Signals for scalar top quark atep collider HERA

In the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) and theR-parity breaking model (RBM), we investigate production processes of the scalar top (stop) at HERA energies. These models are characterized by the possible existence of the light stop whose mass is lighter than those of the top quark and the other squarks. It is shown that in the MSSM the stop pair production via boson-gluon fusion gives a sizeable cross section and the most serious background $ep \to ec\bar cX$ could be suppressed by appropriate kinematical cuts. We also show that in the RBM the stop is singly produced in the neutral current processes and we have a clear signal as a sharp peak in the Bjorken parameterx distribution of the scattered electron.     

Identification of Shiga toxins in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli using immunoprecipitation and high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

We developed a rapid and reliable identification method for Shiga toxins in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) using immunoprecipitation and high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). Polyclonal antisera specific for Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1) and Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) were raised in rabbits so as to be used for the immunoprecipitation. The immunoprecipitaion was carried out by mixing sample solutions with 50 microl each of the antisera to Stx1 and Stx2 followed by allowing the mixed solutions to stand for 30 min. The quantity required to obtain the immunoprecipitate was more than 0.5 microg of Shiga toxins. HPLC-ESI-MS analysis of the resulting immunoprecipitates provided accurate molecular weight information on Shiga toxins, leading to direct evidence for the presence of these toxins. It requires at most two days to perform our procedure from toxin extraction to measurement of HPLC-ESI-MS whereas the previous method using isolation procedures required about two weeks to complete. The usefulness of the present method has been demonstrated by identifying Stx1, Stx2 and a variant of Stx2 (Stx2e) in the immunoprecipitates prepared from STEC strains.