Measurement of the Vector and Tensor Asymmetries at Large Missing Momentum in Quasielastic (e[over →],e

We report the measurement of the beam-vector and tensor asymmetries A_{ed}^{V} and A_{d}^{T} in quasielastic (e[over →],e^{'}p) electrodisintegration of the deuteron at the MIT-Bates Linear Accelerator Center up to missing momentum of 500 MeV/c. Data were collected simultaneously over a momentum transfer range 0.1

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.

Precise measurement of deuteron tensor analyzing powers with BLAST.

We report a precision measurement of the deuteron tensor analyzing powers T(20) and T(21) at the MIT-Bates Linear Accelerator Center. Data were collected simultaneously over a momentum transfer range Q=2.15-4.50 fm(-1) with the Bates Large Acceptance Spectrometer Toroid using a highly polarized deuterium internal gas target. The data are in excellent agreement with calculations in a framework of effective field theory. The deuteron charge monopole and quadrupole form factors G(C) and G(Q) were separated with improved precision, and the location of the first node of G(C) was confirmed at Q=4.19±0.05 fm(-1). The new data provide a strong constraint on theoretical models in a momentum transfer range covering the minimum of T(20) and the first node of G(C).

Charge form factor of the neutron at low momentum transfer from the 2H-->(e-->,e'n)1H reaction.

We report new measurements of the neutron charge form factor at low momentum transfer using quasielastic electrodisintegration of the deuteron. Longitudinally polarized electrons at an energy of 850 MeV were scattered from an isotopically pure, highly polarized deuterium gas target. The scattered electrons and coincident neutrons were measured by the Bates Large Acceptance Spectrometer Toroid (BLAST) detector. The neutron form factor ratio GEn/GMn was extracted from the beam-target vector asymmetry AedV at four-momentum transfers Q2=0.14, 0.20, 0.29, and 0.42 (GeV/c)2.

-Measurement of the proton's electric to magnetic form factor ratio from 1H(over -->)(e(over -->),e'p).

We report the first precision measurement of the proton electric to magnetic form factor ratio from spin-dependent elastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from a polarized hydrogen internal gas target. The measurement was performed at the MIT-Bates South Hall Ring over a range of four-momentum transfer squared Q2 from 0.15 to 0.65 (GeV/c)(2). Significantly improved results on the proton electric and magnetic form factors are obtained in combination with existing cross-section data on elastic electron-proton scattering in the same Q2 region.

Changes in pre-mRNA splicing factors during neural differentiation in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells.

Alternative RNA splicing can be regulated in a highly cell- and tissue-specific or developmentally specific manner. In neurons, the functions of many gene products, such as those of trk genes are regulated by alternative splicing. In this paper the mechanism of neural-specific RNA splicing is investigated using trk genes as models. First, we confirm the splicing patterns of trk transcripts during neural differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells. The full-length form of trk B was expressed in the neuronal state. In contrast, both the full-length and truncated forms of trk C were expressed constitutively in all differentiation states. However, two alternatively spliced forms with either 42- or 117-nucleotide insertions in the tyrosine kinase domain were detected only in the neuronal state. Thus, the expression of functional trk B and C was found to be regulated by alternative splicing during neural differentiation. To examine the molecular basis of neural-specific splicing, and how splicing regulation is modulated in different neurons. The expression of a number of general splicing factors was studied. The mRNA levels of the splicing factors ASF/SF2, U2AF SF3a, p54nrb and PTB was found to decrease rapidly during differentiation. In contrast, Nova, an RNA-binding protein was expressed in the neuronal state. We also found that the levels of two SR proteins, members of a family of splicing factors, increased in the neuronal state. These results suggest that the stoichiometric balance among some splicing factors, including SR proteins, may be associated with the alternative splicing of trk transcripts during differentiation.

Diabetic lipemia with maturity-onset diabetes of the young.

A 19-year-old woman with diabetic lipemia and maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is reported. Though her insulin secretory activity was preserved, she fell into mild diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and showed type V hyperlipidemia. Post-heparin plasma activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was decreased even 10 days after initiating insulin injection but not deficient. The abnormalities in lipid metabolism were improved by long-term insulin treatment. Though the contribution of the genetic background to the lipid abnormalities is not clear, the characteristics of MODY in this patient including insulin secretory capacity under stress conditions such as DKA might play a role in the development of diabetic lipemia.

Identification of an interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme-like activity that increases upon treatment of P19 cells with retinoic acid as the proteasome.

We examined changes in proteinase activities in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells during retinoic acid-induced differentiation. The interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE)-like Ac-YVAD-MCA hydrolytic activity was increased about 6-fold by treatment with retinoic acid. This activity was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and Ac-YVAD-H but not by E-64, EDTA, PMSF, or amastatin. The ICE-like activity in P19 cells eluted as a single peak just after the void volume on gel filtration. No ICE-like activity was observed at a molecular mass of 30-50 kDa. Enzymatic purification, Western blot analysis, and an immunoabsorption study demonstrated that the ICE-like activity in P19 cells is caused by the proteasome, and is stimulated during retinoic acid-induced differentiation. The proteasome purified from mouse liver also cleaved Ac-YVAD-MCA. These results strongly suggest that the proteasome is a major ICE-like proteinase in P19 cells and may be involved in the neural differentiation and the apoptotic pathway.

H-2z homozygous New Zealand mice as a model for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: elevated bcl-2 expression in CD5 B cells at premalignant and malignant stages.

In New Zealand mice, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) controls the development of both autoimmune disease and B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). While H-2d/H-2z heterozygosity acts as one major predisposing genetic element for autoimmune disease, H-2z/H-2z homozygosity acts as an element for B-CLL. In the H-2z/H-2z homozygotes, there was an age-dependent increase in frequencies of CD5 B cells in the blood and spleen, and such CD5 B cells showed oligoclonal to monoclonal expansion, giving rise to B-CLL. B-CLL cells from these mice had surface phenotypes typical of CD5 B lineage cells, and expressed high levels of proto-oncogene bcl-2. Elevated bcl-2 expression was also observed in premalignant B cells in the aged mice, thereby suggesting that apoptosis-resistant, long-surviving CD5 B cells with a self-renewal capacity form the basis of malignant transformation. This model not only provides clues for analyzing multiple steps of genetic alterations involved in the generation of B-CLL, but also sheds light on the correlation between B-CLL and autoimmune disease.

The effects of walking at the anaerobic threshold level on vertebral bone loss in postmenopausal women.

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal intensity of exercise necessary to prevent the postmenopausal bone loss on the basis of anaerobic threshold (AT). Thirty-three postmenopausal women were randomized to control (group C: n = 12) or two exercise groups (group H and group M). All women performed a treadmill exercise test, and the AT was measured by expired gas analysis. The exercise regimen consisted mainly of walking at a speed that kept the exercise heart rate above the AT (group H: n = 12) or below the AT (group M: n = 9). Exercise was performed for 30 minutes, three times a week for 7 months. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebrae was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The BMD level in group C decreased by 1.7 +/- 2.7%, but there was a significant increase of 1.1 +/- 2.9% in group H. In group M there was a decrease of 1.0 +/- 3.1% which did not differ from group C. In group C, serum osteocalcin and urinary hydroxyproline excretion were significantly increased, but no changes were seen in either of the exercise groups. Urinary calcium significantly decreased in the exercise groups. We conclude that short-term (7 months) exercise with intensity above the AT is safe and effective in preventing postmenopausal bone loss.

Cooperative effect of antisense-Rb and antisense-p53 oligomers on the extension of life span in human diploid fibroblasts, TIG-1.

Normal human diploid fibroblasts, TIG-1, which have a replicative life span of about 62 population doublings (PD), tended to senesce after about 50 PD with a gradual decrease in sensitivity to serum. Treatment of TIG-1 cells with the antisense-Rb oligomer, which completely depleted the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product (RB), extended life span by about 10 PD. Treatment with the antisense-p53 oligomer alone had no effect; however, cotreatment with the antisense-Rb oligomer further potentiated the extension and the increased sensitivity to serum caused by the antisense-Rb oligomer alone, suggesting that p53 and RB function in separate, yet complementary pathways in signal transduction to senescence. The c-fos expression, which is presumed to be regulated negatively by RB, was not stimulated in partially senescent TIG-1 cells by treatment with the antisense-Rb oligomer.

Cytoprotective effect of SU-88, an anti-ulcer agent, in the rat.

The gastric cytoprotective action of SU-88, an anti-ulcer agent, was studied in rats. SU-88 dose-dependently prevented the formation of gastric lesions induced by absolute ethanol as observed by PGE2. The efficacy of SU-88 when given i.p. was more potent than the p.o. administration. Indomethacin (5mg/kg, p.o.) given 30 min prior to SU-88 dosing blocked this protective effect, whereas it was not affected when indomethacin was given 30 min after the SU-88 dosing. Cimetidine, on the other hand, failed to exert a protective effect against the ethanol-induced lesions and caused a significant increase in the lesions induced by 0.6N HCI. Pretreatment with SU-88 prior to cimetidine resulted in a marked reduction in the lesions. SU-88 was found to increase the synthesis of gastric glycoproteins and to prevent the reduction of glycoprotein synthesis caused by the administration of absolute ethanol. However, no increase in the synthesis was observed 5 min after the SU-88 dosing, although the lesion was significantly suppressed at that time. These findings indicate that SU-88 possesses a cytoprotective effect and that this effect seems to be mediated by the increase in endogenous PG.