-->phieta)=[1.48+/-0.47(stat)+/-0.09(syst)] x 10(-4).

High sensitivity search for nu;e's from the sun and other sources at KamLAND

Data corresponding to a KamLAND detector exposure of 0.28 kton yr has been used to search for nu;(e)'s in the energy range 8.3<E(nu;(e))<14.8 MeV. No candidates were found for an expected background of 1.1+/-0.4 events. This result can be used to obtain a limit on nu;(e) fluxes of any origin. Assuming that all nu;(e) flux has its origin in the Sun and has the characteristic 8B solar nu(e) energy spectrum, we obtain an upper limit of 3.7 x 10(2) cm(-2) s(-1) (90% C.L.) on the nu;(e) flux. We interpret this limit, corresponding to 2.8 x 10(-4) of the standard solar model 8B nu(e) flux, in the framework of spin-flavor precession and neutrino decay models.