Skeletal modifications of $$\upbeta $$-carboline alkaloids and their antiviral activity profile

To study the effect of the variation of fused ring size and substitution on the antiviral activity of \(\upbeta \)-carboline alkaloids, four types of structurally novel \(\upbeta \)-carboline alkaloids analogues, with indole-fused six- to nine-membered-rings motifs, were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for the inhibition of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Bioassay results indicated that most of these analogues had significant anti-TMV activity; especially I-14 (54 \(\pm \) 3 % at 500 \(\upmu \)g/mL in vitro; 51 \(\pm \) 2, 45 \(\pm \) 2, and 42 \(\pm \) 1 % at 500 \(\upmu \)g/mL in vivo), II-4 (53 \(\pm \) 1 % at 500 \(\upmu \)g/mL in vitro; 49 \(\pm \) 2, 57 \(\pm \) 2, and 48 \(\pm \) 1 % at 500 \(\upmu \)g/mL in vivo), and II-8 (48 \(\pm \) 1 % at 500 \(\upmu \)g/mL in vitro; 53 \(\pm \) 2 %, 56 \(\pm \) 2 %, and 46 \(\pm \) 1 % at 500 \(\upmu \)g/mL in vivo), which were more potent vs. TMV than was ribavirin (36 \(\pm \) 1 % at 500 \(\upmu \)g/mL in vitro; 37 \(\pm \) 2, 41 \(\pm \) 2, and 38 \(\pm \) 1 % at 500 \(\upmu \)g/mL in vivo). The size of the fused ring has important effects on anti-TMV potency, which may be ascribed to conformational differences. The X-ray structures of I-1, I-6, II-8, and III show differing conformational preferences. The most potent compounds can be used as leads for further optimization as antiphytoviral agents.     

Nature of the $$\Omega (2012)$$ through its strong decays

We extend our previous analysis on the mass of the recently discovered \(\Omega (2012)\) state by investigation of its strong decays and calculation of its width employing the method of light cone QCD sum rule. Considering two possibilities for the quantum numbers of \(\Omega (2012)\) state, namely 1P orbital excitation with \(J^P=\frac{3}{2}^-\) and 2S radial excitation with \(J^P=\frac{3}{2}^+\), we obtain the strong coupling constants defining the \(\Omega (1P/2S)\rightarrow \Xi K\) decays. The results of the coupling constants are then used to calculate the decay width corresponding to each possibility. Comparison of the obtained results on the total widths in this work with the experimental value and taking into account the results of our previous mass prediction on the \(\Omega (2012)\) state, we conclude that this state is 1P orbital excitation of the ground state \(\Omega \) baryon, whose quantum numbers are \(J^P=\frac{3}{2}^-\).     

$$\varvec{B^0\rightarrow K^{*0}\mu ^+\mu ^-}$$ decay in the aligned two-Higgs-doublet model

In the aligned two-Higgs-doublet model, we perform a complete one-loop computation of the short-distance Wilson coefficients \(C_{7,9,10}^{(\prime )}\), which are the most relevant ones for \(b\rightarrow s\ell ^+\ell ^-\) transitions. It is found that, when the model parameter \(\left| \varsigma _{u}\right| \) is much smaller than \(\left| \varsigma _{d}\right| \), the charged scalar contributes mainly to chirality-flipped \(C_{9,10}^\prime \), with the corresponding effects being proportional to \(\left| \varsigma _{d}\right| ^2\). Numerically, the charged-scalar effects fit into two categories: (A) \(C_{7,9,10}^\mathrm {H^\pm }\) are sizable, but \(C_{9,10}^{\prime \mathrm {H^\pm }}\simeq 0\), corresponding to the (large \(\left| \varsigma _{u}\right| \), small \(\left| \varsigma _{d}\right| \)) region; (B) \(C_7^\mathrm {H^\pm }\) and \(C_{9,10}^{\prime \mathrm {H^\pm }}\) are sizable, but \(C_{9,10}^\mathrm {H^\pm }\simeq 0\), corresponding to the (small \(\left| \varsigma _{u}\right| \), large \(\left| \varsigma _{d}\right| \)) region. Taking into account phenomenological constraints from the inclusive radiative decay \(B\rightarrow X_{s}{\gamma }\), as well as the latest model-independent global analysis of \(b\rightarrow s\ell ^+\ell ^-\) data, we obtain the much restricted parameter space of the model. We then study the impact of the allowed model parameters on the angular observables \(P_2\) and \(P_5'\) of \(B^0\rightarrow K^{*0}\mu ^+\mu ^-\) decay, and we find that \(P_5'\) could be increased significantly to be consistent with the experimental data in case B.     

Coupled channels dynamics in the generation of the $$\Omega (2012)$$ resonance

We look into the newly observed \(\Omega (2012)\) state from the molecular perspective in which the resonance is generated from the \(\bar{K} \Xi ^*\), \(\eta \Omega \) and \(\bar{K} \Xi \) channels. We find that this picture provides a natural explanation of the properties of the \(\Omega (2012)\) state. We stress that the molecular nature of the resonance is revealed with a large coupling of the \(\Omega (2012)\) to the \(\bar{K} \Xi ^*\) channel, that can be observed in the \(\Omega (2012) \rightarrow \bar{K} \pi \Xi \) decay which is incorporated automatically in our chiral unitary approach via the use of the spectral function of \(\Xi ^*\) in the evaluation of the \(\bar{K} \Xi ^*\) loop function.     

Nuclear suppression of the $$\phi $$ meson yields with large $$p_T$$pT at the RHIC and the LHC

We calculate \(\phi \) meson transverse momentum spectra in \(\mathrm{p}+\mathrm{p}\) collisions as well as their nuclear suppressions in central \(\mathrm{A}+\mathrm{A}\) collisions both at the RHIC and the LHC in LO and NLO with the QCD-improved parton model. We have included the parton energy loss effect in a hot/dense QCD medium with the effectively medium-modified \(\phi \) fragmentation functions in the higher-twist approach of jet quenching. The nuclear modification factors of the \(\phi \) meson in central \(\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}\) collisions at the RHIC and central \(\mathrm{Pb}+\mathrm{Pb}\) collisions at the LHC are provided, and nice agreement of our numerical results at NLO with the ALICE measurement is observed. Predictions of the yield ratios of neutral mesons such as \(\phi /\pi ^0\), \(\phi /\eta \) and \(\phi /\rho ^0\) at large \(p_T\) in relativistic heavy-ion collisions are also presented for the first time.     

Study of the weak annihilation contributions in charmless $$\varvec{B_s\rightarrow VV}$$ decays

In this paper, in order to probe the spectator-scattering and weak annihilation contributions in charmless \(B_s\rightarrow VV\) (where V stands for a light vector meson) decays, we perform the \(\chi ^2\)-analyses for the endpoint parameters within the QCD factorization framework, under the constraints from the measured \(\bar{B}_{s}\rightarrow \) \(\rho ^0\phi \), \(\phi K^{*0}\), \(\phi \phi \) and \(K^{*0}\bar{K}^{*0}\) decays. The fitted results indicate that the endpoint parameters in the factorizable and nonfactorizable annihilation topologies are non-universal, which is also favored by the charmless \(B\rightarrow PP\) and PV (where P stands for a light pseudo-scalar meson) decays observed in previous work. Moreover, the abnormal polarization fractions \(f_{L,\bot }(\bar{B}_{s}\rightarrow K^{*0}\bar{K}^{*0})=(20.1\pm 7.0)\%,(58.4\pm 8.5)\%\) measured by the LHCb collaboration can be reconciled through the weak annihilation corrections. However, the branching ratio of \(\bar{B}_{s}\rightarrow \phi K^{*0}\) decay exhibits a tension between the data and theoretical result, which dominates the contributions to \(\chi _\mathrm{min}^2\) in the fits. Using the fitted endpoint parameters, we update the theoretical results for the charmless \(B_s\rightarrow VV\) decays, which will be further tested by the LHCb and Belle-II experiments in the near future.     

Rare $$\Lambda _c\rightarrow p \ell ^+\ell ^-$$ decay in the relativistic quark model

The relativistic quark model based on the quasipotential approach with the QCD-motivate potential is employed for the calculation of the form factors of the \(\Lambda _c\rightarrow p\) rare weak transitions. Their momentum dependence is explicitly determined without additional assumptions and extrapolations in the whole kinematical range of the momentum transfer squared \(q^2\). The differential \(\Lambda _c\rightarrow p l^+l^-\) decay branching fractions and angular distributions are calculated on the basis of these form factors. Both the perturbative and effective Wilson coefficients, which include contributions of vector meson resonances, are used. The calculated branching fraction of the \(\Lambda _c\rightarrow p \mu ^+\mu ^-\) rare decay is well consistent with the experimental upper limit very recently set by the LHCb Collaboration.     

Fully constrained Majorana neutrino mass matrices using $$\varvec{\varSigma (72\times 3)}$$

In 2002, two neutrino mixing ansatze having trimaximally mixed middle (\(\nu _2\)) columns, namely tri-chi-maximal mixing (\(\text {T}\chi \text {M}\)) and tri-phi-maximal mixing (\(\text {T}\phi \text {M}\)), were proposed. In 2012, it was shown that \(\text {T}\chi \text {M}\) with \(\chi =\pm \,\frac{\pi }{16}\) as well as \(\text {T}\phi \text {M}\) with \(\phi = \pm \,\frac{\pi }{16}\) leads to the solution, \(\sin ^2 \theta _{13} = \frac{2}{3} \sin ^2 \frac{\pi }{16}\), consistent with the latest measurements of the reactor mixing angle, \(\theta _{13}\). To obtain \(\text {T}\chi \text {M}_{(\chi =\pm \,\frac{\pi }{16})}\) and \(\text {T}\phi \text {M}_{(\phi =\pm \,\frac{\pi }{16})}\), the type I see-saw framework with fully constrained Majorana neutrino mass matrices was utilised. These mass matrices also resulted in the neutrino mass ratios, \(m_1:m_2:m_3=\frac{\left( 2+\sqrt{2}\right) }{1+\sqrt{2(2+\sqrt{2})}}:1:\frac{\left( 2+\sqrt{2}\right) }{-1+\sqrt{2(2+\sqrt{2})}}\). In this paper we construct a flavour model based on the discrete group \(\varSigma (72\times 3)\) and obtain the aforementioned results. A Majorana neutrino mass matrix (a symmetric \(3\times 3\) matrix with six complex degrees of freedom) is conveniently mapped into a flavon field transforming as the complex six-dimensional representation of \(\varSigma (72\times 3)\). Specific vacuum alignments of the flavons are used to arrive at the desired mass matrices.     

Associative open charm photoproduction $$\gamma + N \to Y_c + \bar D_c (\bar D_c^ * ), Y_c = \Lambda _c^ + or \Sigma _c $$

We analyze polarization effects in associative photoproduction of pseudoscalar\((\bar D_c )\) and vector\((\bar D_c^ * )\) charmed mesons in exclusive processes\(\gamma + N \to Y_c + \bar D_c , Y_c = \Lambda _c^ + , \Sigma _c \). We calculate the differential cross section and all polarization observables in framework of au effective Lagrangian approach. In case of collinear kinematics it is possible to give model independent predictions for polarization observables in case of\(\bar D_c \) production, and the analysis for\(\bar D_c^ * \) is largely simplified.     

The phenomenon of tristable stochastic resonance driven by $$\alpha $$-noise

In this paper, the tristable stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon induced by \(\alpha \)-stable noise is analysed. The mechanism for realizing resonance is explored based on research concerning the potential function and resonant output of a system. The rules for resonance system parameters q, p, skewness parameter r and intensity amplification factor Q of \(\alpha \)-stable noise to act on the resonant output are explored under different values of stability index \(\alpha \) and asymmetric skewness \(\beta \) of \(\alpha \)-stable noise. The results will contribute to a reasonable selection of parameter-induced tristable SR system parameters under \(\alpha \)-stable noise, and lay the foundation for a practical engineering application of weak signal detection based on the SR.     

Excited state mass spectra of doubly heavy $$\Xi $$ baryons

In this paper, the mass spectra are obtained for doubly heavy \(\Xi \) baryons, namely, \(\Xi _{cc}^{+}\), \(\Xi _{cc}^{++}\), \(\Xi _{bb}^{-}\), \(\Xi _{bb}^{0}\), \(\Xi _{bc}^{0}\) and \(\Xi _{bc}^{+}\). These baryons consist of two heavy quarks (cc, bb, and bc) with a light (d or u) quark. The ground, radial, and orbital states are calculated in the framework of the hypercentral constituent quark model with Coulomb plus linear potential. Our results are also compared with other predictions, thus, the average possible range of excited states masses of these \(\Xi \) baryons can be determined. The study of the Regge trajectories is performed in (n, \(M^{2}\)) and (J, \(M^{2}\)) planes and their slopes and intercepts are also determined. Lastly, the ground state magnetic moments of these doubly heavy baryons are also calculated.     

Two-Higgs-doublet type-II and -III models and $$t\rightarrow c h$$ at the LHC

We study the constraints of the generic two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) type-III and the impacts of the new Yukawa couplings. For comparisons, we revisit the analysis in the 2HDM type-II. To understand the influence of all involving free parameters and to realize their correlations, we employ a \(\chi \)-square fitting approach by including theoretical and experimental constraints, such as the S, T, and U oblique parameters, the production of standard model Higgs and its decay to \(\gamma \gamma \), \(WW^*/ZZ^*\), \(\tau ^+\tau ^-\), etc. The errors of the analysis are taken at 68, 95.5, and \(99.7~\%\) confidence levels. Due to the new Yukawa couplings being associated with \(\cos (\beta -\alpha )\) and \(\sin (\beta -\alpha )\), we find that the allowed regions for \(\sin \alpha \) and \(\tan \beta \) in the type-III model can be broader when the dictated parameter \(\chi _F\) is positive; however, for negative \(\chi _F\), the limits are stricter than those in the type-II model. By using the constrained parameters, we find that the deviation from the SM in \(h\rightarrow Z\gamma \) can be of \(\mathcal{O}(10~\%)\). Additionally, we also study the top-quark flavor-changing processes induced at the tree level in the type-III model and find that when all current experimental data are considered, we get \(Br(t\rightarrow c(h, H) )< 10^{-3}\) for \(m_h=125.36\) and \(m_H=150\) GeV, and \(Br(t\rightarrow cA)\) slightly exceeds \(10^{-3}\) for \(m_A =130\) GeV.     

Ab-initio calculations of structural,phonon and thermal properties of $$\hbox {Al}_x \hbox {Ga}_{1-x} \hbox {As}$$ alloy

We provide the energy spectrum of an electron in a degenerately doped semiconductor of parabolic band. Knowing the energy spectrum, the density-of-states (DOS) functions are obtained, considering the Gaussian distribution of the potential energy of the impurity states, showing a band tail in them e.g., energy spectrum and density-of-states. Therefore, Fermi integrals (FIs) of DOS functions, having band tail, are developed by the exact theoretical calculations of the same. It is noticed that with heavy dopings in semiconductors, the total FI demonstrates complex functions, containing both real and imaginary terms of different FI functions. Their moduli possess an oscillatory function of \(\eta \) (reduced \(\hbox {Fermi energy} = E_{\mathrm{f}}/k_{\mathrm{B}}T\), \(k_{\mathrm{B}}\) is the Boltzmann constant and T is the absolute temperature) and \(\eta _{e}\) (impurity screening potential), having a series solutions of confluent hypergeometric functions, \(\Phi (a, b; z)\), superimposed with natural cosine functions of angle \(\theta \). The variation of \(\theta \) with respect to \(\eta \) indicated a resonance at \(\eta =1.5\). The oscillatory behaviour of FIs show the existence of ‘band-gaps’, both in the real as well as in the forbidden bands as new band gaps in the semiconductor.     

Lepton polarization asymmetries in rare semi-tauonic $$ b \rightarrow s $$ exclusive decays at FCC- ee

We consider measurements of exclusive rare semi-tauonic b-hadron decays, mediated by the \(b \rightarrow s \tau ^+ \tau ^-\) transition, at a future high-energy circular electron–positron collider (FCC-ee). We argue that the high boosts of b-hadrons originating from on-shell Z boson decays allow for a full reconstruction of the decay kinematics in hadronic \(\tau \) decay modes (up to discrete ambiguities). This, together with the potentially large statistics of \(Z\rightarrow b\bar{b}\), opens the door for the experimental determination of \(\tau \) polarizations in these rare b-hadron decays. In the light of the current experimental situation on lepton flavor universality in rare semileptonic B decays, we discuss the complementary short-distance physics information carried by the \(\tau \) polarizations and suggest suitable theoretically clean observables in the form of single- and double-\(\tau \) polarization asymmetries.     

A Chiang-type lagrangian in $$\mathbb {CP}^2$$

We analyse a monotone lagrangian in \(\mathbb {CP}^2\) that is hamiltonian isotopic to the standard lagrangian \(\mathbb {RP}^2\), yet exhibits a distinguishing behaviour under reduction by one of the toric circle actions, namely it intersects transversally the reduction level set and it projects one-to-one onto a great circle in \(\mathbb {CP}^1\). This lagrangian thus provides an example of embedded composition fitting work of Wehrheim–Woodward and Weinstein.     

Scattering of kinks of the sinh-deformed $$\varphi ^4$$ model

We consider the scattering of kinks of the sinh-deformed \(\varphi ^4\) model, which is obtained from the well-known \(\varphi ^4\) model by means of the deformation procedure. Depending on the initial velocity \(v_\mathrm {in}\) of the colliding kinks, different collision scenarios are realized. There is a critical value \(v_\mathrm {cr}\) of the initial velocity, which separates the regime of reflection (at \(v_\mathrm {in}>v_\mathrm {cr}\)) and that of a complicated interaction (at \(v_\mathrm {in}<v_\mathrm {cr}\)) with kinks’ capture and escape windows. Besides that, at \(v_\mathrm {in}\) below \(v_\mathrm {cr}\) we observe the formation of a bound state of two oscillons, as well as their escape at some values of \(v_\mathrm {in}\).     

Classical defects in higher-dimensional Einstein gravity coupled to nonlinear $$\sigma $$-models

We construct solutions of higher-dimensional Einstein gravity coupled to nonlinear \(\sigma \)-model with cosmological constant. The \(\sigma \)-model can be perceived as exterior configuration of a spontaneously-broken \(SO(D-1)\) global higher-codimensional “monopole”. Here we allow the kinetic term of the \(\sigma \)-model to be noncanonical; in particular we specifically study a quadratic-power-law type. This is some possible higher-dimensional generalization of the Bariola–Vilenkin (BV) solutions with k-global monopole studied recently. The solutions can be perceived as the exterior solution of a black hole swallowing up noncanonical global defects. Even in the absence of comological constant its surrounding spacetime is asymptotically non-flat; it suffers from deficit solid angle. We discuss the corresponding horizons. For \(\Lambda >0\) in 4d there can exist three extremal conditions (the cold, ultracold, and Nariai black holes), while in higher-than-four dimensions the extremal black hole is only Nariai. For \(\Lambda <0\) we only have black hole solutions with one horizon, save for the 4d case where there can exist two horizons. We give constraints on the mass and the symmetry-breaking scale for the existence of all the extremal cases. In addition, we also obtain factorized solutions, whose topology is the direct product of two-dimensional spaces of constant curvature (\(M_2\), \(dS_2\), or \(AdS_2\)) with (D-2)-sphere. We study all possible factorized channels.     

Phase transition in anisotropic holographic superfluids with arbitrary dynamical critical exponent z and hyperscaling violation factor $$\alpha $$

Einstein-scalar-U(2) gauge field theory is considered in a spacetime characterized by \(\alpha \) and z, which are the hyperscaling violation factor and the dynamical critical exponent, respectively. We consider a dual fluid system of such a gravity theory characterized by temperature T and chemical potential \(\mu \). It turns out that there is a superfluid phase transition where a vector order parameter appears which breaks SO(3) global rotation symmetry of the dual fluid system when the chemical potential becomes a certain critical value. To study this system for arbitrary z and \(\alpha \), we first apply Sturm–Liouville theory and estimate the upper bounds of the critical values of the chemical potential. We also employ a numerical method in the ranges of \(1 \le z \le 4\) and \(0 \le \alpha \le 4\) to check if the Sturm–Liouville method correctly estimates the critical values of the chemical potential. It turns out that the two methods are agreed within 10 percent error ranges. Finally, we compute free energy density of the dual fluid by using its gravity dual and check if the system shows phase transition at the critical values of the chemical potential \(\mu _\mathrm{c}\) for the given parameter region of \(\alpha \) and z. Interestingly, it is observed that the anisotropic phase is more favored than the isotropic phase for relatively small values of z and \(\alpha \). However, for large values of z and \(\alpha \), the anisotropic phase is not favored.