CP violation in t → W + b decays in two-Higgs doublet model

Due to the large mass of top quark, CP violation in the top-quark decay is sensitive to the interactions mediated by Higgs bosons. We consider CP violation in t → W ⁺ b decay by calculating consistently in unitary gauge the CP-violating up-down asymmetry of the leptons from W boson decays in t → W ⁺ b, defined by Grz?dkowski and Gunion, in the two-Higgs doublet model with CP-violating neutral sector. The asymmetry is shown to be at most of the order of (1–4) × 10^-4 for tan β = 1.0, where tan β is the ratio of vacuum expectation values for the two neutral Higgs bosons.     

The Fixed Point of a Generalization of the Renormalization Group Maps for Self-Avoiding Paths on Gaskets

Let W(x,y) = ax ³+ bx ⁴+ f ₅ x ⁵+ f ₆ x ⁶+ (3 ax ²)² y+ g ₅ x ⁵ y + h ₃ x ³ y ² + h ₄ x ⁴ y ² + n ₃ x ³ y ³+a ₂₄ x ² y ⁴+a ₀₅ y ⁵+a ₁₅ xy ⁵+a ₀₆ y ⁶, and X = , , where the coefficients are non-negative constants, with a > 0, such that X ²(x,x ²)−Y(x,x ²) is a polynomial of x with non-negative coefficients. Examples of the 2 dimensional map Φ: (x,y)↦ (X(x,y),Y(x,y)) satisfying the conditions are the renormalization group (RG) maps (modulo change of variables) for the restricted self-avoiding paths on the 3 and 4 dimensional pre-gaskets. We prove that there exists a unique fixed point (x _f ,y _f ) of Φ in the invariant set . 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification Numbers: 82B28; 60G99; 81T17; 82C41.     

A New Low-Reynolds-Number One-Equation Model of Turbulence

In this study, we propose a new Low-Reynolds-Number (LRN)one-equation model, which is derived from an LRN two-equation(k-ε) model. The derivation of the transport equation, in principle, is based on the assumption that the turbulent structure parameter remains constant. However, the relation for the turbulent structure parameter a ₁(=|− |/k) is modified to account for near-wall turbulence. As a result, the present one-equation model contains a term which takes the near-wall limiting behavior explicitly into account. Thus, the present model provides the correct wall-limiting behavior of turbulence in the vicinity of the wall and can be applied to the analysis of heat transfer. The validity of the present model is tested in channel flows, boundary layer flows with and without pressure gradient, plane wall jet, and flow with separation and reattachment. The calculated results showed good agreement with the direct numerical simulation (DNS) and experimental data. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Glycyl-alanyl-histidine protects PC12 cells against hydrogen peroxide toxicity

Background

Peptides with cytoprotective functions, including antioxidants and anti-infectives, could be useful therapeutics. Carnosine, β-alanine-histidine, is a dipeptide with anti-oxidant properties. Tripeptides of Ala-His-Lys, Pro-His-His, or Tyr-His-Tyr are also of interest in this respect.

Results

We synthesized several histidine-containing peptides including glycine or alanine, and tested their cytoprotective effects on hydrogen peroxide toxicity for PC12 cells. Of all these peptides (Gly-His-His, Ala-His-His, Ala-His-Ala, Ala-Ala-His, Ala-Gly-His, Gly-Ala-His (GAH), Ala-His-Gly, His-Ala-Gly, His-His-His, Gly-His-Ala, and Gly-Gly-His), GAH was found to have the strongest cytoprotective activity. GAH decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, apoptosis, morphological changes, and nuclear membrane permeability changes against hydrogen peroxide toxicity in PC12 cells. The cytoprotective activity of GAH was superior to that of carnosine against hydrogen peroxide toxicity in PC12 cells. GAH also protected PC12 cells against damage caused by actinomycin D and staurosporine. Additionally, it was found that GAH also protected SH-SY5Y and Jurkat cells from damage caused by hydrogen peroxide, as assessed by LDH leakage.

Conclusion

Thus, a novel tripeptide, GAH, has been identified as having broad cytoprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell damage.

     

Confinement in carbon nanospace-induced production of KI nanocrystals of high-pressure phase

An outstanding compression function for materials preparation exhibited by nanospaces of single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) was studied using the B1-to-B2 solid phase transition of KI crystals at 1.9 GPa. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction examinations provided evidence that KI nanocrystals doped in the nanotube spaces of SWCNHs at pressures below 0.1 MPa had the super-high-pressure B2 phase structure, which is induced at pressures above 1.9 GPa in bulk KI crystals. This finding of the supercompression function of the carbon nanotubular spaces can lead to the development of a new compression-free route to precious materials whose syntheses require the application of high pressure.     

Unique inclusion properties of crystalline powder p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene toward alcohols and carboxylic acids

Powdery crystals of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene (2) selectively include EtOH from 1:1 mixtures of MeOH-EtOH and EtOH-PrOH, and EtCO(2)H from HCO(2)H-EtCO(2)H. On the other hand, no acid is included from HCO(2)H-MeCO(2)H, even though MeCO(2)H is included from the neat acid. The origins of these phenomena are discussed based on X-ray analysis of inclusion crystals prepared separately by crystallization.     

Cooperative catalytic reactions using organocatalysts and transition metal catalysts: enantioselective propargylic alkylation of propargylic esters with aldehydes

The enantioselective propargylic alkylation of propargylic esters with aldehydes in the presence of a copper complex and an optically active secondary amine as cocatalysts has been found to give the corresponding propargylic alkylated products in good yields as a mixture of two diastereoisomers with a high enantioselectivity.     

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective propargylic amination of nonaromatic propargylic esters with amines

The enantioselective propargylic amination of propargylic pentafluorobenzoates bearing an alkyl group at the propargylic position with amines in the presence of catalytic amounts of a copper complex and an optically active diphosphine such as BINAP has been found to give the corresponding propargylic amines in good yields with high enantioselectivity.     

Preparative purification of gentamicin components using high-speed counter-current chromatography coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry

We developed a useful and preparative method based on high-speed counter-current chromatography with mass spectrometry (HSCCC/MS) to purify gentamicin C1a, C2/2a and C1 from standard powder. The analytes were purified on the HSCCC model CCC-1000 (multi-layer coil planet centrifuge) with a volatile two-phase solvent system composed of n-butanol/10% aqueous ammonia solution (50:50, v/v) and detected on an LCMS-2020EV quadrupole mass spectrometer fitted with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source system in positive ionization following scan mode (m/z 100-500). The HSCCC/ESI-MS peaks indicated that gentamicin C1a (m/z 450: [M+H](+)), C2/2a (m/z 464: [M+H](+)) and C1 (m/z 478: [M+H](+)) have the peak resolution values of 1.3 and 1.7 from 30 mg of loaded gentamicin powder. The HSCCC yielded 3.9 mg of gentamicin C1a, 12.6 mg of gentamicin C2/2a and 12.0 mg of gentamicin C1. These purified substances were analyzed by LC/MS with scan positive-mode. Based on the LC/MS chromatograms and spectra of the fractions, analytes were estimated to be over 95% pure. These gentamicin isomers of C1a, C2/2a and C1 were evaluated for their antibacterial activities. The overall results indicate that this approach of HSCCC/MS is a powerful technique for the purification of gentamicin components.