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Polarbear is a ground-based experiment located in the Atacama desert of northern Chile. The experiment is designed to measure the Cosmic Microwave Background B-mode polarization at several arcminute resolution. The CMB B-mode polarization on degree angular scales is a unique signature of primordial gravitational waves from cosmic inflation and B-mode signal on sub-degree scales is induced by the gravitational lensing from large-scale structure. Science observations began in early 2012 with an array of 1, 274 polarization sensitive antenna-couple Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometers at 150 GHz. We published the first CMB-only measurement of the B-mode polarization on sub-degree scales induced by gravitational lensing in December 2013 followed by the first measurement of the B-mode power spectrum on those scales in March 2014. In this proceedings, we review the physics of CMB B-modes and then describe the Polarbear experiment, observations, and recent results.

We present an overview of the design and development of the POLARBEAR-2 experiment. The POLARBEAR-2 experiment is a cosmic microwave background polarimetry experiment, which aims to characterize the small angular scale B-mode signal due to gravitational lensing and search for the large angular scale B-mode signal from inflationary gravitational waves. The experiment will have a 365 mm diameter multi-chroic focal plane filled with 7,588 polarization sensitive antenna-coupled Transition Edge Sensor bolometers and will observe at 95 and 150 GHz. The focal plane is cooled to 250 mK. The bolometers will be read-out by SQUIDs with $$32\times $$ frequency domain multiplexing. The experiment will utilize high purity alumina lenses and thermal filters to achieve the required high optical throughput. A continuously rotating, cooled half-wave plate will be used to give stringent control over systematic errors. The experiment is designed to achieve a noise equivalent temperature of 5.7 $$\mu $$ K $$\sqrt{s}$$ , and this allows us to constrain the signal from the inflationary primordial gravitational corresponding to a tensor-to-scalar ratio of $$r = 0.01$$ ( $$2\sigma $$ ). POLARBEAR-2 will also be able to put a constraint on the sum of neutrino masses to 90 meV ( $$1\sigma $$ ) with POLARBEAR-2 data alone and 65 meV ( $$1\sigma $$ ) when combined with the Planck satellite. We plan to start observations in 2014 in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

The polarbear cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization experiment has been observing since early 2012 from its 5,200 m site in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. polarbear’s measurements will characterize the expected CMB polarization due to gravitational lensing by large scale structure, and search for the possible B-mode polarization signature of inflationary gravitational waves. polarbear’s 250 mK focal plane detector array consists of 1,274 polarization-sensitive antenna-coupled bolometers, each with an associated lithographed band-defining filter and contacting dielectric lenslet, an architecture unique in current CMB experiments. The status of the polarbear instrument, its focal plane, and the analysis of its measurements are presented.

We report an improved measurement of the cosmic microwave background B-mode polarization power spectrum with the Polarbear experiment at 150 GHz. By adding new data collected during the second season of observations (2013-2014) to re-analyzed data from the first season (2012-2013), we have reduced twofold the band-power uncertainties. The band powers are reported over angular multipoles 500 ≤ ℓ ≤ 2100, where the dominant B-mode signal is expected to be due to the gravitational lensing of E-modes. We reject the null hypothesis of no B-mode polarization at a confidence of 3.1σ including both statistical and systematic uncertainties. We test the consistency of the measured B-modes with the Λ Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM) framework by fitting for a single lensing amplitude parameter A L = 0.60 +0.26-0.24(stat)+0.00-0.04 (inst) ± 0.14(foreground) ± 0.04(multi), where A L = 1 relative to the Planck 2015 best-fit model prediction. We obtain ±0.14(foreground) ±0.04(multi), where is the fiducial ΛCDM value.

Summary This study examined whether feeding hydroalcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (maca) to 8-week-old (sexually maturing) or 18-week-old (mature) male rats for more than a half year affects serum testosterone concentration and testosterone production by Leydig cells cultured with hCG, 22R-hydroxycholesterol or pregnenolone. Testosterone concentration was determined in the serum samples obtained before and 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks after the feeding, and it was significantly increased only at the 6 weeks in the group fed with the maca extract to maturing rats when it was compared with controls. Testosterone production by Leydig cells significantly increased when cultured with hCG by feeding the maca extract to maturing rats for 27 weeks (35 weeks of age) and when cultured with 22R-hydroxycholesterol by feeding it to mature rats for 30 weeks (48 weeks of age). Overall testosterone production by cultured Leydig cells decreased to about a half from 35 to 48 weeks of age. These results suggest that feeding the maca extract for a long time to male rats may enhance the steroidogenic ability of Leydig cells to alleviate its decline with ageing, whereas it may cause only a transient increase in blood testosterone concentration in sexually maturing male rats.

Currently, environmental problems such as global warming are important issues, and SF6 has been identified as a greenhouse gas with a long atmospheric lifetime. Therefore, in the long term, it is preferable to reduce the amount of SF6 used as an insulating gas. It is thus important to discuss the possibility of using more environmentally friendly gases as alternative insulation for gas-insulated apparatus. In this paper, we describe the fundamental insulation breakdown characteristics of high-pressure CO2 gas at gas pressures of up to 1.0 MPa under simulated practical conditions, including the insulation breakdown characteristics of a high-voltage conductor with an insulating coating and the effect of decomposition products on the creeping insulation of a spacer. With the aim of enhancing insulation performance, we discuss the effect of the type of insulating coating on insulation performance. The breakdown electric field was increased by 20% by coating the conductor. It was verified that the application of an insulating coating is a practical method for enhancing the insulation performance of high-pressure CO2 gas. It was also verified that the decomposition products have only a slight effect on the creeping insulation of the spacer except for when there is heavy pollution on the insulating spacer. However, if a large amount of decomposition products is expected to be deposited on the insulating spacer during operation, which may cause a severe interruption to the current, it will be necessary to consider this factor in the insulation design.

Although Lepidium meyenii (maca), a plant growing in Peru's central Andes, has been traditionally used for enhancing fertility and reproductive performance in domestic animals and human beings, effects of maca on reproductive organs are still unclear. This study examined whether feeding the hydroalcoholic extract powder of maca for 6 weeks affects weight of the reproductive organs, serum concentrations of testosterone and luteinising hormone (LH), number and cytoplasmic area of immunohistochemically stained Leydig cells, and steroidogenesis of cultured Leydig cells in 8-week-old male rats. Feeding the extract powder increased weight of seminal vesicles, serum testosterone level and cytoplasmic area of Leydig cells when compared with controls. Weight of prostate gland, serum LH concentration and number of Leydig cells were not affected by the maca treatment. The testosterone production by Leydig cells significantly increased when cultured with 22R-hydroxycholesterol or pregnenolone and tended to increase when cultured with hCG by feeding the extract powder. The results show that feeding the hydroalcoholic extract powder of maca for 6 weeks increases serum testosterone concentration associated with seminal vesicle stimulation in male rats, and this increase in testosterone level may be related to the enhanced ability of testosterone production by Leydig cells especially in the metabolic process following cholesterol.

R&D of fundamental technologies for superconducting AC Power equipment (Super-ACE project) started as a national project, for a five-year plan since fiscal 2000 by MITI and NEDO. This project is to research and develop the basic technology of super-conductive cable, fault current limiter and transformer. This paper summarizes the research and development of following 2 types FCL. The R&D of the SN transition resistive type superconducting thin film fault current limiter aims to establish large-current/high-voltage technology by arranging films in multi-parallel/series, and increasing the current-carrying capacity through widening the area of the thin film of the current limiting element. The R&D of the reactor for a rectifier-type fault current limiter using coils of superconducting wire of the Ag sheath Bi2223 tape, aiming to apply it to high-voltage systems.

The safety and efficacy of raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), has been studied extensively in large, global clinical trials. However, the effect of raloxifene on bone mineral density (BMD) and on biochemical markers of bone turnover in Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis has not been rigorously evaluated. This study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of raloxifene in Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis following 1 year of therapy. Participants in this multicenter trial were randomly assigned to receive placebo, raloxifene 60 mg/day (RLX60), or raloxifene 120 mg/day (RLX120). Lumbar spine BMD was measured at baseline, 24, 40, and 52 weeks, and biochemical markers of bone turnover were assessed at baseline, 12, 24, and 52 weeks. Serum lipids were assessed at baseline, 12, 24, 40, and 52 weeks, and breast examinations and transvaginal ultrasound of the endometrium were performed at enrollment and 52 weeks. Compared with baseline, women taking RLX60 had significant increases in lumbar spine (L2-L4) BMD at 24 weeks (+3.3%, p

The measurement of accumulated surface charge for thick specimens requires multipoint probe outputs to establish the inverse calculation for the determination of an unknown charge distribution. Until now, studies on the various errors associated with the measurement have been conducted only for simplified arrangements mainly in axisymmetric geometry where the charged surface is parallel to the ground. We have numerically analyzed a model measurement set-up more comparable to practical conditions by a highly efficient surface charge method. We have studied the effect of probe position, the induction from charge existing not directly beneath the (probe) sensor and the difference in matrix components computed by two numerical methods. In particular, we have studied the accuracy of the reconstructed charge distributions by numerical simulations of the inverse calculation. It has been shown that the assumed measurement errors make much larger differences in the reconstructed charge distributions, although the influence depends considerably on the assumed charge distribution. Reducing the condition number of the matrix improves the accuracy of the inverse calculation for uniform and linearly changing charge distributions.

Summary Although feeding diets containing the extract powder of Lepidium meyenii (maca), a plant growing in Peru's Central Andes, increases serum testosterone concentration associated with enhanced ability of testosterone production by Leydig cells in male rats, changes in testicular steroidogenesis-related factors by the maca treatment are not known. This study examined the effects of maca on testicular gene expressions for luteinizing hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and steroidogenic enzymes. Eight-week-old male rats were given the diets with or without (control) the maca extract powder (2%) for 6 weeks, and mRNA levels were determined by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that the testicular mRNA level of HSD3B1 (3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; 3β-HSD) increased by the treatment, whereas the levels of the other factors examined did not change. These results suggest that increased expression of 3β-HSD gene may be involved in the enhanced steroidogenic ability by the maca treatment in rat testes.

For the next generation of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiments, kilopixel arrays of Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometers are necessary to achieve the required sensitivity and their science goals. We are developing read-out electronics for POLARBEAR-2 CMB experiment, which multiplexes 32-TES bolometers through a single superconducting quantum interface device (SQUID). To increase both the bandwidth of the SQUID electronics and the multiplexing factor, we are modifying cold wiring and developing LC filters, and a low-inductance superconducting cable. Using these components, we will show frequency domain multiplexing up to 3 MHz.

We present the mission design of LiteBIRD, a next generation satellite for the study of B-mode polarization and inflation from cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) detection. The science goal of LiteBIRD is to measure the CMB polarization with the sensitivity of δr = 0:001, and this allows testing the major single-field slow-roll inflation models experimentally. The LiteBIRD instrumental design is purely driven to achieve this goal. At the earlier stage of the mission design, several key instrumental specifications, e.g. observing band, optical system, scan strategy, and orbit, need to be defined in order to process the rest of the detailed design. We have gone through the feasibility studies for these items in order to understand the tradeoffs between the requirements from the science goal and the compatibilities with a satellite bus system. We describe the overview of LiteBIRD and discuss the tradeoffs among the choices of scientific instrumental specifications and strategies. The first round of feasibility studies will be completed by the end of year 2014 to be ready for the mission definition review and the target launch date is in early 2020s.

We reconstruct the gravitational lensing convergence signal from Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization data taken by the POLARBEAR experiment and cross-correlate it with Cosmic Infrared Background (CIB) maps from the Herschel satellite. From the cross-spectra, we obtain evidence for gravitational lensing of the CMB polarization at a statistical significance of 4.0$\sigma$ and evidence for the presence of a lensing $B$-mode signal at a significance of 2.3$\sigma$. We demonstrate that our results are not biased by instrumental and astrophysical systematic errors by performing null-tests, checks with simulated and real data, and analytical calculations. This measurement of polarization lensing, made via the robust cross-correlation channel, not only reinforces POLARBEAR auto-correlation measurements, but also represents one of the early steps towards establishing CMB polarization lensing as a powerful new probe of cosmology and astrophysics., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. v2: replaced with version accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters. The companion paper (arXiv:1312.6646) describes a measurement of the polarization lensing power spectrum

The dependence of the crystallization temperature on the heating rate was measured for five conventional melt spun metallic glasses. The results obtained, together with similar data taken from the literature, were analyzed using the Kissinger method. It is shown that application of this method to glass transition and crystallization of metallic glasses leads to unreasonably high apparent attempt frequencies, by many orders of magnitude above the Debye frequency. It is concluded, in accordance with some remarks available in the literature, that this method gives obscure values of the activation parameters of glass transition and crystallization of metallic glasses. A simple equation for approximate estimate of the crystallization onset activation energy of metallic glasses is proposed.

Calcification is almost invariably associated with atherosclerotic plaque lesions. Recent data suggest that plaque calcification is an active, regulated process similar to osteogenesis. In order to clarify the mechanism of plaque calcification, we developed an in vitro model of vascular calcification by utilizing bovine vascular smooth muscle cells (BVSMCs). This model is useful in that diffuse and massive calcification can be induced within 2 weeks and thereby biochemical analyses of vascular calcification can be performed. We have analyzed several aspects of vascular calcification by using this model and demonstrated as follows: 1) in vitro calcification of BVSMCs is regulated by calciotropic hormones and BVSMCs are equipped with a unique autocrine and/or paracrine system regulating calcium metabolism. 2) Sodium-dependent phosphate cotransport plays a crucial role in BVSMC calcification as well as in mineralization of skeletal tissues. 3) BVSMCs acquire osteoblastic phenotype under certain conditions. Finally, we discuss the roles of macrophages in the development of atherosclerotic calcification. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induces gene expression of 25-hydrovitamin D-1 alpha-hydroxylase (1 alpha OHase) and its activity in macrophages. Since 1 alpha OHase can locally convert 25-hydroxyvitamin D into 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), an active metabolite of vitamin D, it is suggested that local production of 1,25(OH)2D by macrophages may promote atherosclerotic calcification. Moreover, macrophages may be involved in the phenotypic changes of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to acquire calcifying capacity. Therefore, the phenotypic changes of VSMCs in atherosclerotic plaque may contribute to the development of atherosclerotic calcification.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is a pleiotropic cytokine that modulates the cellular functions of both osteoblastic and osteoclastic lineages. It remains unclear whether IFN-alpha regulates the expression of parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) receptor, which is a major target molecule regulating skeletal metabolism. In this study, we examined the effect of IFN-alpha on the expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor in human osteoblastic cells (Saos-2). IFN-alpha inhibited the expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor gene in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. The mRNA level was decreased to 61.1% of that of the untreated control by 48 h treatment with 6000 U/mL of IFN-alpha. IFN-alpha also decreased cAMP response to PTH(1-34) in a dose-dependent manner and significantly depressed expression of the receptor protein. However, IFN-alpha did not exert any effect on other osteoblastic markers, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, cAMP response to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and secretion of bone gla-protein (BGP) and bone sialoprotein (BSP). Finally, IFN-alpha decreased PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA to 60.7% that of control in the presence of actinomycin D. These data suggest that IFN-alpha downregulates the expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor and its signaling without affecting other osteoblastic markers, and that IFN-alpha regulates its gene expression mainly by decreasing the stability of its mRNA.

Impaired bone formation resulting from a decline of osteoblast activity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic osteopenia. We examined the effects of high glucose concentration alone, independent of insulin deficiency, on the growth of a human osteoblast-like cell line (MG-63). Sustained exposure to high glucose for 7 days inhibited cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner up to 49.5 mmol/L, as compared with cells cultured with a normal glucose concentration (5.5 mmol/L) or a high mannitol concentration (an iso-osmolar control). Glucose (49.5 mmol/L) attenuated the increment either in DNA content or in [3H]thymidine incorporation induced by insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). The IGF-I-induced increase of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, which plays an important role in cell growth, was also attenuated. The half-life of ODC protein was not shortened by the high glucose culture, but the intracellular content of putrescine (an end product of ODC) was significantly decreased. These changes did not occur in the high mannitol culture, strongly suggesting a specific effect of glucose. In summary, our observations suggest that a high glucose concentration significantly impairs the proliferative response of osteoblastic cells to IGF-I and that the defective cell function caused by sustained exposure to high glucose levels might contribute to impaired bone formation in patients with diabetic osteopenia.

POLARBEAR-2 (PB-2) is a cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization experiment for B-mode detection. The PB-2 receiver has a large focal plane and aperture that consists of 7588 transition edge sensor (TES) bolometers at 250 mK. The receiver consists of the optical cryostat housing reimaging lenses and infrared filters, and the detector cryostat housing TES bolometers. The large focal plane places substantial requirements on the thermal design of the optical elements at the 4K, 50K, and 300K stages. Infrared filters and lenses inside the optical cryostat are made of alumina for this purpose. We measure basic properties of alumina, such as the index of refraction, loss tangent and thermal conductivity. All results meet our requirements. We also optically characterize filters and lenses made of alumina. Finally, we perform a cooling test of the entire optical cryostat. All measured temperature values satisfy our requirements. In particular, the temperature rise between the center and edge of the alumina infrared filter at 50 K is only 2:0 ± 1:4 K. Based on the measurements, we estimate the incident power to each thermal stage. © (2014) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

International audience; The Simons Array is an expansion of the POLARBEAR cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization experiment currently observing from the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. This expansion will create an array of three 3.5m telescopes each coupled to a multichroic bolometric receiver. The Simons Array will have the sensitivity to produce a ≥ 5σ detection of inationary gravitational waves with a tensor-to-scalar ratio r ≥ 0:01, detect the known minimum 58 meV sum of the neutrino masses with 3σ confidence when combined with a next-generation baryon acoustic oscillation measurement, and make a lensing map of large-scale structure over the 80% of the sky available from its Chilean site. These goals require high sensitivity and the ability to extract the CMB signal from contaminating astrophysical foregrounds; these requirements are met by coupling the three high-throughput telescopes to novel multichroic lenslet-coupled pixels each measuring CMB photons in both linear polarization states over multiple spectral bands. We present the status of this instrument already under construction, and an analysis of its capabilities.

Primary osteoporosis is a worldwide problem in elderly individuals. In ‘Osteoporosis Update 1997’ there are many outstanding contributions from all over the world. Recent progress is presented in the understanding of the role of vitamin D and PTH in bone and calcium homeostasis, advances in diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents. Since one of the aims of the Second International Conference on Osteoporosis was to compare risk factors among different nations, epidemiology was an important topic. p] Another feature of interest was that bone and calcium abnormalities are not only the problem of bone and calcium per se, but are also related to abnormalities in many other disorders such as atherosclerosis and cancer. Regarding atherosclerosis, bone-vascular system correlation may be a problem of interest to study in the future.

The POLARBEAR-2 Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiment aims to observe B-mode polarization with high sensitivity to explore gravitational lensing of CMB and inflationary gravitational waves. POLARBEAR-2 is an upgraded experiment based on POLARBEAR-1, which had first light in January 2012. For POLARBEAR-2, we will build a receiver that has 7588 Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometers coupled to two-band (95 and 150 GHz) polarization-sensitive antennas. For the large array's readout, we employ digital frequency-domain multiplexing and multiplex 32 bolometers through a single superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). An 8-bolometer frequency-domain multiplexing readout has been deployed with the POLARBEAR-1 experiment. Extending that architecture to 32 bolometers requires an increase in the bandwidth of the SQUID electronics to 3 MHz. To achieve this increase in bandwidth, we use Digital Active Nulling (DAN) on the digital frequency multiplexing platform. In this paper, we present requirements and improvements on parasitic inductance and resistance of cryogenic wiring and capacitors used for modulating bolometers. These components are problematic above 1 MHz. We also show that our system is able to bias a bolometer in its superconducting transition at 3 MHz.

We evaluated a new immunoselective enzyme assay of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The monoclonal antibody used in this assay was raised against purified bone-specific ALP obtained from SAOS-2 human osteosarcoma cell line. Calibration was based on the enzyme's own activity. The relative activity of the antibody was 100% with bone ALP, 8·7% with liver ALP, and 0% with placental and intestinal ALPs. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 4%. The sensitivity of the assay was 0·7 U/L, and the linearity extended from 2 to 140 U/L. The recovery of bone-specific ALP standard added to serum was 94–106%. The correlation coefficient between this method and the polyacrylamide gel (PAG) electrophoretic method was 0·94. The mean value of bone-specific ALP in 89 healthy adults (mean age 29 years, SD 5 years) was 18·5 U/L (SD 4·1 U/L). Interestingly, mean bone-specific ALP activities in 60 premenopausal women (mean age 39 years, SD 8 years) and 70 postmenopausal women (mean age 57 years, SD 5 years) were 20·3 U/L (SD 6·5 U/L) and 31·1 U/L (SD 11·1 U/L), respectively. The age-related increase in bone-specific ALP was significant and more pronounced in women ( P < 0·01). We conclude that this new immunoassay of bone-specific ALP would be useful for clinical investigation of patients with osteoporosis or other metabolic diseases of bone.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been known as a multiple function factor, which also stimulates early haematopoiesis. In this study, we found that HGF was expressed at both the RNA and protein levels in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). In patients with AML (n = 20) and CML (n = 5), bone marrow plasma HGF concentrations were 20.44 +/- 6.26 (mean +/- s.e.) ng ml-1 and 7.17 +/- 0.53 ng ml-1 respectively. These were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the value for normal subjects (n = 26): mean 0.92 +/- 0.09 ng ml-1. Constitutive HGF production was observed in freshly prepared leukaemic blast cells from three patients with high HGF levels of bone marrow plasma. Expression of HGF mRNA was correlated with bone marrow plasma HGF levels. After complete remission was obtained in six patients, bone marrow plasma HGF levels were significantly decreased. In contrast, the HGF mRNA was less abundantly expressed in acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL). In patients with ALL (n = 5), bone marrow plasma HGF concentration (0.69 +/- 0.14 ng ml-1) remained low within the value for normal subjects. These results suggest that some populations of myeloid lineage cells have the ability to produce HGF. Images Figure 2

POLARBEAR-2 is a ground based cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation experiment observing from Atacama, Chile. The science goals of POLARBEAR-2 are to measure the CMB polarization signals originating from the inflationary gravity-wave background and weak gravitational lensing. In order to achieve these science goals, POLARBEAR-2 employs 7588 polarization sensitive transition edge sensor bolometers at observing fre­ quencies of 95 and 150 GHz with 5.5 and 3.5 arcmin beam width, respectively. The telescope is the off-axis Gregorian, Huan Tran Telescope, on which the POLARBEAR-1 receiver is currently mounted. The polarimetry is based on modulation of the polarized signal using a rotating half-wave plate and the rotation of the sky. We present the developments of the optical and polarimeter designs including the cryogenically cooled refractive optics that achieve the overall 4 degrees field-of-view, the thermal filter design, the broadband anti-reflection coating, and the rotating half-wave plate.

LiteBIRD [Lite (Light) satellite for the studies of B-mode polarization and Inflation from cosmic background Radiation Detection] is a small satellite to map the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation over the full sky at large angular scales with unprecedented precision. Cosmological inflation, which is the leading hypothesis to resolve the problems in the Big Bang theory, predicts that primordial gravitational waves were created during the inflationary era. Measurements of polarization of the CMB radiation are known as the best probe to detect the primordial gravitational waves. The LiteBIRD working group is authorized by the Japanese Steering Committee for Space Science (SCSS) and is supported by JAXA. It has more than 50 members from Japan, USA and Canada. The scientific objective of LiteBIRD is to test all the representative inflation models that satisfy single-field slow-roll conditions and lie in the large-field regime. To this end, the requirement on the precision of the tensor-to-scalar ratio, r, at LiteBIRD is equal to or less than 0.001. Our baseline design adopts an array of multi-chroic superconducting polarimeters that are read out with high multiplexing factors in the frequency domain for a compact focal plane. The required sensitivity of 1.8μKarcmin is achieved with 2000 TES bolometers at 100mK. The cryogenic system is based on the Stirling/JT technology developed for SPICA, and the continuous ADR system shares the design with future X-ray satellites.

International audience; The Polarbear Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization experiment is currently observing from the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. It will characterize the expected B-mode polarization due to gravitational lensing of the CMB, and search for the possible B-mode signature of inflationary gravitational waves. Its 250 mK focal plane detector array consists of 1,274 polarization-sensitive antenna-coupled bolometers, each with an associated lithographed band-defining filter. Each detector's planar antenna structure is coupled to the telescope's optical system through a contacting dielectric lenslet, an architecture unique in current CMB experiments. We present the initial characterization of this focal plane.

The rare decay ${K}_{L}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}\ensuremath{\nu}\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ was studied with the E391a detector at the KEK 12-GeV proton synchrotron. Based on $9.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{9}$ ${K}_{L}^{0}$ decays, an upper limit of $8.1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$ was obtained for the branching fraction at 90% confidence level. We also set a limit on the ${K}_{L}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}X$ ($X\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{\text{invisible particles}}$) process; the limit on the branching fraction varied from $7.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$ to $4.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ for the mass of $X$ ranging from $50\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}/{c}^{2}$ to $200\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}/{c}^{2}$.

We performed a search for the decay K{sub L}{sup 0}{yields}3{gamma} with the E391a detector at KEK. In the data accumulated in 2005, no event was observed in the signal region. Based on the assumption of K{sub L}{sup 0}{yields}3{gamma} proceeding via parity-violation, we obtained the single event sensitivity to be (3.23{+-}0.14)x10{sup -8}, and set an upper limit on the branching ratio to be 7.4x10{sup -8} at the 90% confidence level. This is a factor of 3.2 improvement compared to the previous results. The results of K{sub L}{sup 0}{yields}3{gamma} proceeding via parity-conservation were also presented in this paper.

Quantum yield of trans,trans,trans→cis,trans,trans photoisomerization of p,p′-disubstituted 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene increased as the polarity of substituents increased, regardless of their electron-withdrawing or donating nature. On the contrary, quantum yield of trans,trans,trans→trans,cis,trans isomerization increased with increasing the electron-donating nature of substituents.

The first dedicated search for the rare neutral-kaon decay K{sub L}{sup 0{yields}{pi}0{nu}{nu}} has been carried out in the E391a experiment at the KEK 12-GeV proton synchrotron. The final upper limit of 2.6x10{sup -8} at the 90% confidence level was set on the branching ratio for the decay.

We performed a search for a light pseudoscalar particle X in the decay K{sub L}{sup 0}{yields}{pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0}X, X{yields}{gamma}{gamma} with the E391a detector at KEK. Such a particle with a mass of 214.3 MeV/c{sup 2} was suggested by the HyperCP experiment. We found no evidence for X and set an upper limit on the product branching ratio for K{sub L}{sup 0}{yields}{pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0}X, X{yields}{gamma}{gamma} of 2.4x10{sup -7} at the 90% confidence level. Upper limits on the branching ratios in the mass region of X from 194.3 to 219.3 MeV/c{sup 2} are also presented.

A murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cell line, F5-5, expressed 10,000 binding sites for erythropoietin (EPO) per cell, 10-fold more than was expressed by other murine erythroleukemia cell lines and normal erythroid progenitors. Northern (RNA) and Southern blot analyses revealed overexpression of mRNA for the EPO receptor (EPOR) and rearrangement of one of the EPOR gene alleles in F5-5 cells, respectively. Molecular cloning of F5-5-derived cDNA encoding EPOR revealed that the 5' noncoding region of the EPOR cDNA corresponds to the 3' long terminal repeat sequence of the polycythemic strain of Friend spleen focus-forming virus (F-SFFVP). The aberrant EPOR transcripts containing the 3' long terminal repeat sequence were mainly expressed in F5-5 cells. The same integration upstream of the EPOR gene was also observed in other subclones and the parent cell line. It is possible that overexpression of EPOR by viral promoter insertion will confer growth advantage to an F-SFFVP-infected erythroid progenitor cell, leading to positive clonal selection through further leukemogenic steps.

We performed a search for a light pseudoscalar particle X in the decay K_{L};{0}--pi;{0}pi;{0}X, X--gammagamma with the E391a detector at KEK. Such a particle with a mass of 214.3 MeV/c;{2} was suggested by the HyperCP experiment. We found no evidence for X and set an upper limit on the product branching ratio for K_{L};{0}--pi;{0}pi;{0}X, X--gammagamma of 2.4x10;{-7} at the 90% confidence level. Upper limits on the branching ratios in the mass region of X from 194.3 to 219.3 MeV/c;{2} are also presented.

A novel conductive pattern forming method on the vertical wall using a resist spray coating and an angled exposure technologies is proposed. This method makes it possible to decrease the chip package size. The spray coating and the angled exposure technologies enable the uniform resist coating and the patterning the resist on the vertical wall of 600 mum height. Then a conductive pattern layers are sputtered and electroless plated. As the result, the conductive patterns of 200 mum width and 300 mum spacing is successfully formed on the vertical walls.

We performed a search for the K{sub L}{sup 0}{yields}{pi}{sup 0}{nu}{nu} decay at the KEK 12-GeV proton synchrotron. No candidate events were observed. An upper limit on the branching ratio for the decay was set to be 6.7x10{sup -8} at the 90% confidence level.

Summary A randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted to examine the effect of daily oral 1 mg minodronate on vertebral fractures in 704 postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis for 24 months. Minodronate treatment reduced vertebral fractures by 59% without serious adverse events. Minodronate is a safe and effective bisphosphonate for osteoporosis treatment. Introduction Minodronate increases bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients. However, its efficacy in reducing osteoporotic fractures has not been tested. Methods To examine anti-fracture efficacy and safety of daily oral minodronate in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 704 postmenopausal women (55 to 80 years) with one to five vertebral fractures and low BMD. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive daily oral 1 mg minodronate (n = 359) or placebo (n = 345) for 24 months, with daily supplements of 600 mg calcium and 200 IU vitamin D3. Results Daily 1 mg minodronate for 24 months reduced the risk of vertebral fractures by 59% (95% CI, 36.6–73.3%). Furthermore, when fractures during the first 6 months were eliminated, the risk of vertebral fractures from 6 to 24 months was reduced by 74% in minodronate-treated group. Minodronate treatment also reduced height loss. Bone turnover markers were suppressed by about 50% after 6 months of minodronate treatment and remained suppressed thereafter. The overall safety profile including gastrointestinal safety was similar between the two groups. Conclusions Daily oral minodronate is safe, well-tolerated, and is effective in reducing vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis.

We performed a search for the K L0--pi0nu nu[over] decay at the KEK 12-GeV proton synchrotron. No candidate events were observed. An upper limit on the branching ratio for the decay was set to be 6.7 x 10(-8) at the 90% confidence level.