Semileptonic BcB_{c} meson decays to S-wave charmonia and X(3872)X(3872) within the covariant light-front approach

In this work, we investigate the semileptonic decays of $B_{c}$ meson to $\eta_{c}(1S,2S,3S)$, $\psi(1S,2S,3S)$ and $X(3872)$ within the framework of covariant light-front quark model (CLFQM). We combine the helicity amplitudes via the corresponding form factors to obtain the branching ratios of the semileptonic decays $B_{c}\to \eta_{c}(1S, 2S, 3S)\ell\nu_{\ell}$, $B_{c}\to \psi(1S, 2S, 3S))\ell\nu_{\ell}$ and $B_{c}\to X(3872)\ell\nu_{\ell}$ with $\ell=e,\mu,\tau$. In view of the $R_{J/\Psi}$ anomaly released by the LHCb collaboration, it is necessary to calculate the ratios $R_X$ with $X=\psi(1S,2S,3S),\eta_c(1S,2S,3S),X(3872)$ systematically, which are helpful to check the lepton flavor universality (LFU). Furthermore, we also take into account another two physical observables, one is the longitudinal polarization fraction $f_{L}$ and the other is the forward-backward asymmetry $A_{FB}$, which can provide new clues to understand the $R_{J /\Psi}$ anomaly. Such theoretical predictions are necessary and interesting, which can be tested in the future LHCb experiments.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figure

Quasi-two-body decays Bc→K∗h→KπhB_c \to K^{*} h \to K \pi h in the perturbative QCD

In this work we study the quasi-two-body decays $B_c \to \ K^{*} h \to K \pi h (h = D, D_s, K, \pi, \eta, \eta')$ in the perturbative QCD (PQCD) approach. The two-meson distribution amplitudes (DAs) $\Phi^{\text{P-wave}}_{K\pi}$ are introduced to describe the final state interactions of the K \pi pair, which involve the time-like form factors F_{K\pi}(s) parameterized by the relativistic Breit-Wigner function and the Gegenbauer polynomials. We calculate the branching ratios for these quasi-two-body decays, from which one can obtain the branching raios for the corresponding two-body decays under the narrow width approximation relation. We find that $B^+_c\to K^{*+}D^0$ and $B^+_c\to K^{*0}D^+$ have the largest branching ratios, which can reach up to $10^{-6}$, while the branching ratios for other two-body decays are very small and only about $10^{-8}\sim10^{-7}$. As we expected that the branching ratios of the pure annihilation decays are usually small, while in our considered such type of decays, the channel $B_c^+ \to \bar K^{*0}K^{+}$ has the largest branching ratio, which is near $10^{-6}$. These results are consistent with the previously PQCD calculations obtained in the two-body framework, which can be tested by the future LHCb experiments. For the decays $B_c^+ \to K^{*+} D^{0}\to K^{0}\pi^+D^{0} , B_c^+ \to K^{*0}D^{+}\to K^{+}\pi^-D^{+}$ and $B_c^+ \to \bar K^{*0}D_s^{+}\to K^{-}\pi^+D_s^{+}$, we calculate their direct CP violations and find that $A_{CP}(B_c^+ \to K^{*+}D^{0}\to K^{0}\pi^+D^{0})=(-14.6_{-1.12}^{+9.19})\%$ is the largest one, which is possible measured by the present LHCb experiments. For the pure annihilation type decays, there is no CP violations because only the tree operators are involved. Furthermore, we also give the differential distributions of the branching ratios and the direct CP violations for the decays $B_c\to K^* D_{(s)}\to K \pi D_{(s)}$.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, 2 table

A Review of Characteristics of Bio-Oils and Their Utilization as Additives of Asphalts

Transforming waste biomass materials into bio-oils in order to partially substitute petroleum asphalt can reduce environmental pollution and fossil energy consumption and has economic benefits. The characteristics of bio-oils and their utilization as additives of asphalts are the focus of this review. First, physicochemical properties of various bio-oils are characterized. Then, conventional, rheological, and chemical properties of bio-oil modified asphalt binders are synthetically reviewed, as well as road performance of bio-oil modified asphalt mixtures. Finally, performance optimization is discussed for bio-asphalt binders and mixtures. This review indicates that bio-oils are highly complex materials that contain various compounds. Moreover, bio-oils are source-depending materials for which its properties vary with different sources. Most bio-oils have a favorable stimulus upon the low temperature performance of asphalt binders and mixtures but exhibit a negative impact on their high-temperature performance. Moreover, a large amount of oxygen element, oxygen-comprising functional groups, and light components in plant-based bio-oils result in higher sensitivity to ageing of bio-oil modified asphalts. In order to increase the performance of bio-asphalts, most research has been limited to adding additive agents to bio-asphalts; therefore, more reasonable optimization methods need to be proposed. Furthermore, upcoming exploration is also needed to identify reasonable evaluation indicators of bio-oils, modification mechanisms of bio-asphalts, and long-term performance tracking in field applications of bio-asphalts during pavement service life

Fumigant Activity of Eight Plant Essential Oils Against Workers of Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

Plant essential oils from eight plant species were tested for their insecticidal activities against the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invcita, by using a fumigation bioassay. This study reveals that the mortalities after treatment of the workers of red imported fire ants varied according to the classification of workers, oil type, dosage, and exposure time. Among the essential oils tested, strong insecticidal activity was observed with the essential oils of camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), artemisia annua (Artemisia annua), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), mugwort (Artemisia argyi), and wintergreen (Ilex chinensis). Ant mortalities from chrysanthemum oil (Dendranthema indicum), turpentine oil (Pinus massoniana), and forsythia oil (Forsythia suspense) treatments were significantly lower than those from the previously mentioned five essential oil treatments. This study showed that camphor, artemisia annua, eucalyptus, mugwort, and wintergreen oils may have potential to be used as substitutes for chemical insecticides

Deep Learning the Effects of Photon Sensors on the Event Reconstruction Performance in an Antineutrino Detector

We provide a fast approach incorporating the usage of deep learning for evaluating the effects of photon sensors in an antineutrino detector on the event reconstruction performance therein. This work is an attempt to harness the power of deep learning for detector designing and upgrade planning. Using the Daya Bay detector as a benchmark case and the vertex reconstruction performance as the objective for the deep neural network, we find that the photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) have different relative importance to the vertex reconstruction. More importantly, the vertex position resolutions for the Daya Bay detector follow approximately a multi-exponential relationship with respect to the number of PMTs and hence, the coverage. This could also assist in deciding on the merits of installing additional PMTs for future detector plans. The approach could easily be used with other objectives in place of vertex reconstruction