Erratum: Search for Cosmic-Ray Boosted Sub-GeV Dark Matter Using Recoil Protons at Super-Kamiokande [Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 031802 (2023)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.031802.

Measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters from the T2K experiment using 3.6×1021 protons on target

The T2K experiment presents new measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters using 19.7 ( 16.3 ) × 10 20 protons on target (POT) in (anti-)neutrino mode at the far detector (FD). Compared to the previous analysis, an additional 4.7 × 10 20 POT neutrino data was collected at the FD. Significant improvements were made to the analysis methodology, with the near-detector analysis introducing new selections and using more than double the data. Additionally, this is the first T2K oscillation analysis to use NA61/SHINE data on a replica of the T2K target to tune the neutrino flux model, and the neutrino interaction model was improved to include new nuclear effects and calculations. Frequentist and Bayesian analyses are presented, including results on sin 2 θ 13 and the impact of priors on the δ CP measurement. Both analyses prefer the normal mass ordering and upper octant of sin 2 θ 23 with a nearly maximally CP-violating phase. Assuming the normal ordering and using the constraint on sin 2 θ 13 from reactors, sin 2 θ 23 = 0 . 561 - 0.032 + 0.021 using Feldman-Cousins corrected intervals, and Δ m 32 2 = 2 . 494 - 0.058 + 0.041 × 10 - 3 eV 2 using constant Δ χ 2 intervals. The CP-violating phase is constrained to δ CP = - 1 . 97 - 0.70 + 0.97 using Feldman-Cousins corrected intervals, and δ CP = 0 , π is excluded at more than 90% confidence level. A Jarlskog invariant of zero is excluded at more than 2 σ credible level using a flat prior in δ CP , and just below 2 σ using a flat prior in sin δ CP . When the external constraint on sin 2 θ 13 is removed, sin 2 θ 13 = 28 . 0 - 6.5 + 2.8 × 10 - 3 , in agreement with measurements from reactor experiments. These results are consistent with previous T2K analyses.

Search for Cosmic-Ray Boosted Sub-GeV Dark Matter Using Recoil Protons at Super-Kamiokande

We report a search for cosmic-ray boosted dark matter with protons using the 0.37  megaton×years data collected at Super-Kamiokande experiment during the 1996-2018 period (SKI-IV phase). We searched for an excess of proton recoils above the atmospheric neutrino background from the vicinity of the Galactic Center. No such excess is observed, and limits are calculated for two reference models of dark matter with either a constant interaction cross section or through a scalar mediator. This is the first experimental search for boosted dark matter with hadrons using directional information. The results present the most stringent limits on cosmic-ray boosted dark matter and exclude the dark matter-nucleon elastic scattering cross section between 10^{-33}cm^{2} and 10^{-27}cm^{2} for dark matter mass from 1  MeV/c^{2} to 300  MeV/c^{2}.

Beneficial effects of balloon pulmonary angioplasty on clinical outcomes in patients with residual pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy

Background

Although pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is an established surgical treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a part of patients after PEA show residual pulmonary hypertension, leading to limited exercise capacity. Recently, several studies have indicated that balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) improves hemodynamics, exercise capacity and prognosis in inoperable CTEPH patients. However, the effects of BPA in patients with residual pulmonary hypertension after PEA remain to be elucidated.

Aim

In the present study, we investigated comprehensive efficacy of BPA on hemodynamics, exercise capacity and right ventricular function in those with residual pulmonary hypertension after PEA.

Methods

From October 2010 to February 2019, 227 patients with CTEPH underwent PEA in our institution. Right heart catheterization after PEA (median follow up period from PEA to right heart catheterization 39 [10.5, 90] months) showed that 55 patients showed residual PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP)≥25mmHg), and 38 of them referred to BPA (mean age 57 years old, male 8 (21%)) due to residual symptoms. In 29 out of 38 patients (76%) who completed BPA and underwent follow-up right heart catheterization, we examined hemodynamics, exercise capacity and right ventricular function before and after BPA. Follow-up examination was performed 3 months after last BPA session.

Results

In this study population (N=29), PEA significantly improved mPAP (47±7 to 38±10 mmHg), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR, 14.6±4.6 to 9.2±4.6 WU) and right ventricular ejection fraction measured by magnetic resonance imaging (26.6±11.3 to 38.4±6.8%) (Figure). Median period from PEA to first BPA procedure was 42 [13.5, 94] months. Total session number during study period was 160 sessions, and mean session number of BPA was 5.5±1.5 per patient. Follow-up study revealed that BPA additionally improved mPAP (38±10 to 27±8 mmHg) and PVR (9.2±4.6 to 5.1±2.2 WU) (Figure). Similarly, 6-minute walk distance (393±125 to 452±125 m) and peak VO2 (16.4±3.8 to 18.1±4.6 ml/min/kg, p<0.05) were increased, and WHO functional class also significantly improved by BPA (I/II/III/IV, 0/21/8/ 0 to 1/27/1/0, p<0.01). In addition, right ventricular ejection fraction (38.4±6.8 to 44.2±7.1%) was increased after BPA (Figure). There were no procedure-related deaths and major lung injuries requiring oral intubation during study period. 3-year survival in patients after BPA was 100% (median follow-up period after last BPA session, 32 [18, 46] months).

Conclusion

In CTEPH patients with residual pulmonary hypertension after PEA, additional BPA significantly improved hemodynamics, right ventricular function, exercise capacity and residual symptoms without severe complications, leading to good prognosis. These results suggest that combination therapy of PEA and BPA could be an effective therapeutic option for post PEA patients with residual symptoms and exercise limitation.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Search for Electron Antineutrino Appearance in a Long-Baseline Muon Antineutrino Beam

Electron antineutrino appearance is measured by the T2K experiment in an accelerator-produced antineutrino beam, using additional neutrino beam operation to constrain parameters of the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata (PMNS) mixing matrix. T2K observes 15 candidate electron antineutrino events with a background expectation of 9.3 events. Including information from the kinematic distribution of observed events, the hypothesis of no electron antineutrino appearance is disfavored with a significance of 2.40σ and no discrepancy between data and PMNS predictions is found. A complementary analysis that introduces an additional free parameter which allows non-PMNS values of electron neutrino and antineutrino appearance also finds no discrepancy between data and PMNS predictions.

Seasonal variation of serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels in maternal and umbilical cord blood in Japanese women

We aimed to demonstrate that the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level in maternal and umbilical cord blood has a seasonal variation in Japanese women. The study cohort comprised 256 healthy Japanese women with a singleton pregnancy who delivered after 36 gestational weeks between 2012 and 2015. The season at delivery was categorized for 3 months and recorded as "spring", "summer", "autumn" and "winter". Subjects were divided into four groups according to season. A sample of peripheral venous blood at 35-36 gestational weeks and blood from the umbilical vein at delivery were taken. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentra tion (ng/mL) in maternal blood for each season (spring, summer, autumn and winter) was 18.0 (?6.7), 17.1 (?5.1), 21.6 (?8.0) and 16.0 (?5.1), whereas that for umbilical cord blood was 8.8 (?3.6), 8.6 (?2.6), 10.7 (?3.5) and 8.6 (?2.1), respectively. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration of maternal and umbilical cord blood in autumn was higher than that for the other three seasons. In pregnant Japanese women, the mean serum 25(OH)D concentration in maternal and umbilical cord blood was affected by the season of delivery, with both being highest in autumn. Regardless of the season, the maternal serum concentration of 25(OH)D was low in Japan. J. Med. Invest. 66 : 128-133, February, 2019.

P6257Low systolic blood pressure on admission as a predictor of outcome in octogenarian patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

Background

Heart failure (HF) is an epidemic in healthcare worldwide including Asia. It appears that HF will become more serious with aging of the population. The patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) were older, more often female, and frequently have comorbidities including hypertension. However, lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) on admission is associated with poor outcomes in patients with HF. It remains unclear whether this association is similar in very elderly patients with HFpEF.

Purpose

To investigate clinical features and prognosis in octogenarian HFpEF subjects.

Methods

We analyzed 87 consecutive subjects aged 80 years or older who were hospitalized for acute decompensated HF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% between 2015 and 2017. Clinical characteristics and a composite event of cardiac death and HF hospitalization were compared in two groups according to SBP cut-off of 140 mmHg on admission.

Results

The prevalence of lower SBP subjects (mean BP = 118 mmHg) and higher SBP (mean BP = 166 mmHg) subjects were 41.4% and 58.6%, respectively. Lower SBP subjects were more comorbid with atrial fibrillation (72.2 vs. 45.1%, p=0.01). In the lower SBP group, diuretics, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors/ARBs were more commonly used than higher SBP group (Table). During the observational period (median = 1.0 year), lower SBP on admission was associated with a 2.65-fold [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29–5.55, p=0.009] greater likelihood of experiencing the composite events of cardiac death and rehospitalization for HF (Figure). This observation was still consistent even after adjusting clinical demographics and comorbidity [hazard ratio = 2.95, 95% CI: 1.30–6.87, p=0.01].

Table 1 Lower SBP group (n=36) Higher SBP group (n=51) P-value Atrial fibrillation (%) 72.2 0.01 0.01 Loop diuretic (%) 97.1 83.7 0.08 MRA (%) 47.1 24.5 0.04 Beta-blocker (%) 52.9 44.9 0.51 ACE inhibitor/ARB (%) 59.2 29.4 0.01

Figure 1

Conclusions

In octogenarian patients with acute decompensated HF and preserved LVEF, SBP on admission less than 140 mmHg is significantly associated with poor outcomes. Future studies need to prospectively evaluate optimal SBP treatment goals in very elderly patients with HFpEF.

Search for CP Violation in Neutrino and Antineutrino Oscillations by the T2K Experiment with 2.2×10^{21} Protons on Target

The T2K experiment measures muon neutrino disappearance and electron neutrino appearance in accelerator-produced neutrino and antineutrino beams. With an exposure of 14.7(7.6)×10^{20} protons on target in the neutrino (antineutrino) mode, 89 ν_{e} candidates and seven anti-ν_{e} candidates are observed, while 67.5 and 9.0 are expected for δ_{CP}=0 and normal mass ordering. The obtained 2σ confidence interval for the CP-violating phase, δ_{CP}, does not include the CP-conserving cases (δ_{CP}=0, π). The best-fit values of other parameters are sin^{2}θ_{23}=0.526_{-0.036}^{+0.032} and Δm_{32}^{2}=2.463_{-0.070}^{+0.071}×10^{-3}  eV^{2}/c^{4}.

Search for Boosted Dark Matter Interacting with Electrons in Super-Kamiokande

A search for boosted dark matter using 161.9 kt yr of Super-Kamiokande IV data is presented. We search for an excess of elastically scattered electrons above the atmospheric neutrino background, with a visible energy between 100 MeV and 1 TeV, pointing back to the Galactic center or the Sun. No such excess is observed. Limits on boosted dark matter event rates in multiple angular cones around the Galactic center and Sun are calculated. Limits are also calculated for a baseline model of boosted dark matter produced from cold dark matter annihilation or decay. This is the first experimental search for boosted dark matter from the Galactic center or the Sun interacting in a terrestrial detector.

Disruption of the pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal via nitric oxide contributes to postoperative ileus

BACKGROUND

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) serve as intestinal pacemakers. Postoperative ileus (POI) is a gastrointestinal motility disorder that occurs following abdominal surgery, which is caused by inflammation-induced dysfunction of smooth muscles and enteric neurons. However, the participation of ICC in POI is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the functional changes of ICC in a mouse model of POI.

METHODS

Intestinal manipulation (IM) was performed to induce POI. At 24 h or 48 h after IM, the field potential of the intestinal tunica muscularis was investigated. Tissues were also examined by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopic analysis.

KEY RESULTS

Gastrointestinal transit was significantly decreased with intestinal tunica muscularis inflammation at 24 h after IM, which was ameliorated at 48 h after IM. The generation and propagation of pacemaker potentials were disrupted at 24 h after IM and recovered to the control level at 48 h after IM. ICC networks, detected by c-Kit immunoreactivity, were remarkably disrupted at 24 h after IM. Electron microscopic analysis revealed abnormal vacuoles in the ICC cytoplasm. Interestingly, the ICC networks recovered at 48 h after IM. Administration of aminoguanidine, an inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, suppressed the disruption of ICC networks. Ileal smooth muscle tissue cultured in the presence of nitric oxide donor, showed disrupted ICC networks.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES

The generation and propagation of pacemaker potentials by ICC are disrupted via nitric oxide after IM, and this disruption may contribute to POI. When inflammation is ameliorated, ICC can recover their pacemaker function.

Effects of Transplanted Human Cord Blood-Mononuclear Cells on Pulmonary Hypertension in Immunodeficient Mice and Their Distribution

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of human umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cell (hUCB-MNC) transplantation on pulmonary hypertension (PH) induced by monocrotaline (MCT) in immunodeficient mice and their distribution.

METHODS

MCT was administered to BALB/c Slc-nu/nu mice, and PH was induced in mice 4 weeks later. Fresh hUCB-MNCs harvested from a human donor after her delivery were injected intravenously into those PH mice. The medial thickness of pulmonary arterioles, ratio of right ventricular to septum plus left ventricular weight (RV/S+LV), and ratio of acceleration time to ejection time of pulmonary blood flow waveform (AT/ET) were determined 4 weeks after hUCB-MNC transplantation. To reveal the incorporation into the lung, CMTMR-labeled hUCB-MNCs were observed in the lung by fluorescent microscopy. DiR-labeled hUCB-MNCs were detected in the lung and other organs by bioluminescence images.

RESULTS

Medial thickness, RV/S+LV and AT/ET were significantly improved 4 weeks after hUCB-MNC transplantation compared with those in mice without hUCB-MNC transplantation. CMTMR-positive hUCB-MNCs were observed in the lung 3 hours after transplantation. Bioluminescence signals were detected more strongly in the lung than in other organs for 24 hours after transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that hUCB-MNCs are incorporated into the lung early after hUCB-MNC transplantation and improve MCT-induced PH. J. Med. Invest. 64: 43-49, February, 2017.

Prenatal assessment of coronary artery anatomy using color Doppler in cases of D-transposition of the great arteries: Case reports

Abnormal coronary artery (CA) anatomy is common in cases of D-transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and can be a significant risk factor during the arterial switch operation. Here, we report three cases of TGA in which CA anatomy was assessed prenatally using color Doppler imaging. All CA, except the left circumflex CA in one case, were identified. CA anatomy was completely correctly diagnosed in one of our three cases. In the two remaining cases, the left circumflex CA could not be visualized in one patient, and the origin of the left anterior descending CA was not correctly diagnosed in the other. We found that prenatal assessment of CA anatomy using color Doppler in TGA was feasible, but the diagnostic accuracy was limited. We anticipate that more experience with the advancing technology will improve accuracy.

Lip b 1 is a novel allergenic protein isolated from the booklouse, Liposcelis bostrychophila

BACKGROUND

Booklice, belonging to the order Psocoptera, are small household insect pests that are distributed worldwide. Liposcelis bostrychophila, a common home-inhabiting species of booklouse, infests old books, sheets of paper, and stored food. Recent entomological and serological studies demonstrated that L. bostrychophila accounted for the majority of detectable insects in house dust and could be a potent inducer of respiratory allergy. Our recent proteomic analysis identified a potent allergenic protein from L. bostrychophila, designated Lip b 1, and determined its partial amino acid sequences.

METHODS

Cloning of cDNAs for Lip b 1 was performed by large-scale transcriptome analysis (RNA-seq) and subsequent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The full-length amino acid sequences deduced from Lip b 1 cDNAs were bioinformatically analyzed. The recombinant proteins of glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fused Lip b 1 were analyzed by Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Lip b 1 cDNAs encoding two types of 254-amino acid proteins were cloned. The clones shared 87% identity, and the deduced molecular weights and isoelectric points were consistent with those determined in our previous study. The two types of Lip b 1 proteins in the GST-fused form were similarly reactive with sera from allergic patients sensitized with L. bostrychophila.

CONCLUSIONS

Lip b 1 is a novel protein possibly causing booklouse allergy.

Combined Analysis of Neutrino and Antineutrino Oscillations at T2K

T2K reports its first results in the search for CP violation in neutrino oscillations using appearance and disappearance channels for neutrino- and antineutrino-mode beams. The data include all runs from January 2010 to May 2016 and comprise 7.482×10^{20} protons on target in neutrino mode, which yielded in the far detector 32 e-like and 135  μ-like events, and 7.471×10^{20} protons on target in antineutrino mode, which yielded 4 e-like and 66  μ-like events. Reactor measurements of sin^{2}2θ_{13} have been used as an additional constraint. The one-dimensional confidence interval at 90% for the phase δ_{CP} spans the range (-3.13, -0.39) for normal mass ordering. The CP conservation hypothesis (δ_{CP}=0, π) is excluded at 90% C.L.

Pregnancies with factor V deficiency: a case report and review of the literature

CASE REPORT

A 30-year-old Japanese nulliparous woman visited for pregnancy at 33 weeks with a massive ovarian tumor located in the pouch of Douglas. By preoperative screening, her prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were prolonged, and her FV activity was significantly decreased to 4.8%. After prophylactic FFP 20 ml/kg was administered and her FV factor was 19.3%, cesarean delivery was performed, and her perioperative course was uneventful. One year later, she underwent a dilatation and evacuation because of a missed abortion, although prophylactic FFP was not administered. During a third pregnancy, after prophylactic FFP 20 ml/kg was administered and FV activity increased to 21.1%, elective cesarean delivery was performed, and her postoperative course was uneventful.

CONCLUSION

For surgical therapy or delivery, the goal of therapy is to maintain FV activity above 20%. It is particularly useful to administer prophylactic FFP.

Measurement of Coherent π^{+} Production in Low Energy Neutrino-Carbon Scattering

We report the first measurement of the flux-averaged cross section for charged current coherent π^{+} production on carbon for neutrino energies less than 1.5 GeV, and with a restriction on the final state phase space volume in the T2K near detector, ND280. Comparisons are made with predictions from the Rein-Sehgal coherent production model and the model by Alvarez-Ruso et al., the latter representing the first implementation of an instance of the new class of microscopic coherent models in a neutrino interaction Monte Carlo event generator. We observe a clear event excess above background, disagreeing with the null results reported by K2K and SciBooNE in a similar neutrino energy region. The measured flux-averaged cross sections are below those predicted by both the Rein-Sehgal and Alvarez-Ruso et al.

Prospective risk of stillbirth and neonatal complications in twin pregnancies: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the risks of stillbirth and neonatal complications by gestational age in uncomplicated monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases (until December 2015).

REVIEW METHODS

Databases were searched without language restrictions for studies of women with uncomplicated twin pregnancies that reported rates of stillbirth and neonatal outcomes at various gestational ages. Pregnancies with unclear chorionicity, monoamnionicity, and twin to twin transfusion syndrome were excluded. Meta-analyses of observational studies and cohorts nested within randomised studies were undertaken. Prospective risk of stillbirth was computed for each study at a given week of gestation and compared with the risk of neonatal death among deliveries in the same week. Gestational age specific differences in risk were estimated for stillbirths and neonatal deaths in monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies after 34 weeks' gestation.

RESULTS

32 studies (29 685 dichorionic, 5486 monochorionic pregnancies) were included. In dichorionic twin pregnancies beyond 34 weeks (15 studies, 17 830 pregnancies), the prospective weekly risk of stillbirths from expectant management and the risk of neonatal death from delivery were balanced at 37 weeks' gestation (risk difference 1.2/1000, 95% confidence interval -1.3 to 3.6; I(2)=0%). Delay in delivery by a week (to 38 weeks) led to an additional 8.8 perinatal deaths per 1000 pregnancies (95% confidence interval 3.6 to 14.0/1000; I(2)=0%) compared with the previous week. In monochorionic pregnancies beyond 34 weeks (13 studies, 2149 pregnancies), there was a trend towards an increase in stillbirths compared with neonatal deaths after 36 weeks, with an additional 2.5 per 1000 perinatal deaths, which was not significant (-12.4 to 17.4/1000; I(2)=0%). The rates of neonatal morbidity showed a consistent reduction with increasing gestational age in monochorionic and dichorionic pregnancies, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit was the commonest neonatal complication. The actual risk of stillbirth near term might be higher than reported estimates because of the policy of planned delivery in twin pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONS

To minimise perinatal deaths, in uncomplicated dichorionic twin pregnancies delivery should be considered at 37 weeks' gestation; in monochorionic pregnancies delivery should be considered at 36 weeks.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42014007538.

Fast Heating of Imploded Core with Counterbeam Configuration

A tailored-pulse-imploded core with a diameter of 70  μm is flashed by counterirradiating 110 fs, 7 TW laser pulses. Photon emission (>40  eV) from the core exceeds the emission from the imploded core by 6 times, even though the heating pulse energies are only one seventh of the implosion energy. The coupling efficiency from the heating laser to the core using counterirradiation is 14% from the enhancement of photon emission. Neutrons are also produced by counterpropagating fast deuterons accelerated by the photon pressure of the heating pulses. A collisional two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation reveals that the collisionless two counterpropagating fast-electron currents induce mega-Gauss magnetic filaments in the center of the core due to the Weibel instability. The counterpropagating fast-electron currents are absolutely unstable and independent of the core density and resistivity. Fast electrons with energy below a few MeV are trapped by these filaments in the core region, inducing an additional coupling. This might lead to the observed bright photon emissions.

Foams stabilized with solid particles carrying stimuli-responsive polymer hairs

Submicrometer-sized polystyrene (PS) particles carrying stimuli-responsive poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDEA) hairs with degrees of polymerization of 30, 60 and 90 were synthesized by dispersion polymerization and used as a particulate foam stabilizer. The effects of the composition of these PDEA-PS particles and foam formation conditions on foamability, foam stability and foam microstructures were extensively investigated. The hairy particles were found to work as an effective stabilizer of aqueous foams in basic media, in which the PDEA hairs are not protonated and thus the particle surfaces exhibit suitable wettability at the air-water interface. In contrast, little to no foam or unstable foams were formed in acidic aqueous media, in which the hairs are protonated and are therefore water soluble. Particles carrying longer hairs resulted in greater foamability and more highly stabilized foams that were capable of persisting for more than one month. Foams were found to form in a narrower pH range when using PS particles with longer hairs, due to both entropic and image charge effects. Data obtained from the touch mixer mixing method showed that both foamability and foam stability increased with increases in the concentration of polymer particles up to 10 wt%, because higher concentrations allowed greater air-water interfacial areas to be stabilized. Conversely, only minimal foam was obtained at and above 15 wt% because of the high viscosity of the resulting aqueous particle dispersion. Trials using the homogenizer mixing method showed that foam with a cream-like texture could be formed even at 40 wt% particle concentration as a result of the improved mixing efficiency. Defoamation could be induced by exposing the foams to HCl vapor. Exposure to acidic vapor led to in situ protonation of the 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate residues, rendering the PDEA hairs hydrophilic and water soluble, and desorption of the PDEA-PS particles from the air-water interface.

Measurement of Muon Antineutrino Oscillations with an Accelerator-Produced Off-Axis Beam

T2K reports its first measurements of the parameters governing the disappearance of ν[over ¯]_{μ} in an off-axis beam due to flavor change induced by neutrino oscillations. The quasimonochromatic ν[over ¯]_{μ} beam, produced with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV at J-PARC, is observed at the far detector Super-Kamiokande, 295 km away, where the ν[over ¯]_{μ} survival probability is expected to be minimal. Using a data set corresponding to 4.01×10^{20} protons on target, 34 fully contained μ-like events were observed. The best-fit oscillation parameters are sin^{2}(θ[over ¯]_{23})=0.45 and |Δm[over ¯]_{32}^{2}|=2.51×10^{-3}  eV^{2} with 68% confidence intervals of 0.38-0.64 and 2.26-2.80×10^{-3}  eV^{2}, respectively. These results are in agreement with existing antineutrino parameter measurements and also with the ν_{μ} disappearance parameters measured by T2K.

Behaviour in a standardized assay, but not metabolic or growth rate, predicts behavioural variation in an adult aquatic top predator Esox lucius in the wild

This study tested for links among behaviour, state and life-history variables as predicted by the pace-of-life hypothesis in adult pike Esox lucius. First, a standardized open-field behavioural assay was developed to assess individual behaviour of wild-captured adult E. lucius. Behaviour within the standardized assay predicted swimming behaviour in the lake, providing an ecological validation of the assay. There was no relationship between standardized behaviour and any of the life-history and state variables, including metabolism, body condition, juvenile growth rate and adult growth rate in contrast to predictions from the pace-of-life hypothesis. This study demonstrates that it is possible to assess ecologically relevant behavioural variation in a large-bodied top predator using a standard open-field assay, but it is noteworthy that this standardized behaviour is not systematically related to standard metabolism or growth.

Incidences of Feto-Fetal Transfusion Syndrome and Perinatal Outcomes in Triplet Gestations with Monochorionic Placentation

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to determine the incidences of feto-fetal transfusion syndrome (FFTS) and perinatal outcomes in triplet gestations with monochorionic placentation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the incidences of FFTS and perinatal outcomes at 28 days of age in cases of triplet gestations with monochorionic placentation who visited our centers before 16 weeks of gestation and delivered over a period of 11 years.

RESULTS

In 41 triplet gestations (17 monochorionic triamniotic, 22 dichorionic triamniotic, 1 dichorionic diamniotic, and 1 monochorionic monoamniotic), the incidence of FFTS was 17.1%, and the median gestational age at FFTS diagnosis was 19 weeks. In 123 triplets, the incidences of fetal death and neonatal death at 28 days of age were 8.1 and 0.9%, respectively. None of the surviving infants had grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage, while cystic periventricular leukomalacia occurred in 6 of 113 infants (5.3%). The incidence of poor outcomes (death or any major neurological complication at 28 days of age) was 13.8%.

DISCUSSION

Seventeen percent of triplet pregnancies with monochorionic placentation developed FFTS, and 14% had a poor outcome. Therefore, triplet gestations with monochorionic placentation should be followed carefully.

Aqueous foams stabilized by temperature-sensitive hairy polymer particles

Submicrometer-sized polystyrene (PS) particles carrying poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDEA) hairs (PDEA-PS particles) were synthesized by free radical dispersion polymerization. The hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity balance of the PDEA could be tuned by varying the temperature at near neutral pH (a lower critical solution temperature of PDEA at pH 6.86, 41 °C) and therefore these sterically-stabilized particles acted as temperature-sensitive stabilizers for aqueous foams. At 25 °C, where the PDEA hairs were hydrated and PDEA-PS particles were colloidally stable in aqueous media, foams were formed which coalesced with time and the size of the bubble increased. At 40 and 45 °C, where the PDEA hairs were partially non-hydrated and PDEA-PS particles were close to flocculation or weakly flocculated, foams were formed and bubble coalescence and size increase speeds were slower than those observed at 25 °C. At and above 50 °C, where the PDEA hairs were non-hydrated and PDEA-PS particles were heavily flocculated in aqueous media, the more stable cream-like foams whose volume was almost the same for 1 week were formed. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicated that the particles mainly adsorbed at the air-water interface as monolayers at 25 °C and as multilayers at and above 40 °C. The foam stability and structure could be controlled by changing the temperature.

Search for Nucleon and Dinucleon Decays with an Invisible Particle and a Charged Lepton in the Final State at the Super-Kamiokande Experiment

Search results for nucleon decays p→e^{+}X, p→μ^{+}X, n→νγ (where X is an invisible, massless particle) as well as dinucleon decays np→e^{+}ν, np→μ^{+}ν, and np→τ^{+}ν in the Super-Kamiokande experiment are presented. Using single-ring data from an exposure of  273.4  kton·yr, a search for these decays yields a result consistent with no signal. Accordingly, lower limits on the partial lifetimes of τ_{p→e^{+}X}>7.9×10^{32} yr, τ_{p→μ^{+}X}>4.1×10^{32} yr, τ_{n→νγ}>5.5×10^{32} yr, τ_{np→e^{+}ν}>2.6×10^{32}  yr, τ_{np→μ^{+}ν}>2.2×10^{32} yr, and τ_{np→τ^{+}ν}>2.9×10^{31} yr at a 90% confidence level are obtained. Some of these searches are novel.

In utero resolution of microcystic congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation after prenatal betamethasone therapy: A report of three cases and a literature review

Fetal congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) can progress to nonimmune hydrops, and the mortality rate of CCAM with hydrops is reported to be nearly 100%. We describe three microcystic CCAM cases in which the fetal condition improved after maternal betamethasone therapy. The median gestational age at steroid administration was 23 5/7 weeks' gestation. The CCAM decreased in size in all cases. Our series showed a 100% hydrops resolution rate (2/2) and a 100% survival rate (3/3). Our experience suggests the efficacy of betamethasone treatment on fetuses with microcystic CCAM who have fluid collection or are at risk of developing hydrops.

Reassessment of selectivity index in nephrotic syndrome with special reference to the clinical significance of a small-molecular IgG fraction in the urine

The selective index O and the transR IgG have been valuable in clinical use, but they do not appear to always correctly reflect the GBM sieving effect on plasma protein and thus do not correctly predict the response to steroids. We applied a new technique to 22 nephrotic patients with the following results. (a) Fragments of IgG molecules (M-IgG, MW 5-10 X 10(4); S-IgG, MW 1-5 X 10(4)) were present in the urine in addition to normal IgG (L-IgG). These fragments were immunologically identical with the intact IgG molecule and therefore, could falsely portray GMB permeability. (b) The data strongly suggest that the S-IgG fragment found in the nephrotic urine is the IgG-Fc fragment present in increased amounts in such urine. (c) IgG L/S shows a positive correlation with O and transR IgG and can be used as a new and better selectivity index of GBM permeability. This, in turn, may provide a more accurate means of predicting the response to steroid therapy. For example, in the cases we analyzed, the transR IgG and O were incorrect in 31.9% and 22.7%, respectively, whereas with our new method they were incorrect in only 13.6%.

Search for neutrinos from annihilation of captured low-mass dark matter particles in the sun by super-kamiokande

Super-Kamiokande (SK) can search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) by detecting neutrinos produced from WIMP annihilations occurring inside the Sun. In this analysis, we include neutrino events with interaction vertices in the detector in addition to upward-going muons produced in the surrounding rock. Compared to the previous result, which used the upward-going muons only, the signal acceptances for light (few-GeV/c^{2}-200-GeV/c^{2}) WIMPs are significantly increased. We fit 3903 days of SK data to search for the contribution of neutrinos from WIMP annihilation in the Sun. We found no significant excess over expected atmospheric-neutrino background and the result is interpreted in terms of upper limits on WIMP-nucleon elastic scattering cross sections under different assumptions about the annihilation channel. We set the current best limits on the spin-dependent WIMP-proton cross section for WIMP masses below 200  GeV/c^{2} (at 10  GeV/c^{2}, 1.49×10^{-39}  cm^{2} for χχ→bb[over ¯] and 1.31×10^{-40}  cm^{2} for χχ→τ^{+}τ^{-} annihilation channels), also ruling out some fraction of WIMP candidates with spin-independent coupling in the few-GeV/c^{2} mass range.