Expression of natural killer receptor alleles at different Ly49 loci occurs independently and is regulated by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules.

Ly49 receptor genes are expressed by subsets of natural killer (NK) cells in an overlapping fashion, accounting for the capacity of NK subsets to attack host cells that have selectively downregulated self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. It was shown previously that most NK cells express only one or the other allele of a given Ly49 gene, while a smaller population expresses both alleles. However, the methods used to detect monoallelic and biallelic cells were nonquantitative. Here, new allele-specific antibodies were used to provide the first quantitative examination of biallelic and monoallelic expression of Ly49A and Ly49G2. The results demonstrate conclusively that most Ly49A(+) and Ly49G2(+) NK cells express the corresponding gene in a monoallelic fashion, with a smaller subset expressing both alleles. Unexpectedly, biallelic Ly49A(+) NK cells were more numerous than predicted by completely independent allelic expression, suggesting some heterogeneity among NK progenitors in the potential to express a given Ly49 gene. The data also show that cells expressing one allele of Ly49G2 may express Ly49A from the same or opposite chromosome with equal likelihood, indicating that the expressed allele is chosen independently for different Ly49 genes. Finally, the data demonstrate that biallelic expression of Ly49A or Ly49G2 occurs least frequently in mice that express ligands for these receptors (H-2(d) mice), and most frequently in class I-deficient mice. Thus, biallelic expression of Ly49 genes is regulated by interactions of NK cell progenitors with MHC class I molecules

Electronic charges and electric potential at LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces studied by core-level photoemission spectroscopy

We studied LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces for varying LaAlO3 thickness by core-level photoemission spectroscopy. In Ti 2p spectra for conducting "n-type" interfaces, Ti3+ signals appeared, which were absent for insulating "p-type" interfaces. The Ti3+ signals increased with LaAlO3 thickness, but started well below the critical thickness of 4 unit cells for metallic transport. Core-level shifts with LaAlO3 thickness were much smaller than predicted by the polar catastrophe model. We attribute these observations to surface defects/adsorbates providing charges to the interface even below the critical thickness

Topological susceptibility at zero and finite temperature in the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model

We consider the three flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model with the 't Hooft interaction incorporating the U(1)_A anomaly. In order to set the coupling strength of the 't Hooft term, we employ the topological susceptibility $\chi$ instead of the eta' meson mass. The value for $\chi$ is taken from lattice simulations. We also calculate $\chi$ at finite temperature within the model. Comparing it with the lattice data, we extract information about the behavior of the U(1)_A anomaly at finite temperature. We conclude that within the present framework, the effective restoration of the U(1)_A symmetry does not necessarily take place even at high temperature where the chiral symmetry is restored.Comment: 9 pages, 14 figures, to be published in Phys.Rev.

Manifestation of Correlation Effects in the photoemission spectra of Ca1−x_{1-x}Srx_xRuO3_3

We have measured soft x-ray photoemission and O 1{\it s} x-ray absorption spectra of Ca$_{1-x}$Sr$_x$RuO$_3$ thin films prepared {\it in situ}. The coherent and incoherent parts have been identified in the bulk component of the photoemission spectra, and spectral weight transfer from the coherent to the incoherent part has been observed with decreasing $x$, namely, with increasing orthorhombic distortion. We propose that, while the Ru 4d one-electron bandwidth does not change with $x$, the distortion and hence the splitting of the $t_{2\text{g}}$ band effectively increases electron correlation strength. Although strong mass enhancement is found in the electronic specific heat data, the coherent part remains wide, suggesting enhanced band narrowing only in the vicinity of {\it E$_{F}$}

Chemical potential shift induced by double-exchange and polaronic effects in Nd_{1-x}Sr_xMnO_3

We have studied the chemical potential shift as a function of temperature in Nd$_{1-x}$Sr$_x$MnO$_3$ (NSMO) by measurements of core-level photoemission spectra. For ferromagnetic samples ($x=0.4$ and 0.45), we observed an unusually large upward chemical potential shift with decreasing temperature in the low-temperature region of the ferromagnetic metallic (FM) phase. This can be explained by the double-exchange (DE) mechanism if the $e_g$ band is split by dynamical/local Jahn-Teller effect. The shift was suppressed near the Curie temperature ($T_C$), which we attribute to the crossover from the DE to lattice-polaron regimes.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Earthquake fault rock indicating a coupled lubrication mechanism

International audienceA pseudotachylyte bounded by a carbonate-matrix implosion breccia was found at a fossilized out-of-sequence thrust in the Shimanto accretionary complex, Japan. This occurrence resulted from the following events: first implosion of host rock due to interstitial fluid pressure increase and asymmetric fracturing; second, Ca-Fe-Mg carbonate precipitation; and third, frictional melting. The rock-record suggests that these events took place in a single seismogenic slip event. Resulting from abrupt drop in fluid pressure after implosion, hydro-fracturing and fluid escape, recovered high effective friction promoted melting during fault movement. Coexistence of fluid implosion breccia and pseudotachylyte has never been reported from continental pseudotachylytes, but might be characteristic from hydrous seismogenic faults in subduction zones

Sigma Exchange in the Nonmesonic Decays of Light Hypernuclei and Violation of the Delta I=1/2 Rule

Nonmesonic weak decays of s-shell hypernuclei are analyzed in microscopic models for the Lambda N to NN weak interaction. A scalar-isoscalar meson, sigma, is introduced and its importance in accounting the decay rates, n/p ratios and proton asymmetry is demonstrated. Possible violation of the Delta I=1/2 rule in the nonmesonic weak decay of Lambda is discussed in a phenomenological analysis and several useful constraints are presented. The microscopic calculation shows that the current experimental data indicate a large violation of the Delta I=1/2 rule, although no definite conclusion can be derived due to large ambiguity of the decay rate of {^4_Lambda H}.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure

Spectroscopy of SrRuO/Ru Junctions in Eutectic

We have investigated the tunnelling properties of the interface between superconducting Sr2RuO4 and a single Ru inclusion in eutectic. By using a micro-fabrication technique, we have made Sr2RuO4/Ru junctions on the eutectic system that consists of Sr2RuO4 and Ru micro-inclusions. Such a eutectic system exhibits surface superconductivity, called the 3-K phase. A zero bias conductance peak (ZBCP) was observed in the 3-K phase. We propose to use the onset of the ZBCP to delineate the phase boundary of a time-reversal symmetry breaking state.Comment: To be published in Proc of 24th Int. Conf. on Low Temperature Physics (LT24); 2 page