Charged lepton flavor violating Higgs decays at future e+e−e^+e^- colliders

After the discovery of the Higgs boson, several future experiments have been proposed to study the Higgs boson properties, including two circular lepton colliders, the CEPC and the FCC-ee, and one linear lepton collider, the ILC. We evaluate the precision reach of these colliders in measuring the branching ratios of the charged lepton flavor violating Higgs decays $H\to e^\pm\mu^\mp$, $e^\pm\tau^\mp$ and $\mu^\pm\tau^\mp$. The expected upper bounds on the branching ratios given by the circular (linear) colliders are found to be $\mathcal{B}(H\to e^\pm\mu^\mp) < 1.2\ (2.1) \times 10^{-5}$, $\mathcal{B}(H\to e^\pm\tau^\mp) < 1.6\ (2.4) \times 10^{-4}$ and $\mathcal{B}(H\to \mu^\pm\tau^\mp) < 1.4\ (2.3) \times 10^{-4}$ at 95\% CL, which are improved by one to two orders compared to the current experimental bounds. We also discuss the constraints that these upper bounds set on certain theory parameters, including the charged lepton flavor violating Higgs couplings, the corresponding parameters in the type-III 2HDM, and the new physics cut-off scales in the SMEFT, in RS models and in models with heavy neutrinos.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figures (extend the CEPC study to the FCC-ee and the ILC, and to match the published version

Singularity problem in f(R) model with non-minimal coupling

We consider the non-minimal coupling between matter and the geometry in the f(R) theory. In the new theory which we established, a new scalar $\psi$ has been defined and we give it a certain stability condition. We intend to take a closer look at the dark energy oscillating behavior in the de-Sitter universe and the matter era, from which we derive the oscillating frequency, and the oscillating condition. More importantly, we present the condition of coupling form that the singularity can be solved. We discuss several specific coupling forms, and find logarithmic coupling with an oscillating period $\Delta T\sim\Delta z$ in the matter era $z>4$, can improve singularity in the early universe. The result of numerical calculation verifies our theoretic calculation about the oscillating frequency. Considering two toy models, we find the cosmic evolution in the coupling model is nearly the same as that in the normal f(R) theory when $lna>4$. We also discuss the local tests of the non-minimal coupling f(R) model, and show the constraint on the coupling form.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Categorizing resonances X(1835), X(2120) and X(2370) in the pseudoscalar meson family

Inspired by the newly observed three resonances X(1835), X(2120) and X(2370), in this work we systematically study the two-body strong decays and double pion decays of $\eta(1295)/\eta(1475)$, $\eta(1760)/X(1835)$ and $X(2120)/X(2370)$ by categorizing $\eta(1295)/\eta(1475)$, $\eta(1760)/X(1835)$, X(2120) and X(2370) as the radial excitations of $\eta(548)/\eta^\prime(958)$. Our numerical results indicate the followings: (1) The obtained theoretical strong decay widths of three pseudoscalar states $\eta(1295)$, $\eta(1475)$ and $\eta(1760)$ are consistent with the experimental measurements; (2) X(1835) could be the second radial excitation of $\eta^\prime(958)$; (3) X(2120) and X(2370) can be explained as the third and fourth radial excitations of $\eta(548)/\eta^\prime(958)$, respectively.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Efficient hydrolysis of raw starch and ethanol fermentation: a novel raw starch-digesting glucoamylase from Penicillium oxalicum

Additional file 3: Figure S2. SDS-PAGE analysis of the recombinant rPoGA15A and native PoGA15A. Lane 1, protein molecular weight marker; lane 2, the purified recombinant rPoGA15A; lane 3, the native PoGA15A

The within-field and between-field dispersal of weedy rice by combine harvesters

International audienceAbstractWeedy rice (Oryza sativa L.) severely decreases the grain yield and profitability of rice is one of the most significant problems in the majority of rice fields worldwide. Few reports focus on the dispersal of weedy rice, especially how it rapidly spreads to large areas and long distances. Here, we quantify for the first time the within- and between-field dispersal of weedy rice associated with combine harvesting operations. We randomly sampled 31 combine harvesters to determine where and how much weedy rice seeds remained on the machines at three locations in Jiangsu Province, China. Based on the sampling results, the field area over which weedy rice seeds were retained on the combine harvester during harvesting was estimated to assess the within-field dispersibility of weedy rice seeds remaining in the harvesters. A tracking experiment was also carried out by tracing the distribution of weedy rice seeds along harvest trails, to estimate the dispersal of weedy rice seeds within the field being harvested. Weedy rice seeds remained in the harvest pocket, on the pedrail, and the metal plate of the combine harvester. On average, more than 5000 weedy rice seeds which were 22.80% of remaining grains could potentially be transported into adjacent fields by the combine after each rice field infested with weedy rice had been harvested. Of the statistical models compared, a double exponential model simulating the variation in seed retention predicted that weedy rice seeds remaining on the metal plate could be dispersed over 6473.91 m2 or 3236.96 m into the next field during the harvesting operation. Within the field, the number of fallen weedy rice seeds and their dispersal distance were positively correlated to weedy rice panicle density with the combine dispersing most of seeds away from their mother plant thus creating new weed patches. Therefore, fields that were severely infested with weedy rice should be harvested cautiously and separately and seed remaining in a harvester should be avoided to prevent intra- and inter-field, and even cross-regional dispersal of weedy rice

Computational Design of Flexible Electride with Nontrivial Band Topology

Electrides, with their excess electrons distributed in crystal cavities playing the role of anions, exhibit a variety of unique electronic and magnetic properties. In this work, we employ the first-principles crystal structure prediction to identify a new prototype of A3B electride in which both interlayer spacings and intralayer vacancies provide channels to accommodate the excess electrons in the crystal. This A3B type of structure is calculated to be thermodynamically stable for two alkaline metals oxides (Rb3O and K3O). Remarkably, the unique feature of multiple types of cavities makes the spatial arrangement of anionic electrons highly flexible via elastic strain engineering and chemical substitution, in contrast to the previously reported electrides characterized by a single topology of interstitial electrons. More importantly, our first-principles calculations reveal that Rb3O is a topological Dirac nodal line semimetal, which is induced by the band inversion at the general electronic k momentums in the Brillouin zone associated with the intersitial electric charges. The discovery of flexible electride in combining with topological electronic properties opens an avenue for electride design and shows great promises in electronic device applications

First asymmetric synthesis of piperidine alkaloid (-)-morusimic acid D

The first asymmetric synthesis of (-)-morusimic acid D, a 2,3-trans-2,6-cis-2-methyl-6-substituted piperidin-3-ol containing alkaloid is reported. The key steps are the reductive alkylation of N,O-diprotected 3-hydroxyglutarimide, a stepwise reductive alkylation, and an asymmetric aldol-type reaction using a modified Evans chiral auxiliary