Characteristics of constrained turbulent transport in flux-driven toroidal plasmas

We study the dynamics of turbulence transport subject to a constraint on the profile formation and relaxation, dominated by the ion temperature gradient modes, within the framework of adiabatic electron response using a flux-driven global gyro-kinetic toroidal code, GKNET. We observe exponentially constrained profiles, with two different scale lengths, that are spatially constant in each region in higher input power regimes. The profiles are smoothly connected in the knee region located at [Formula: see text] of the minor radius, outside which the gradient is steepened and shows a weak confinement improvement. Based on the probability density function analysis of heat flux eddies, the power law demonstrates a dependence on the eddy size S, as [Formula: see text], which distinguishes events into diffusive and non-diffusive parts including the validation of quasi-linear hypotheses. Radially localized avalanches and global bursts, which exhibit different spatial scales, play central roles in giving rise to constrained profiles on an equal footing. It is also found that the [Formula: see text] shear layers are initiated by the global bursts, which evolve downward on a slow time scale across the knee region and play a role in adjusting the profile by increasing the gradient. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'H-mode transition and pedestal studies in fusion plasmas'.

Search for the Majorana Nature of Neutrinos in the Inverted Mass Ordering Region with KamLAND-Zen

The KamLAND-Zen experiment has provided stringent constraints on the neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay half-life in ^{136}Xe using a xenon-loaded liquid scintillator. We report an improved search using an upgraded detector with almost double the amount of xenon and an ultralow radioactivity container, corresponding to an exposure of 970 kg yr of ^{136}Xe. These new data provide valuable insight into backgrounds, especially from cosmic muon spallation of xenon, and have required the use of novel background rejection techniques. We obtain a lower limit for the 0νββ decay half-life of T_{1/2}^{0ν}>2.3×10^{26}  yr at 90% C.L., corresponding to upper limits on the effective Majorana neutrino mass of 36-156 meV using commonly adopted nuclear matrix element calculations.

Potential curing and beneficial effects of Ooitabi (Ficus pumila L.) on hypertension and dyslipidaemia in Okinawa

BACKGROUND

Over 30% of the population of Okinawa Prefecture have a high body mass index. The incidence of hypertension and dyslipidaemia has also increased in recent years. We found that Ooitabi (Ficus pumila L.), a plant native to Okinawa, was useful for hypertension. During ancient times, the extracts of Ooitabi leaves were used for making Ishimaki tea in some areas of Okinawa Prefecture. The plants in Okinawa are rich in antioxidants, and four flavonoid glycosides, including rutin, have been identified in Ooitabi.

METHODS

In the present study, we conducted clinical verification tests on the effects of drinking Ishimaki tea on outpatients with hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Of 3814 Japanese patients who underwent medical check-ups in Okinawa, 38 individuals with high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, liver dysfunction and gout visited our hospital as outpatients and were asked to drink Ishimaki tea.

RESULTS

After 3 months, there were significant reductions in body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, γ-glutamyltrans peptidase, uric acid and ratio of blood vessel insulin resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

Ooitabi extract can lower blood pressure and improve lipid abnormalities and has likely contributed to the well-known health and longevity of the population in Okinawa.

Sesame lignans suppress age-related disorders of the kidney in mice

OBJECTIVE

Sesamin is a functional ingredient in sesame (Sesamum indicum) seeds and has many physiological effects. This study investigated whether sesame lignans, sesamin and episesamin (1:1), can suppress age-related disorders of the kidney.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-month-old mice were divided into three groups, and each group received a regular diet (O-C), diet containing sesame lignans (O-SE), and diet containing sesame lignans and α-tocopherol (VE; O-SE+VE), respectively, for 5 months. Six-month-old young mice (Y-C) were compared to the older mice.

RESULTS

Renal lipofuscin deposition was increased in the O-C group compared to that in the Y-C group and its deposition with aging was significantly decreased in both O-SE and O-SE+VE groups. Plasma blood urea nitrogen levels in the O-C group increased compared to those in the Y-C group; however, those in both O-SE and O-SE+VE groups did not differ from those in the Y-C group. The number of podocytes in the O-C group decreased compared to that in the Y-C group and this effect was attenuated in the O-SE and O-SE+VE groups. The effect was strongest in the O-SE+VE group. Histological examinations showed that glomerular hypertrophy accompanied by mesangial hyperplasia and renal tubular degeneration was less severe in the O-SE and O-SE+VE groups than in the O-C group. Moreover, age-related increases in the mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase- and inflammation-related genes, including p67phox, p40phox, TNFα, and IL-6, in the kidney were suppressed in the O-SE and O-SE+VE groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Sesame lignans might be useful to suppress age-related kidney disorders, and these effects could be enhanced with VE.

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.

Characterization of micron-size hydrogen clusters using Mie scattering

Hydrogen clusters with diameters of a few micrometer range, composed of 10^8-10 hydrogen molecules, have been produced for the first time in an expansion of supercooled, high-pressure hydrogen gas into a vacuum through a conical nozzle connected to a cryogenic pulsed solenoid valve. The size distribution of the clusters has been evaluated by measuring the angular distribution of laser light scattered from the clusters. The data were analyzed based on the Mie scattering theory combined with the Tikhonov regularization method including the instrumental functions, the validity of which was assessed by performing a calibration study using a reference target consisting of standard micro-particles with two different sizes. The size distribution of the clusters was found discrete peaked at 0.33 ± 0.03, 0.65 ± 0.05, 0.81 ± 0.06, 1.40 ± 0.06 and 2.00 ± 0.13 µm in diameter. The highly reproducible and impurity-free nature of the micron-size hydrogen clusters can be a promising target for laser-driven multi-MeV proton sources with the currently available high power lasers.

Bone Degeneration and Its Recovery in SMP30/GNL-Knockout Mice

Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) decreases androgen-independently with aging and is a lactone-hydrolyzing enzyme gluconolactonase (GNL) that is involved in vitamin C biosynthesis. In the present study, bone properties of SMP30/GNL knockout (KO) mice with deficiency in vitamin C synthesis were investigated to reveal the effects of SMP30/GNL and exogenous vitamin C supplementation on bone formation. Mineral content (BMC) and mineral density (BMD) of the mandible and femur of SMP30/GNL KO and wild-type mice at 2 and 3 months of age with or without vitamin C supplementation were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Body and bone weight of both age groups decreased and became significantly lower than those of wild-type mice. The bones of SMP30/GNL KO mice were rough and porous, with BMC and BMD significantly below wild-type. Oral supplementation with vitamin C eliminated differences in body weight, bone weight, BMC, and BMD between SMP30/GNL KO and wild-type mice at each age. These results indicate that bone degeneration in SMP30/GNL KO mice was caused by lack of vitamin C, and that this mouse strain is an appropriate model for bone metabolism in humans, which have no ability to synthesize vitamin C.

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.

Transcription factor genes essential for cell proliferation and replicative lifespan in budding yeast

Many of the lifespan-related genes have been identified in eukaryotes ranging from the yeast to human. However, there is limited information available on the longevity genes that are essential for cell proliferation. Here, we investigated whether the essential genes encoding DNA-binding transcription factors modulated the replicative lifespan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Heterozygous diploid knockout strains for FHL1, RAP1, REB1, and MCM1 genes showed significantly short lifespan. (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis indicated a characteristic metabolic profile in the Δfhl1/FHL1 mutant. These results strongly suggest that FHL1 regulates the transcription of lifespan related metabolic genes. Thus, heterozygous knockout strains could be the potential materials for discovering further novel lifespan genes.

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.

Search for bosonic superweakly interacting massive dark matter particles with the XMASS-I detector

Bosonic superweakly interacting massive particles (super-WIMPs) are a candidate for warm dark matter. With the absorption of such a boson by a xenon atom, these dark matter candidates would deposit an energy equivalent to their rest mass in the detector. This is the first direct detection experiment exploring the vector super-WIMPs in the mass range between 40 and 120 keV. With the use of 165.9 day of data, no significant excess above background was observed in the fiducial mass of 41 kg. The present limit for the vector super-WIMPs excludes the possibility that such particles constitute all of dark matter. The absence of a signal also provides the most stringent direct constraint on the coupling constant of pseudoscalar super-WIMPs to electrons. The unprecedented sensitivity was achieved exploiting the low background at a level 10(-4)  kg-1 keVee-1 day-1 in the detector.

Search for trilepton nucleon decay via p→e+νν and p→μ+νν in the Super-Kamiokande experiment

The trilepton nucleon decay modes p→e+νν and p→μ+νν violate |Δ(B-L)| by two units. Using data from a 273.4 kt yr exposure of Super-Kamiokande a search for these decays yields a fit consistent with no signal. Accordingly, lower limits on the partial lifetimes of τp→e+νν>1.7×10(32) years and τp→μ+νν>2.2×10(32) years at a 90% confidence level are obtained. These limits can constrain Grand Unified Theories which allow for such processes.

First indication of terrestrial matter effects on solar neutrino oscillation

We report an indication that the elastic scattering rate of solar B8 neutrinos with electrons in the Super-Kamiokande detector is larger when the neutrinos pass through Earth during nighttime. We determine the day-night asymmetry, defined as the difference of the average day rate and average night rate divided by the average of those two rates, to be [-3.2 ± 1.1(stat) ± 0.5(syst)]%, which deviates from zero by 2.7 σ. Since the elastic scattering process is mostly sensitive to electron-flavored solar neutrinos, a nonzero day-night asymmetry implies that the flavor oscillations of solar neutrinos are affected by the presence of matter within the neutrinos' flight path. Super-Kamiokande's day-night asymmetry is consistent with neutrino oscillations for 4 × 10(-5)  eV(2) ≤ Δm 2(21) ≤ 7 × 10(-5) eV(2) and large mixing values of θ12, at the 68% C.L.

Pleiotropic preventive effects of dietary polyphenols in cardiovascular diseases

Polyphenols are common constituents of the diet, and research on their health benefits has developed quickly over the past few years. Our purpose is to review recent findings highlighting daily dietary polyphenol intake and the diverse function of polyphenols and their possible relationships to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Several cohort studies have reported an inverse relationship between the daily consumption of polyphenols and CVD risk. Many studies showed that beverages could be a large source of polyphenols. Our previous findings provide that Japanese people intake polyphenols mainly from beverages, especially coffee and green tea (in descending order of polyphenol content). Many kinds of polyphenols act as an antioxidant against low-density lipoprotein oxidation, which is known to promote atherosclerosis. Recent accumulating evidence suggests that dietary polyphenols could exert their cardioprotective actions through their potential to improve metabolic disorder and vascular inflammation. These findings raise the possibility that polyphenols have a wide variety of roles in the intestine, liver and vascular tissue. In addition to identifying mechanisms of polyphenol bioactivity by basic research, much more epidemiological and clinical evidence linking reduced cardiovascular risk with dietary polyphenols intake are needed.

Structure-driven nonlinear instability as the origin of the explosive reconnection dynamics in resistive double tearing modes

The onset of abrupt magnetic reconnection events, observed in the nonlinear evolution of double tearing modes (DTM), is investigated via reduced resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations. We have identified the critical threshold for the parameters characterizing the linear DTM stability leading to the bifurcation to the explosive dynamics. A new type of secondary instability is discovered that is excited once the magnetic islands on each rational surface reach a critical structure characterized here by the width and the angle rating their triangularization. This new instability is an island structure-driven nonlinear instability, identified as the trigger of the subsequent nonlinear dynamics which couples flow and flux perturbations. This instability only weakly depends on resistivity.

Generic mechanism of microturbulence suppression by vortex flows

The interaction between two-dimensional vortex flows and microturbulence is studied numerically using gyrofluid simulations. It is shown that, qualitatively different from usual mean flows, vortex flows can dramatically suppress microturbulence even with weak flow shear. A generic suppression mechanism is identified as the multiplied effect of both radial and poloidal mode couplings, which induce the formation of a new global mode. Furthermore, an oscillatory zonal flow is found to form through interaction between the vortex flows and microturbulence.

Precision measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters with KamLAND

The KamLAND experiment has determined a precise value for the neutrino oscillation parameter Deltam21(2) and stringent constraints on theta12. The exposure to nuclear reactor antineutrinos is increased almost fourfold over previous results to 2.44 x 10(32) proton yr due to longer livetime and an enlarged fiducial volume. An undistorted reactor nu[over]e energy spectrum is now rejected at >5sigma. Analysis of the reactor spectrum above the inverse beta decay energy threshold, and including geoneutrinos, gives a best fit at Deltam21(2)=7.58(-0.13)(+0.14)(stat) -0.15+0.15(syst) x 10(-5) eV2 and tan2theta12=0.56(-0.07)+0.10(stat) -0.06+0.10(syst). Local Deltachi2 minima at higher and lower Deltam21(2) are disfavored at >4sigma. Combining with solar neutrino data, we obtain Deltam21(2)=7.59(-0.21)+0.21 x 10(-5) eV2 and tan2theta12=0.47(-0.05)+0.06.

Detecting motion artifact ECG noise during sleeping by means of a tri-axis accelerometer

The electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring has become a helpful tool for detecting a number of heart diseases. High quality ECG is utilized by the physicians for interpretation and identification of physiological and pathological phenomena. ECG recordings, however, are often corrupted by motion artifacts even when patient is sleeping due to his or her positional change. In this paper, we proposed a new method of detecting motion artifact ECG noise during sleeping based on acceleration data. The experimental recordings of ECG and acceleration signal were collected from 8 subjects. The result in this study demonstrated that the proposed approach is effective for detecting corruption of ECG signal.

Intermittent transport associated with the geodesic acoustic mode near the critical gradient regime

Turbulent transport near the critical gradient in toroidal plasmas is studied based on global Landau-fluid simulations and an extended predator-prey theoretical model of ion temperature gradient turbulence. A new type of intermittent transport associated with the emission and propagation of a geodesic acoustic mode (GAM) is found near the critical gradient regime, which is referred to as GAM intermittency. The intermittency is characterized by new time scales of trigger, damping, and recursion due to GAM damping. During the recursion of intermittent bursts, stationary zonal flow increases with a slow time scale due to the accumulation of undamped residues and eventually quenches the turbulence, suggesting that a nonlinear upshift of the critical gradient, i.e., Dimits shift, is established through such a dynamical process.

Functional outcome after sphincter excision for ultralow rectal cancer

This article shows a prospective study investigating bowel function after transanal rectal resection with internal and external sphincterectomy for low rectal cancer. Eight patients underwent standard low anterior resection with colonic J-pouch anal anastomosis (LARJ), and eight patients underwent transanal rectal resection with internal and external sphincter resection (IESR). Manometry, manovolumetry, transit time study, and a questionnaire were performed before and after the operation. Six and 12 months after the operation, maximum resting pressure and squeezing pressure were significantly lower in IESR group than in LARJ group, whereas there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of constant sensation, maximum tolerable volume, or neorectal compliance. Although the functional score of the IESR group remained low at 6 months after the operation in comparison with the LARJ group, it improved at 12 months after the operation. Transanal rectal resection with internal and external sphincterectomy showed usefulness in preserving bowel function and avoiding permanent colostomy.

Phospholipid methylation in skeletal muscle membranes

Phospholipid methylation is thought to modulate such vital cellular processes as calcium transport, receptor function, and membrane microviscosity. As these processes are fundamental to the function of muscle cells and are thought to be altered in disease states, we have characterized several features of phospholipid methylation reactions in skeletal muscle and have defined appropriate assay conditions. In rat leg muscle, methyltransferase activity was assayed radiometrically by measuring the incorporation of methyl groups from S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H]methionine into membrane phospholipids, the methylated derivatives of which were separated by thin-layer chromatography. Contrary to previous investigations of whole muscle, phospholipid methyltransferase activity was clearly present in skeletal muscle membranes, being highly localized in sarcoplasmic reticulum and present to a lesser extent in sarcolemma. Both the reaction products and the reaction kinetics were consistent with sequential methylation of phospholipids by two methyltransferase enzymes. S-adenosylhomocysteine and its analogues were potent inhibitors of phospholipid methylation in sarcoplasmic reticulum. The predominant localization of phospholipid methyltransferase activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum suggests that its functional role in skeletal muscle may be in calcium transport.

Search for the invisible decay of neutrons with KamLAND

The Kamioka Liquid scintillator Anti-Neutrino Detector is used in a search for single neutron or two-neutron intranuclear disappearance that would produce holes in the -shell energy level of (12)C nuclei. Such holes could be created as a result of nucleon decay into invisible modes (inv), e.g., n--> 3v or nn--> 2v. The deexcitation of the corresponding daughter nucleus results in a sequence of space and time-correlated events observable in the liquid scintillator detector. We report on new limits for one- and two-neutron disappearance: tau(n--> inv) > 5.8 x 10(29) years and tau (nn--> inv) > 1.4 x 10(30) years at 90% C.L. These results represent an improvement of factors of approximately 3 and >10(4) and over previous experiments.

Phase separation in A-site-ordered perovskite manganite LaBaMn2O6 probed by 139La and 55Mn NMR

139La- and 55Mn-NMR spectra demonstrate that the ground state of the A-site-ordered perovskite manganite LaBaMn2O6 is a spatial mixture of the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic regions, which are assigned to the metallic and the insulating charge ordered state, respectively. This exotic coexisting state appears below 200 K via a first-order-like formation of the antiferromagnetic charge ordered state inside the ferromagnetic metal one. The Mn spin-spin relaxation rate indicates that the ferromagnetic region coexisting with the antiferromagnetic one in LaBaMn2O6 is identical to the bulk ferromagnetic metal phase of the disordered form La0.5Ba0.5MnO3 in spite of the absence of A-site disorder. This suggests a mesoscopic rather than nanoscopic nature of the ferromagnetic region in LaBaMn2O6.