Measurements of Branching Fractions and Decay Amplitudes in B-> J/\psi K^* decays

The branching fractions and the decay amplitudes of B -> J/psi K^* decays are measured in a 29.4/fb data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB electron-positron collider. The decay amplitudes of helicity states of the J/psi K^* system are determined from the full angular distribution of the final state particles in the transversity basis. The branching fractions are measured to be (1.29\pm0.05\pm0.13) \times 10^{-3} for neutral mesons and (1.28\pm0.07\pm0.14) \times 10^{-3} for charged mesons. The measured longitudinal and transverse (perpendicular to the transversity plane) amplitudes are |A_0|^2 = 0.62\pm0.02\pm0.03 and |A_{\perp}|^2 = 0.19\pm0.02\pm0.03, respectively. The value of |A_{\perp}|^2 shows that the CP even component dominates in the B^0 \to J/\psi K^{*0}(K_S\pi^0) decay.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, 5 tables, to appear in Phys. Lett.

Determination of |Vcb| using the semileptonic decay \bar{B}^0 --> D^{*+}e^-\bar{\nu}

We present a measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix element |Vcb| using a 10.2 fb^{-1} data sample recorded at the \Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e^+e^- storage ring. By extrapolating the differential decay width of the \bar{B}^0 --> D^{*+}e^-\bar{\nu} decay to the kinematic limit at which the D^{*+} is at rest with respect to the \bar{B}^0, we extract the product of |Vcb| with the normalization of the decay form factor F(1), |Vcb |F(1)= (3.54+/-0.19+/-0.18)x10^{-2}, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. A value of |Vcb| = (3.88+/-0.21+/-0.20+/-0.19)x10^{-2} is obtained using a theoretical calculation of F(1), where the third error is due to the theoretical uncertainty in the value of F(1). The branching fraction B(\bar{B}^0 --> D^{*+}e^-\bar{\nu}) is measured to be (4.59+/-0.23+/-0.40)x10^{-2}.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures, elsart.cls, submitted to PL

Measurement of the inclusive semileptonic branching fraction of B mesons and |Vcb|

We present a measurement of the electron spectrum from inclusive semileptonic {\it B} decay, using 5.1 fb$^{-1}$ of $\Upsilon(4S)$ data collected with the Belle detector. A high-momentum lepton tag was used to separate the semileptonic {\it B} decay electrons from secondary decay electrons. We obtained the branching fraction, ${\cal B}(B\to X e^+ \nu) = (10.90 \pm 0.12 \pm 0.49)$, with minimal model dependence. From this measurement, we derive a value for the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element $|V_{cb}| = 0.0408 \pm 0.0010 {\rm (exp)} \pm 0.0025{\rm (th)}$.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, 3 table

Measurement of \chi_{c2} Production in Two-Photon Collisions

The production of the \chi_{c2} charmonium state in two-photon collisions has been measured with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^+e^- collider. A clear signal for \chi_{c2} --> \gamma J/\psi, J/\psi --> l^+l^- is observed in a 32.6fb^{-1} data sample accumulated at center-of-mass energies near 10.6GeV, and the product of its two-photon decay width and branching fraction is determined to be \Gamma_{\gamma\gamma}(\chi_{c2})B(\chi_{c2} --> \gamma J/\psi) B(J/\psi --> l^+l^-)= 13.5 +/- 1.3(stat.) +/- 1.1(syst.)eV.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, to be submitted to Phys. Lett.

Sensitivity along with statistical response for optimizing shear and heat transfer rate on the flow over power-law deformable plate considering bi-hybrid nanofluid

The heat transfer efficiency of nanofluids is more effective than the conventional coolants and they are being evaluated for the automotive cooling systems. Improved engine performance and fuel economy may result from this. However, the use of nanofluids in hyperthermia therapy, a medical intervention in which specific tissues are heated to high temperatures, the flow of bi-hybrid nano liquid over a deformable surface plays crucial role. Based on several needs in different sectors the present study briefly describes the flow proposed liquid over a three-dimensional deformable absorbent surface. The impact of magnetization along with thermal radiation enriches the flow profiles significantly. Suitable similarity rules are adopted for the dimensional governing equation to re-formulate them into non-dimensional form. The system of designed model problem is handled numerically by means of “Runge-Kutta fourth-order” technique. The novelty of the study arises due to the use of robust statistical approach i.e. “Response Surface Methodology (RSM)” to optimize both shear and heat transfer rate for several factors. For the validation of the result a hypothetical test is proposed utilizing analysis of variance (ANOVA) and then parametric optimization is proposed employing sensitivity analysis for the response of both the shear and heat transfer rate. The study reveals that magnetization and particle concentration remarkbaly influence shear rate and heat transportation, where higher nanoparticle aggregation reduces shear but augments thermal transport, while increased thermal radiation improves the Nusselt number and overall heat transfer efficiency. Statistical validation through residual plots confirms the model's accuracy, ensuring reliable predictions for shear and heat transfer behavior

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Not AvailableThe present work evaluates the bacteriocidal and algicidal efficacy of nanosilver particles (AgNPs) synthesized through a green pathway by using the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. Further, the synergistic effects of the conjugates of selected antibiotics and biogenic silver nanoparticle were evaluated against three Gram-negative fish pathogens, viz. Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC-7966, Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC BAA-238 and Edwardsiella tarda ATCC-15947. The biogenic silver nanoparticles were polydispersed and showed a size range 71–201 nm with a zeta potential of −9.11 mV. The antibacterial activities of ampicillin, gentamicin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin exhibited a significant (P < 0.05) increase when conjugated with AgNPs against the selected bacterial strains. The highest synergistic effect of conjugates of AgNPs with gentamicin and ampicillin was observed against E. tarda. The biogenic silver nanoparticles exhibited a considerable inhibition of growth and decrease in photosynthetic pigments in a bloom-forming alga (Microcystis aeruginosa) and biofouling alga (Phormidium sp). This report aims to establish that biogenic silver nanoparticles are effective against water-borne fish pathogens and their efficacy is comparable with silver nanoparticles synthesized through chemical-based pathways.Not Availabl

Analysis of Mechanical Behavior of Phenol Formaldehyde Matrix Composites Using Flax-g-Poly (MMA) as Reinforcing Materials

This article deals with synthesis of phenol-formaldehyde resin and preparation of phenol-formaldehyde matrix based composites using raw flax and flax graft co-polymer as reinforcing agent. Prior to using the graft co-polymer as a reinforcing material, its strength vis-à-vis that of raw flax are studied in this study. Composites thus prepared are subjected to different mechanical tests such as wear, tensile, and compression tests etc. The graft co-polymers are characterized by using FTIR and scanning electron microscope (SEM). It has been observed that the composites refined with raw flax are more wear resistant as compared to the graft copolymer refined composites. In the case of the tensile test, composites reinforced with grafted flax showed more extension as compared to that of raw flax reinforcement, but required less loading at break point. However, composites with raw flax reinforcement initially showed more compression as compared to reinforcement with grafted fiber but at higher applied load grafted fiber reinforcement is found to show more compressive strength. Moreover, water repellency property of the fiber could be improved on grafting with methyl methacrylate (MMA) whereas the raw flax is found to be more vulnerable to water. </jats:p

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Not AvailableRice straw is a useful bio-resource with worldwide annual production of approximately 731 million tons. However, this valuable biomass is unfortunately burnt on field as waste that causes air pollution, global warming, plant nutrient losses and environment menace. About 60% of rice straw produced in Asia in general and India in particular is burnt in field. As for the basic requirement to predict their suitability for best alternative industrial uses biochemical, morphological and chemical (functional group) characterization of straws of 18 most widely grown rice cultivars from eastern region of India was carried out. Biochemical characterization was done on the basis of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and silica content. The surface morphology of straws was observed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), while, presence of functional groups were analyzed through Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Primarily, quantified biochemical profiles were used to group cultivars for best alternate uses of straw like bio-ethanol, biochar, compost and mushroom production. Morphological feature (from SEM) of straw and functional group (through FTIR) were used to support the grouping. Cultivars with higher hemicelluloses and cellulose with low to medium lignin and Si were better suited for bio-ethanol production while, straw having higher lignin and low to medium cellulose and hemicelluloses were selected for biochar. Therefore, considering all the three characterization methods (chemical composition, morphological features, presence or absence of functional groups), we found straws of rice cultivars, Tapaswini and IR 64 were best suited for bio-ethanol and biochar production, respectively. There are overlapping as well as contradictory observations found during grouping, when the three approaches were followed together. This indicate that the grouping of straw for better alternative uses could be done by biochemical and morphological characterization but this should be validated in small scale at farm or factory level for final recommendation.ICA