General formula for the four-quark condensate and vacuum factorization assumption

By differentiating the dressed quark propagator with respect to a variable background field, the linear response of the dressed quark propagator in the presence of the background field can be obtained. From this general method, using the vector background field as an illustration, we derive a general formula for the four-quark condensate $<{\tilde 0}|:{\bar q}(0)\gamma_\mu q(0){\bar q}(0)\gamma_\mu q(0):|{\tilde 0}>$. This formula contains the corresponding fully dressed vector vertex and it is shown that factorization for $<{\tilde 0}|:{\bar q}(0)\gamma_\mu q(0){\bar q}(0)\gamma_\mu q(0):| {\tilde 0}>$ holds only when the dressed vertex is taken to be the bare one. This property also holds for all other type of four-quark condensate.Comment: Revtex4, 11 pages, no figure

Observations of rapidly growing whistler waves in front of space plasma shock

Whistler mode wave is a fundamental perturbation of electromagnetic fields and plasmas in various environments including planetary space, laboratory and astrophysics. The origin and evolution of the waves are a long-standing question due to the limited instrumental capability in resolving highly variable plasma and electromagnetic fields. Here, we analyse data with the high time resolution from the multi-scale magnetospheric spacecraft in the weak magnetic environment (i.e., foreshock) enabling a relatively long gyro-period of whistler mode wave. Moreover, we develop a novel approach to separate the three-dimensional fluctuating electron velocity distributions from their background, and have successfully captured the coherent resonance between electrons and electromagnetic fields at high frequency, providing the resultant growth rate of unstable whistler waves. Regarding the energy origin for the waves, the ion distributions are found to also play crucial roles in determining the eigenmode disturbances of fields and electrons. The quantification of wave growth rate can significantly advance the understandings of the wave evolution and the energy conversion with particles

The triggering process of an X-class solar flare on a small quadrupolar active region

The occurrence of X-class solar flares and their potential impact on the space weather often receive great attention than other flares. But predicting when and where an X-class flare will occur is still a challenge. With the multi-wavelength observation from the Solar Dynamics Observatory and FengYun- 3E satellite, we investigate the triggering of a GOES X1.0 flare occurring in the NOAA active region (AR) 12887. Our results show that this unique X-class flare is bred in a relatively small but complex quadrupolar AR. Before the X-class flare, two filaments (F1 and F2) exist below a null-point topology of the quadrupolar AR. Magnetic field extrapolation and observation reveal that F1 and F2 correspond to two magnetic flux ropes with the same chirality and their adjacent feet rooted at nonconjugated opposite polarities, respectively. Interestingly, these two polarities collide rapidly, accompanied by photospheric magnetic flux emergence, cancellation and shear motion in the AR center. Above this site, F1 and F2 subsequently intersect and merge to a longer filament (F3) via a tether-cutting-like reconnection process. As a result, the F3 rises and erupts, involving the large-scale arcades overlying filament and the quadrupolar magnetic field above the AR, and eventually leads to the eruption of the X-class flare with a quasi-X-shaped flare ribbon and a coronal mass ejection. It suggests that the rapid collision of nonconjugated opposite polarities provides a key condition for the triggering of this X-class flare, and also provides a featured case for flare trigger mechanism and space weather forecasting.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Flavor changing Z decay Z→bsˉ(bˉs)Z\to b\bar{s}(\bar{b}s) in topcolor-assisted technicolor models

In the context of topcolor-assisted technicolor (TC2) models, we examine the flavor changing (FC) Z decay $Z\to b\bar{s}(\bar{b}s)$ and calculate the contributions of the new particles predicted by TC2 models to the branching ratio Br($Z\to b\bar{s}+\bar{b}s$). We find that the contributions mainly come from the top-pions. In most of the parameter space, the Br($Z\to b\bar{s}+\bar{b}s$) can reach $10^{-5}$, which may be detected in near future experiments such as Giga-Z version of the TESLA. Thus, the FC Z decay $Z\to b\bar{s}(\bar{b}s)$ can be used to test TC2 models.Comment: Final version to appear in Nucl. Phys. B. References adde

JUNO Conceptual Design Report

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is proposed to determine the neutrino mass hierarchy using an underground liquid scintillator detector. It is located 53 km away from both Yangjiang and Taishan Nuclear Power Plants in Guangdong, China. The experimental hall, spanning more than 50 meters, is under a granite mountain of over 700 m overburden. Within six years of running, the detection of reactor antineutrinos can resolve the neutrino mass hierarchy at a confidence level of 3-4$\sigma$, and determine neutrino oscillation parameters $\sin^2\theta_{12}$, $\Delta m^2_{21}$, and $|\Delta m^2_{ee}|$ to an accuracy of better than 1%. The JUNO detector can be also used to study terrestrial and extra-terrestrial neutrinos and new physics beyond the Standard Model. The central detector contains 20,000 tons liquid scintillator with an acrylic sphere of 35 m in diameter. $\sim$17,000 508-mm diameter PMTs with high quantum efficiency provide $\sim$75% optical coverage. The current choice of the liquid scintillator is: linear alkyl benzene (LAB) as the solvent, plus PPO as the scintillation fluor and a wavelength-shifter (Bis-MSB). The number of detected photoelectrons per MeV is larger than 1,100 and the energy resolution is expected to be 3% at 1 MeV. The calibration system is designed to deploy multiple sources to cover the entire energy range of reactor antineutrinos, and to achieve a full-volume position coverage inside the detector. The veto system is used for muon detection, muon induced background study and reduction. It consists of a Water Cherenkov detector and a Top Tracker system. The readout system, the detector control system and the offline system insure efficient and stable data acquisition and processing.Comment: 328 pages, 211 figure

Genomewide association study of leprosy.

BACKGROUND: The narrow host range of Mycobacterium leprae and the fact that it is refractory to growth in culture has limited research on and the biologic understanding of leprosy. Host genetic factors are thought to influence susceptibility to infection as well as disease progression. METHODS: We performed a two-stage genomewide association study by genotyping 706 patients and 1225 controls using the Human610-Quad BeadChip (Illumina). We then tested three independent replication sets for an association between the presence of leprosy and 93 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were most strongly associated with the disease in the genomewide association study. Together, these replication sets comprised 3254 patients and 5955 controls. We also carried out tests of heterogeneity of the associations (or lack thereof) between these 93 SNPs and disease, stratified according to clinical subtype (multibacillary vs. paucibacillary). RESULTS: We observed a significant association (P<1.00x10(-10)) between SNPs in the genes CCDC122, C13orf31, NOD2, TNFSF15, HLA-DR, and RIPK2 and a trend toward an association (P=5.10x10(-5)) with a SNP in LRRK2. The associations between the SNPs in C13orf31, LRRK2, NOD2, and RIPK2 and multibacillary leprosy were stronger than the associations between these SNPs and paucibacillary leprosy. CONCLUSIONS: Variants of genes in the NOD2-mediated signaling pathway (which regulates the innate immune response) are associated with susceptibility to infection with M. leprae

Synthesis and catalysis of chemically reduced metal–metalloid amorphous alloys

This is the published version. Copyright 2012 Royal Society of ChemistryAmorphous alloys structurally deviate from crystalline materials in that they possess unique short-range ordered and long-range disordered atomic arrangement. They are important catalytic materials due to their unique chemical and structural properties including broadly adjustable composition, structural homogeneity, and high concentration of coordinatively unsaturated sites. As chemically reduced metal–metalloid amorphous alloys exhibit excellent catalytic performance in applications such as efficient chemical production, energy conversion, and environmental remediation, there is an intense surge in interest in using them as catalytic materials. This critical review summarizes the progress in the study of the metal–metalloid amorphous alloy catalysts, mainly in recent decades, with special focus on their synthetic strategies and catalytic applications in petrochemical, fine chemical, energy, and environmental relevant reactions. The review is intended to be a valuable resource to researchers interested in these exciting catalytic materials. We concluded the review with some perspectives on the challenges and opportunities about the future developments of metal–metalloid amorphous alloy catalysts

Precipitation from persistent extremes is increasing in most regions and globally

Extreme precipitation often persists for multiple days with variable duration but has usually been examined at fixed duration. Here we show that considering extreme persistent precipitation by complete event with variable duration, rather than a fixed temporal period, is a necessary metric to account for the complexity of changing precipitation. Observed global mean annual-maximum precipitation is significantly stronger (49.5%) for persistent extremes than daily extremes. However, both globally observed and modeled rates of relative increases are lower for persistent extremes compared to daily extremes, especially for Southern Hemisphere and large regions in the 0-45°N latitude band. Climate models also show significant differences in the magnitude and partly even the sign of local mean changes between daily and persistent extremes in global warming projections. Changes in extreme precipitation therefore are more complex than previously reported, and extreme precipitation events with varying duration should be taken into account for future climate change assessments

Gated Silica Mesoporous Materials in Sensing Applications

[EN] Silica mesoporous supports (SMSs) have a large specific surface area and volume and are particularly exciting vehicles for delivery applications. Such container-like structures can be loaded with numerous different chemical substances, such as drugs and reporters. Gated systems also contain addressable functions at openings of voids, and cargo delivery can be controlled on-command using chemical, biochemical or physical stimuli. Many of these gated SMSs have been applied for drug delivery. However, fewer examples of their use in sensing protocols have been reported. The approach of applying SMSs in sensing uses another concept that of loading pores with a reporter and designing a capping mechanism that is selectively opened in the presence of a target analyte, which results in the delivery of the reporter. According to this concept, we provide herein a complete compilation of published examples of probes based on the use of capped SMSs for sensing. Examples for the detection of anions, cations, small molecules and biomolecules are provided. The diverse range of gated silica mesoporous materials presented here highlights their usefulness in recognition protocols.The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Government (Project MAT2012-38429-C04-01) and the Generalitat Valenciana (Project PROMETEOII/2014/047). Ll. P. and M. O. also thank the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia for their predoctoral grants.Sancenón Galarza, F.; Pascual, L.; Oroval, M.; Aznar Gimeno, E.; Martínez-Máñez, R. (2015). Gated Silica Mesoporous Materials in Sensing Applications. ChemistryOpen. 4(4):418-437. https://doi.org/10.1002/open.201500053S4184374