CP violations in predictive neutrino mass structures

We study the CP-violation effects from two types of neutrino mass matrices with (i) \((M_\nu )_{ee}=0\), and (ii) \((M_\nu )_{ee}=(M_\nu )_{e\mu }=0\), which can be realized by the high-dimensional lepton number violating operators \(\bar{\ell }_R^c\gamma ^\mu L_L (D_\mu \Phi )\Phi ^2\) and \(\bar{\ell }_R^c l_R (D_\mu {\Phi })^2\Phi ^2\), respectively. In (i), the neutrino mass spectrum is in the normal ordering with the lightest neutrino mass within the range \(0.002\,\mathrm{eV}\lesssim m_0\lesssim 0.007\,\mathrm{eV}\). Furthermore, for a given value of \(m_0\), there are two solutions for the two Majorana phases \(\alpha _{21}\) and \(\alpha _{31}\), whereas the Dirac phase \(\delta \) is arbitrary. For (ii), the parameters of \(m_0\), \(\delta \), \(\alpha _{21}\), and \(\alpha _{31}\) can be completely determined. We calculate the CP-violating asymmetries in neutrino–antineutrino oscillations for both mass textures of (i) and (ii), which are closely related to the CP-violating Majorana phases.     

Nephrotoxicity assessments of benzo(a)pyrene during zebrafish embryogenesis

Benzo(a)pyrene is a chemical produced during the process of making fried, roasted, and smoked foods. It remains unclear whether benzo(a)pyrene affects the early development of human organs. In this study, we used the transgenic zebrafish line Tg(wt1b:GFP) as a model to assess benzo(a)pyrene-induced kidney malformation. By soaking zebrafish embryos in benzo(a)pyrene at various doses (2, 20, and 200 ppb), only a minor effect on the survival rate was detected (0 ppb: 97.8 ± 1.9 %; 2–200 ppb: 89.1 ± 5.8–91.5 ± 8.3 %). However, benzo(a)pyrene significantly affected the development of the kidney (malformation rates ranges from 50.0 ± 3.5 to 77.4 ± 5.3 %). Various abnormalities, such as unusual curving of pronephric tubes, swollen glomerulus, and incomplete development of pronephric ducts, were observed. This study provides a rapid and effective protocol for the evaluation of the notable effects of benzo(a)pyrene on embryonic kidney development.     

AQP4 Attenuated TRAF6/NFκB Activation in Acrylamide-Induced Neurotoxicity

Acrylamide (ACR) is present in high-temperature-processed high-carbohydrate foods, cigarette smoke, and industrial pollution. Chronic exposure to ACR may induce neurotoxicity from reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, the mechanisms underlying ACR-induced neurotoxicity remain unclear. We studied 28-day subacute ACR toxicity by repeatedly feeding ACR (0, 15, or 30 mg/kg) to rats. We conducted RNA sequencing and Western blot analyses to identify differences in mRNA expression in the blood and in protein expression in the brain tissues, respectively, of the rats. AQP4 transient transfection was performed to identify potential associations with protein regulation. The rats treated with 30 mg/kg ACR exhibited hind-limb muscle weakness. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9) expression was higher in the ACR-treated group than in the control group. ACR induced MMP-9 and AQP4 protein expression in the brain tissues of the rats, which subsequently presented with neurotoxicity. In the in vitro study, Neuro-2a cells were transiently transfected with AQP4, which inhibited MMP-9 and TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) expression, and inhibited ACR induced expression of TRAF6, IκBα, and nuclear factor κB (NFκB). Using a combination of in vivo and in vitro experiments, this study revealed that depressive symptoms associated with ACR-induced neurotoxicity are associated with downregulation of AQP4 and induction of the TRAF6 pathway.     

A bidirectional hybrid DWDM-PON employing optical injection locking technique and data comparators

A bidirectional hybrid dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM)-passive optical network (PON) employing optical injection locking technique on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and data comparator, as well as optical injection locking technique on distributed feedback laser diodes (DFB LDs) and amplitude/phase compensator is proposed and demonstrated. Improved performances of bit error rate (BER) and carrier-to-noise ratio/composite second order/composite triple beat (CNR/CSO/CTB) were observed in our proposed bidirectional hybrid DWDM-PON. Bidirectional transmission in bidirectional hybrid DWDM-PON architecture is a very attractive option, the capacity of the optical network can be expanded relatively easily by bidirectional transmission technology.     

Current and strain-induced spin polarization in InGaN/GaN superlattices

The lateral current-induced spin polarization in InGaN/GaN superlattices (SLs) without an applied magnetic field is reported. The fact that the sign of the nonequilibrium spin changes as the current reverses and is opposite for the two edges provides a clear signature for the spin Hall effect. In addition, it is discovered that the spin Hall effect can be strongly manipulated by the internal strains. A theoretical work has also been developed to understand the observed strain-induced spin polarization. Our result paves an alternative way for the generation of spin polarized current.     

Selective spreading and jetting of electrically driven dielectric films

We study the electrically driven spreading of dielectric liquid films in wedge-shaped gaps across which a potential difference is applied. Our experiments are in a little-studied regime where, throughout the dynamics, the electrical relaxation time is long compared to the time for charge to be convected by the fluid motion. We observe that at a critical normal electric field the hump-shaped leading edge undergoes an instability in the form of a single Taylor cone and periodic jetting ensues, after which traveling waves occur along the trailing thin film. We propose a convection-dominated mechanism for charge transport to describe the observed dynamics and rationalize the viscosity dependence of the self-excited dynamics.     

Asymptotic theorems for estimating the distribution function under random truncation

Representation theorem and local asymptotic minimax theorem are derived for nonparametric estimators of the distribution function on the basis of randomly truncated data. The convolution-type representation theorem asserts that the limiting process of any regular estimator of the distribution function is at least as dispersed as the limiting process of the product-limit estimator. The theorems are similar to those results for the complete data case due to Beran (1977, Ann. Statist., 5, 400–404) and for the censored data case due to Wellner (1982, Ann. Statist., 10, 595–602). Both likelihood and functional approaches are considered and the proofs rely on the method of Begun et al. (1983, Ann. Statist., 11, 432–452) with slight modifications.Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Columbia Univ.     

The structure and thermodynamics of binary microclusters: A Monte Carlo simulation

The Monte Carlo computer simulation technique of classical statistical mechanics is employed to determine the structure and thermodynamics of binary microclusters of Lennard-Jones atoms as a function of cluster size, composition and temperature. Further, amorphous microclusters are prepared by a Monte Carlo quench, and their structural properties are examined. The properties of interest include the internal energy, instantaneous “snapshot” pictures of the microcluster's atomic configuration, and the single-particle and pair distribution functions. The Lennard-Jones potential parameters are chosen to model Ar₁₃, Ar₇Kr₆, Ar₃₆Kr₁₉ and Ar₁₉Kr₃₆, as well as to crudely model the bimetallic clusters of Cu₁₉Ni₃₆, Cu₁₉Ru₃₆ and Cu₁₉Os₃₆. A large variety of interesting features associated with these systems are described.     

Transmission Characteristics of 90° Bent Photonic Crystal Waveguides

There are several key factors that affect the transmission characteristics of the 90° (L-shaped) bent photonic crystal waveguides. The first factor is the direct coupling efficiency from the incident lights into the waveguides. The second one is the bandgap deviations of the photonic crystals. And the third factor is the optical reflections in the bent corners. In this article, we compare three types of L-shaped bent photonic crystal waveguides. One is the original type, which has an abrupt right-angle bend. Another is an improved 90° bend with a 45°-mirror. The other is an L-shaped bent photonic crystal waveguide with a 45°-transitional section. We investigate their respective frequency responses and observe the improvements in the total transmission efficiencies provided by the latter types.