Heavy-flavour spectroscopy (X,Y ,Z,Bc,B∗∗)

The LHCb measurements in the area of heavy-flavour spectroscopy (X, Y,Z,Bc,B∗∗) with part of the data collected in 2010 and 2011 are described in this paper. We first summarise the recent results for X(3872) mass and production and searches for X(4140). We then show the results of the search for orbitally excited mesons (B∗∗ (s)) and their mass measurements. We also measure the mass and production of B+c meson and report the first observation of B+c → J/ψπ+π+π− decay channel

Envelope function method for electrons in slowly-varying inhomogeneously deformed crystals

We develop a new envelope-function formalism to describe electrons in slowly-varying inhomogeneously strained semiconductor crystals. A coordinate transformation is used to map a deformed crystal back to geometrically undeformed structure with deformed crystal potential. The single-particle Schr\"{o}dinger equation is solved in the undeformed coordinates using envelope function expansion, wherein electronic wavefunctions are written in terms of strain-parametrized Bloch functions modulated by slowly varying envelope functions. Adopting local approximation of electronic structure, the unknown crystal potential in Schr\"{o}dinger equation can be replaced by the strain-parametrized Bloch functions and the associated strain-parametrized energy eigenvalues, which can be constructed from unit-cell level ab initio or semi-empirical calculations of homogeneously deformed crystals at a chosen crystal momentum. The Schr\"{o}dinger equation is then transformed into a coupled differential equation for the envelope functions and solved as a generalized matrix eigenvector problem. As the envelope functions are slowly varying, coarse spatial or Fourier grid can be used to represent the envelope functions, enabling the method to treat relatively large systems. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this method using a one-dimensional model, where we show that the method can achieve high accuracy in the calculation of energy eigenstates with relatively low cost compared to direct diagonalization of Hamiltonian. We further derive envelope function equations that allow the method to be used empirically, in which case certain parameters in the envelope function equations will be fitted to experimental data.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure

Polymeric Immunoglobulin Receptor Mediates Immune Excretion of Mucosal IgM–Antigen Complexes Across Intestinal Epithelium in Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) is one important player of mucosal defenses, but very little is known on pIgR-mediated immune excretion of the antigens that penetrate mucosal surface in fish. Previously, we cloned the pIgR of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and developed anti-pIgR antibody. In this study, the flounders were immunized intraperitoneally with the chicken ovalbumin (OVA) and the control protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) to elicit mucosal IgM antibody and pIgR response, and then challenged with OVA via caudal vein injection after the immunized OVA was absent from fish body at the fourth week after immunization. After OVA challenge, strong OVA-positive fluorescence signals were observed in lamina propria (LP) submucosa and epithelial cells of the hindgut at 30 min, increased proceeding toward the distal portion of intestinal folds, reached a peak at 2–3 h, and then weakened and disappeared at 12 h, indicating that the OVA rapidly diffused from bloodstream into LP submucosa and excreted across intestinal epithelium. Whereas in BSA-immunized and OVA-challenged control fish, the OVA was detected in LP submucosa but not in intestinal epithelium due to the lack of OVA-specific antibody. Accordingly, in intestinal epithelium, the transepithelial transport of OVA was confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy, and co-localization of OVA, IgM, and pIgR was illuminated by multiple-label immunofluorescence confocal microscopy and analyzed using Image J software. Furthermore, in gut mucus but not in serum, an ~800-kDa protein band showed IgM-positive, OVA-positive, and pIgR-positive simultaneously, and the OVA, together with IgM and secretory component (SC) of pIgR, could be immunoprecipitated by anti-OVA antibody, demonstrating the existence of SC–polymeric IgM–OVA complexes. All these results collectively revealed that the pIgR could transport mucosal IgM–OVA complexes from LP across intestinal epithelium into gut mucus via the transcytosis in flounder. These new findings provided direct evidences for pIgR-mediated immune excretion of IgM–antigen complexes, and better understanding the role of pIgR in mucosal immunity in teleost fish

A New Switched State Jump Observer for Traffic Density Estimation in Expressways Based on Hybrid-Dynamic-Traffic-Network-Model

When faced with problems such as traffic state estimation, state prediction, and congestion identification for the expressway network, a novel switched observer design strategy with jump states is required to reconstruct the traffic scene more realistically. In this study, the expressway network is firstly modeled as the special discrete switched system, which is called the piecewise affine system model, a partition of state subspace is introduced, and the convex polytopes are utilized to describe the combination modes of cells. Secondly, based on the hybrid dynamic traffic network model, the corresponding switched observer (including state jumps) is designed. Furthermore, by applying multiple Lyapunov functions and S-procedure theory, the observer design problem can be converted into the existence issue of the solutions to the linear matrix inequality. As a result, a set of gain matrices can be obtained. The estimated states start to jump when the mode changes occur, and the updated value of the estimated state mainly depends on the estimated and the measured values at the previous time. Lastly, the designed state jump observer is applied to the Beijing Jingkai expressway, and the superiority and the feasibility are demonstrated in the application results

Heavy Flavour Physics and CP Violation at LHCb: a Ten-Year Review

Heavy flavour physics provides excellent opportunities to indirectly search for new physics at very high energy scales and to study hadron properties for deep understanding of the strong interaction. The LHCb experiment has been playing a leading role in the study of heavy flavour physics since the start of the LHC operations about ten years ago, and made a range of high-precision measurements and unexpected discoveries, which may have far-reaching implications on the field of particle physics. This review highlights a selection of the most influential physics results on CP violation, rare decays, and heavy flavour production and spectroscopy obtained by LHCb using the data collected during the first two operation periods of the LHC. The upgrade plan of LHCb and the physics prospects are also briefly discussed.Comment: Invited review for Frontiers of Physic

Estimation of cardinality constrained portfolio efficiency via segmented DEA

The cardinality constrained portfolio selection problem arises due to the empirical findings that investors tend to hold limited number of assets. Yet the lack of fast computational methods for frontier of cardinality constrained portfolio investments makes the performance evaluation of this problem a long-standing challenge. Classic Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models have been justified valid in evaluating and ranking portfolio performance. Unfortunately, when it comes to the cardinality constrained portfolio selection problem, the DEA models fail to approximate the portfolio efficiency (PE) since the real frontier is discontinuous and not concave. To solve this problem, we propose a segmented DEA approach based on data segment points. A searching algorithm is introduced to approach the real segment points and proved to be valid. In each segment, the frontier is continuous and concave; hence, classic DEA models can be applied to evaluate the PE. The simulation results further indicate that the segmented DEA approach proposed in this paper is effective and practical in evaluating the cardinality constrained portfolio performance

Genome-wide identification of nitrate-responsive microRNAs by small RNA sequencing in the rice restorer cultivar Nanhui 511

Rice productivity relies heavily on nitrogen fertilization, and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is important for hybrid rice breeding. Reducing nitrogen inputs is the key to achieving sustainable rice production and reducing environmental problems. Here, we analyzed the genome-wide transcriptomic changes in microRNAs (miRNAs) in the indica rice restorer cultivar Nanhui 511 (NH511) under high (HN) and low nitrogen (LN) conditions. The results showed that NH511 is sensitive to nitrogen supplies and HN conditions promoted the growth its lateral roots at the seedling stage. Furthermore, we identified 483 known miRNAs and 128 novel miRNAs by small RNA sequencing in response to nitrogen in NH511. We also detected 100 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 75 upregulated and 25 downregulated DEGs, under HN conditions. Among these DEGs, 43 miRNAs that exhibited a 2-fold change in their expression were identified in response to HN conditions, including 28 upregulated and 15 downregulated genes. Additionally, some differentially expressed miRNAs were further validated by qPCR analysis, which showed that miR443, miR1861b, and miR166k-3p were upregulated, whereas miR395v and miR444b.1 were downregulated under HN conditions. Moreover, the degradomes of possible target genes for miR166k-3p and miR444b.1 and expression variations were analyzed by qPCR at different time points under HN conditions. Our findings revealed comprehensive expression profiles of miRNAs responsive to HN treatments in an indica rice restorer cultivar, which advances our understanding of the regulation of nitrogen signaling mediated by miRNAs and provides novel data for high-NUE hybrid rice cultivation

Summary of Working Group 4:Mixing and mixing-related CPCP violation in the BB system: ΔmΔm, ΔΓΔΓ, φsφ_s, φ1/βφ_{1}/β, φ2/αφ_{2}/α, φ3/γφ_{3}/γ

This summary reviews contributions to the CKM 2021 workshop in Working Group 4. In particular, theoretical and experimental progress in determining $B$ meson mixing properties are discussed

Summary of Working Group 4: Mixing and mixing-related CP violation in the B system: Δm, , Φs, Φ1/β, Φ2/α, Φ3/γ

This is a summary of the latest results in meson mixing and mixing-related CP violation presented at CKM 2021. We place these in the context of both recent experimental measurements, theoretical developments and future prospects in the field