Shedding New Light on R(D(s)(∗)){\cal R} (D_{(s)}^{(\ast)} ) and ∣Vcb∣|V_{cb}| from Semileptonic Bˉ(s)→D(s)(∗)ℓνˉℓ\bar B_{(s)} \to D_{(s)}^{(\ast)} \ell \bar {\nu}_{\ell} Decays

We compute for the first time the next-to-leading-order QCD corrections to the $\bar B_{(s)} \to D_{(s)}^{(\ast)}$ form factors at large hadronic recoil. Both the charm-quark-mass and the strange-quark-mass dependent pieces can generate the leading-power contributions to these form factors. Including further various power-suppressed contributions, we perform the combined fits of the considered form factors to both our large-recoil theory predictions and the lattice QCD results, thus improving upon the previous determinations of the lepton-flavour-universality ratios ${\cal R} (D^{(\ast)})$ significantly.Comment: 6 pages plus Supplemental Material, 3 figures, 1 table, 2 ancillary file

Precision calculations of Bd,s→π,KB_{d, s} \to \pi, K decay form factors in soft-collinear effective theory

We improve QCD calculations of the $B_{d, s} \to \pi, K$ form factors at large hadronic recoil by implementing the next-to-leading-logarithmic resummation for the obtained leading-power light-cone sum rules in the soft-collinear effective theory (SCET) framework. Additionally, we endeavour to investigate a variety of the subleading-power contributions to these heavy-to-light form factors at ${\cal O}(\alpha_s^0)$, by including the higher-order terms in the heavy-quark expansion of the hard-collinear quark propagator, by evaluating the desired effective matrix element of the next-to-leading-order term in the ${\rm SCET_{I}}$ representation of the weak transition current, by taking into account the off-light-cone contributions of the two-body heavy-quark effective theory matrix elements as well as the three-particle higher-twist corrections from the subleading bottom-meson light-cone distribution amplitudes, and by computing the twist-five and twist-six four-body higher-twist effects with the aid of the factorization approximation. Having at our disposal the SCET sum rules for the exclusive $B$-meson decay form factors, we further explore in detail numerical implications of the newly computed subleading-power corrections by employing the three-parameter model for both the leading-twist and higher-twist $B$-meson distribution amplitudes. Taking advantage of the customary Bourrely-Caprini-Lellouch parametrization for the semileptonic $B_{d, s} \to \pi, K$ form factors, we then determine the correlated numerical results for the interesting series coefficients, by carrying out the simultaneous fit of the exclusive $B$-meson decay form factors to both the achieved SCET sum rule predictions and the available lattice QCD results.Comment: 74 pages, 15 figure

Characterization of starch structures isolated from the grains of waxy, sweet, and hybrid sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

In this study, starches were isolated from inbred (sweet and waxy) and hybrid (sweet and waxy) sorghum grains. Structural and property differences between (inbred and hybrid) sweet and waxy sorghum starches were evaluated and discussed. The intermediate fraction and amylose content present in hybrid sweet starch were lower than those in inbred sweet starch, while the opposite trend occurred with waxy starch. Furthermore, there was a higher A chain (30.93–35.73% waxy, 13.73–31.81% sweet) and lower B2 + B3 chain (18.04–16.56% waxy, 24.07–17.43% sweet) of amylopectin in hybrid sorghum starch. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared reflection measurements affirm the relative crystalline and ordered structures of both varieties as follows: inbred waxy > hybrid waxy > hybrid sweet > inbred sweet. Small angle X-ray scattering and 13C CP/MAS nuclear magnetic resonance proved that the amylopectin content of waxy starch was positively correlated with lamellar ordering. In contrast, an opposite trend was observed in sweet sorghum starch due to its long B2 + B3 chain content. Furthermore, the relationship between starch granule structure and function was also concluded. These findings could provide a basic theory for the accurate application of existing sorghum varieties precisely

Characterization of dynamic morphological changes of tin anode electrode during (de)lithiation processes using in operando synchrotron transmission X-ray microscopy

The morphological evolution of tin particles with different sizes during the first lithiation and delithiation processes has been visualized by an in operando synchrotron transmission X-ray microscope (TXM). The in operando lithium ion battery cell was operated at constant current condition during TXM imaging. Two-dimensional projection images with 40 nm resolution showing morphological evolution were obtained and analyzed. The analysis of relative area change shows that the morphology of tin particles with different sizes changed simultaneously. This phenomenon is mainly due to a negative feedback mechanism among tin particles in the battery electrode at a constant current operating condition. For irregular-shaped tin particles, the contour analysis shows that the regions with higher curvature started volume expansion first, and then the entire particle expanded almost homogeneously. This study provides insights for understanding the dynamic morphological change and the particle-particle interactions in high capacity lithium ion battery electrodes

COVID-19 causes record decline in global CO2 emissions

The considerable cessation of human activities during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected global energy use and CO2 emissions. Here we show the unprecedented decrease in global fossil CO2 emissions from January to April 2020 was of 7.8% (938 Mt CO2 with a +6.8% of 2-{\sigma} uncertainty) when compared with the period last year. In addition other emerging estimates of COVID impacts based on monthly energy supply or estimated parameters, this study contributes to another step that constructed the near-real-time daily CO2 emission inventories based on activity from power generation (for 29 countries), industry (for 73 countries), road transportation (for 406 cities), aviation and maritime transportation and commercial and residential sectors emissions (for 206 countries). The estimates distinguished the decline of CO2 due to COVID-19 from the daily, weekly and seasonal variations as well as the holiday events. The COVID-related decreases in CO2 emissions in road transportation (340.4 Mt CO2, -15.5%), power (292.5 Mt CO2, -6.4% compared to 2019), industry (136.2 Mt CO2, -4.4%), aviation (92.8 Mt CO2, -28.9%), residential (43.4 Mt CO2, -2.7%), and international shipping (35.9Mt CO2, -15%). Regionally, decreases in China were the largest and earliest (234.5 Mt CO2,-6.9%), followed by Europe (EU-27 & UK) (138.3 Mt CO2, -12.0%) and the U.S. (162.4 Mt CO2, -9.5%). The declines of CO2 are consistent with regional nitrogen oxides concentrations observed by satellites and ground-based networks, but the calculated signal of emissions decreases (about 1Gt CO2) will have little impacts (less than 0.13ppm by April 30, 2020) on the overserved global CO2 concertation. However, with observed fast CO2 recovery in China and partial re-opening globally, our findings suggest the longer-term effects on CO2 emissions are unknown and should be carefully monitored using multiple measures

Expression of Human Leukocyte Antigen G is associated with Prognosis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) has multiple immune regulatory functions including the induction of immune tolerance in malignancies. The roles of HLA-G have not been investigated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study is aimed to evaluate the role of HLA-G as prognostic factor for NPC patients as well as its role in the immune regulation. Western assays showed high HLA-G expression in NPC cell lines, but low in the immortalized nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line NP69. HLA-G protein was further detected in 79.2% of 552 NPC specimens with immunohistochemistry (IHC), but not in normal nasopharyngeal epithelium tissue. Moreover, high expression of HLA-G predicted poor survival of NPC patients and positively correlated with tumor N classification and recurrence or metastasis. Multivariate analysis indicated that HLA-G was an independent and unfavorable prognostic factor. Furthermore, the presence of CD68+macrophages and IL-10 were also examined, which are two prognostic markers of NPC and important factors for regulating immune surveillance. The correlations of HLA-G with these two immune factors were revealed in NPC tissues. Taken together, our results suggest that HLA-G is an independent biomarker for NPC prognosis, and HLA-G might contribute to NPC progression, which might jointly regulate immune surveillance in NPC together with macrophages and IL-10

Effect of Tea Polyphenol on Oxidative Injury in S180 Cells Induced Hepatocarcinoma Mice

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant nature of tea polyphenol on S180 cells induced liver cancer in mice. In the present study, hepatocellular carcinoma was induced by tumor transplantation of liver in situ. The antitumor activity of tea polyphenol has been determined in vivo in hepatocellular carcinoma mice after treatment of drug (50, 100, 150 mg/kg body weight) by gavage for 20 days. Results showed that a significant increase in serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransfere (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, decrease in serum white blood cells (WBC), serum total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), A/G, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), liver reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were observed. In addition, the levels of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants were decreased when subjected to S180 cells induction. These altered enzyme levels were ameliorated significantly by administration of tea polyphenol at the concentration of 50, 100, 150 mg/kg body weight in drug-treated animals. These results indicate that the protective effect of tea polyphenol was associated with inhibition of MDA induced by S180 cells and to maintain the antioxidant enzyme levels

Oscillating Asymmetric Dark Matter

We study the dynamics of dark matter (DM) particle-antiparticle oscillations within the context of asymmetric DM. Oscillations arise due to small DM number-violating Majorana-type mass terms, and can lead to recoupling of annihilation after freeze-out and washout of the DM density. We derive the density matrix equations for DM oscillations and freeze-out from first principles using nonequilibrium field theory, and our results are qualitatively different than in previous studies. DM dynamics exhibits particle-vs-antiparticle "flavor" effects, depending on the interaction type, analogous to neutrino oscillations in a medium. "Flavor-sensitive" DM interactions include scattering or annihilation through a new vector boson, while "flavor-blind" interactions include scattering or s-channel annihilation through a new scalar boson, or annihilation to pairs of bosons. In particular, we find that flavor-sensitive annihilation does not recouple when coherent oscillations begin, and that flavor-blind scattering does not lead to decoherence.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figures, A typo fixed, References adde

Near-real-time monitoring of global CO₂ emissions reveals the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting human activities, and in turn energy use and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Here we present daily estimates of country-level CO2 emissions for different sectors based on near-real-time activity data. The key result is an abrupt 8.8% decrease in global CO₂ emissions (−1551 Mt CO₂) in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The magnitude of this decrease is larger than during previous economic downturns or World War II. The timing of emissions decreases corresponds to lockdown measures in each country. By July 1st, the pandemic’s effects on global emissions diminished as lockdown restrictions relaxed and some economic activities restarted, especially in China and several European countries, but substantial differences persist between countries, with continuing emission declines in the U.S. where coronavirus cases are still increasing substantially