Toward a unified interpretation of quark and lepton mixing from flavor and CP symmetries

We discussed the scenario that a discrete flavor group combined with CP symmetry is broken to $Z_2\times CP$ in both neutrino and charged lepton sectors. All lepton mixing angles and CP violation phases are predicted to depend on two free parameters $\theta_{l}$ and $\theta_{\nu}$ varying in the range of $[0, \pi)$. As an example, we comprehensively study the lepton mixing patterns which can be derived from the flavor group $\Delta(6n^2)$ and CP symmetry. Three kinds of phenomenologically viable lepton mixing matrices are obtained up to row and column permutations. We further extend this approach to the quark sector. The precisely measured quark mixing angles and CP invariant can be accommodated for certain values of the free parameters $\theta_{u}$ and $\theta_{d}$. A simultaneous description of quark and lepton flavor mixing structures can be achieved from a common flavor group $\Delta(6n^2)$ and CP, and accordingly the smallest value of the group index $n$ is $n=7$.Comment: 40 pages, 8 figure

Implications on η\eta-η′\eta'-glueball mixing from Bd/s→J/Ψη(′)B_{d/s} \to J/\Psi \eta^{(')} Decays

We point out that the recent Belle measurements of the $B_{d/s} \to J/\Psi \eta^{(')}$ decays imply large pseudoscalar glueball contents in the $\eta^{(\prime)}$ meson. These decays are studied in the perturbative QCD (PQCD) approach, considering the $\eta$-$\eta'$-$G$ mixing, where $G$ represents the pseudoscalar glueball. It is shown that the PQCD predictions for the $B_{d/s} \to J/\Psi \eta^{(')}$ branching ratios agree well with the data for the mixing angle $\phi_G\approx 30^\circ$ between the flavor-singlet state and the pure pseudoscalar glueball. Extending the formalism to the $\eta$-$\eta'$-$G$-$\eta_c$ tetramixing, the abnormally large observed $B_d\to K\eta'$ branching ratios are also explained. The proposed mixing formalism is applicable to other heavy meson decays into $\eta^{(\prime)}$ mesons, and could be tested by future LHCb and Super-$B$ factory data.Comment: Improved version, references added, 7 pages, 1 figur

Study of the weak annihilation contributions in charmless Bs→VVB_s\to VV decays

In this paper, in order to probe the spectator-scattering and weak annihilation contributions in charmless $B_s\to VV$ (where $V$ stands for a light vector meson) decays, we perform the $\chi^2$-analyses for the end-point parameters within the QCD factorization framework, under the constraints from the measured $\bar B_{s}\to$$\rho^0\phi$, $\phi K^{*0}$, $\phi \phi$ and $K^{*0}\bar K^{*0}$ decays. The fitted results indicate that the end-point parameters in the factorizable and nonfactorizable annihilation topologies are non-universal, which is also favored by the charmless $B\to PP$ and $PV$ (where $P$ stands for a light pseudo-scalar meson) decays observed in the previous work. Moreover, the abnormal polarization fractions $f_{L,\bot}(\bar B_{s}\to K^{*0}\bar K^{*0})=(20.1\pm7.0)\%\,,(58.4\pm8.5)\%$ measured by the LHCb collaboration can be reconciled through the weak annihilation corrections. However, the branching ratio of $\bar B_{s}\to\phi K^{*0}$ decay exhibits a tension between the data and theoretical result, which dominates the contributions to $\chi_{\rm min}^2$ in the fits. Using the fitted end-point parameters, we update the theoretical results for the charmless $B_s\to VV$ decays, which will be further tested by the LHCb and Belle-II experiments in the near future.Comment: 31 pages, 4 figures, 6 table

Spared nerve injury differentially alters parabrachial monosynaptic excitatory inputs to molecularly specific neurons in distinct subregions of the central amygdala

Dissecting the organization of circuit pathways involved in pain affect is pivotal for understanding behavior associated with noxious sensory inputs. The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) comprises distinct populations of inhibitory GABAergic neurons expressing a wide range of molecular markers. CeA circuits are associated with aversive learning and nociceptive responses. The CeA receives nociceptive signals directly from the parabrachial nucleus (PBn), contributing to the affective and emotional aspects of pain. Although the CeA has emerged as an important node in pain processing, key questions remain regarding the specific targeting of PBn inputs to different CeA subregions and cell types. We used a multifaceted approach involving transgenic reporter mice, viral vector-mediated optogenetics, and brain slice electrophysiology to delineate cell-type–specific functional organization of the PBn–CeA pathway. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings of molecularly defined CeA neurons while optogenetically driving long-range inputs originating from PBn revealed the direct monosynaptic excitatory inputs from PBn neurons to 3 major subdivisions of the CeA: laterocapsular (CeC), lateral (CeL), and medial (CeM). Direct monosynaptic excitatory inputs from PBn targeted both somatostatin-expressing (SOM+) and corticotropin-releasing hormone expressing (CRH+) neurons in the CeA. We find that monosynaptic PBn input is preferentially organized to molecularly specific neurons in distinct subdivisions of the CeA. The spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain differentially altered PBn monosynaptic excitatory input to CeA neurons based on molecular identity and topographical location within the CeA. These results provide insight into the functional organization of affective pain pathways and how they are altered by chronic pain

The central amygdala to periaqueductal gray pathway comprises intrinsically distinct neurons differentially affected in a model of inflammatory pain

A major population of neurons in the central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) send projections to the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a key midbrain structure that mediates coping strategies in response to threat or stress. While the CeA‐PAG pathway has proved to be a component of descending anti‐nociceptive circuitry, the functional organization of CeA‐PAG neurons remains unclear. We identified CeA‐PAG neurons in C57BL/6 mice of both sexes using intracranial injection of a fluorescent retrograde tracer into the PAG. In acute brain slices, we investigated the topographical and intrinsic characteristics of retrogradely labelled CeA‐PAG neurons using epifluorescence and whole‐cell electrophysiology. We also measured changes to CeA‐PAG neurons in the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) model of inflammatory pain. Neurons in the central lateral (CeL) and central medial (CeM) amygdala project primarily to different regions of the PAG. CeL‐PAG neurons consist of a relatively homogeneous population of intrinsically distinct neurons while CeM‐PAG neurons are intrinsically heterogeneous. Membrane properties of distinct CeM‐PAG subtypes are altered 1 day after induction of the CFA inflammatory pain model. Collectively, our results provide insight into pain‐induced changes to a specific population of CeA neurons that probably play a key role in the integration of noxious input with endogenous analgesia and behavioural coping response

Vector F-implicit complementarity problems in Banach spaces

AbstractIn this work, a new class of vector F-implicit complementarity problems and vector F-implicit variational inequality problems are introduced and studied, and the equivalence between of them is presented under certain assumptions in Banach spaces. We also derive some new existence theorems of solutions for the vector F-implicit complementarity problems and the vector F-implicit variational inequality problems by using the FKKM theorem under some suitable assumptions without monotonicity

High cycle fatigue and ratcheting interaction of laser powder bed fusion stainless steel 316L:Fracture behaviour and stress-based modelling

Variations in the physical and mechanical properties of parts made by laser power bed fusion (L-PBF) could be affected by the choice of processing or post-processing strategies. This work examined the influence of build orientation and post-processing treatments (annealing or hot isostatic pressing) on the fatigue and fracture behaviours of L-PBF stainless steel 316L in the high cycle fatigue region, i.e. 104 – 106 cycles. Experimental results show that both factors introduce significant changes in the plastic deformation properties, which affect fatigue strength via the mechanism of fatigue-ratcheting interaction. Cyclic plasticity is characterised by hardening, which promotes mean stress insensitivity and improved fatigue resistance. Fatigue activities, involving the initiation of crack at defects and microstructural heterogeneities, are of greater relevance to the longer life region where the global deformation mode is elastic. As the simultaneous actions of ratcheting and fatigue generate complex nonlinear interactions between the alternating stress amplitude and mean stress, the fatigue properties could not be effectively predicted using traditional stress-based models. A modification to the Goodman relation was proposed to account for the added effects of cyclic plasticity and was demonstrated to produce good agreement with experimental results for both cyclic hardening and softening materials.EDB (Economic Devt. Board, S’pore)Accepted versio

Interacting heavy fermions in a disordered optical lattice

We have theoretically studied the effect of disorder on ultracold alkaline-earth atoms governed by the Kondo lattice model in an optical lattice via simplified double-well model and hybridization mean-field theory. Disorder-induced narrowing and even complete closure of hybridization gap have been predicted and the compressibility of the system has also been investigated for metallic and Kondo insulator phases in the presence of the disordered potential. To make connection to the experimental situation, we have numerically solved the disordered Kondo lattice model with an external harmonic trap and shown both the melting of Kondo insulator plateau and an compressibility anomaly at low-density