Measurements of branching fractions for B --> K pi and B --> pi pi decays

We report measurements of branching fractions for B --> K pi and B --> pi pi decays based on a data sample of 449 x 10(6) BB[over] pairs collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. We also measure the ratios of partial widths for B-->Kpi decays, namely R(c) identical with 2Gamma(B(+) --> K(+) pi(0))/Gamma(B(+) --> K(0) pi(+)) = 1.08+/-0.06+/-0.08 and R(n) identical with Gamma(B(0) --> K(+) pi(-))/2 Gamma(B(0) --> K(0) pi(0)) = 1.08+/-0.08+/-0.08, where the first and the second errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. These ratios are sensitive to enhanced electroweak penguin contributions from new physics; the new measurements are, however, consistent with standard model expectations.     

Measurement of inclusive Ds, D0, and J/psi rates and determination of the Bs(*)Bs(*) production fraction in bb Events at the Upsilon(5S) resonance

The inclusive production of D(s), D(0), and J/psi mesons is studied using a 1.86 fb(-1) data sample collected on the Upsilon(5S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The number of bb events in this Upsilon(5S) data sample is determined. We measure the branching fractions B(Upsilon(5S)-->D(s)X)/2=(23.6+/-1.2+/-3.6)%, B(Upsilon(5S)-->D(0)X)/2=(53.8+/-2.0+/-3.4)%, and B(Upsilon(5S)-->J/psiX)/2=(1.030+/-0.080+/-0.067)%. From the D(s) and D(0) inclusive branching fractions the ratio f(s)=(18.0+/-1.3+/-3.2)% of B(s)(*)B(s)(*) to the total bb quark pair production at the Upsilon(5S) energy is obtained in a model-dependent way.     

Observation of time-dependent CP violation in B0 --> eta'K0 decays and improved measurements of CP asymmetries in B0 --> phiK0, KS0KS0KS0 and B0 --> J/psiK0 decays

We present improved measurements of CP-violation parameters in B(0) --> phiK(0), eta(')K(0), KS(0)KS(0)KS(0) decays based on a sample of 535 x 10(6) BB pairs collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. We obtain sin2phi1(eff)=+0.64+/-0.10(stat)+/-0.04(syst) for B(0) --> eta(')K(0), +0.50+/-0.21(stat)+/-0.06(syst) for B(0) --> phiK(0), and +0.30+/-0.32(stat)+/-0.08(syst) for B(0) --> KS(0)KS(0)KS(0) decays. We have observed CP violation in the B(0) --> eta(')K(0) decay with a significance of 5.6 standard deviations. We also perform an improved measurement of CP asymmetries in B(0) --> J/psiK(0) decays and obtain sin2phi1=+0.642+/-0.031(stat)+/-0.017(syst).     

Blue-Shift Hydrogen Bonds in Silyltriptycene Derivatives: Antibonding σ* Orbitals of the Si−C Bond as Effective Acceptors of Electron Density

Triptycene derivatives are widely utilized in different fields of chemistry and materials sciences. Their physicochemical properties, often of pivotal importance for the rational design of triptycene-based functional materials, are influenced by noncovalent interactions between substituents mounted on the triptycene skeleton. Herein, a unique interaction between electron-rich substituents in the peri position and the silyl group located on the bridgehead sp³-carbon is discussed on the example of 1,4-dichloro-9-(p-methoxyphenyl)-silyltriptycene (TRPCl) which exists in solution in the form of two rotamers differing by dispositions, syn or anti, of the Si−C_Ph (the C_Ph atom is from the p-methoxyphenyl group) bond against the peri-Cl atom. For the first time, substantial differences between the Si−C_Ph bonds in these two dispositions are identified, based on indirect experimental and direct theoretical evidence. For these two orientations, the experimental ¹J(Si,C_Ph) values differ by as much as 10 percent. The differences are explained in terms of effective electron density transfer from the peri-Cl atom to the antibonding σ* orbitals of the Si−X bonds (X=H, C_Ph) oriented anti to that atom. The electronic effects are revealed by an NBO analysis. Connections of these observations with the notion of blue-shifting hydrogen bonds are discussed.     

Profiles of Essential Oils and Correlations with Phenolic Acids and Primary Metabolites in Flower Buds of Magnolia heptapeta and Magnolia denudata var. purpurascens

Magnolia flower buds are a source of herbal medicines with various active compounds. In this study, differences in the distribution and abundance of major essential oils, phenolic acids, and primary metabolites between white flower buds of Magnolia heptapeta and violet flower buds of Magnolia denudata var. purpurascens were characterised. A multivariate analysis revealed clear separation between the white and violet flower buds with respect to primary and secondary metabolites closely related to metabolic systems. White flower buds contained large amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons (MH), phenolic acids, aromatic amino acids, and monosaccharides, related to the production of isoprenes, as MH precursors, and the activity of MH synthase. However, concentrations of β-myrcene, a major MH compound, were higher in violet flower buds than in white flower buds, possibly due to higher threonine levels and low acidic conditions induced by comparatively low levels of some organic acids. Moreover, levels of stress-related metabolites, such as oxygenated monoterpenes, proline, and glutamic acid, were higher in violet flower buds than in white flower buds. Our results support the feasibility of metabolic profiling for the identification of phytochemical differences and improve our understanding of the correlated biological pathways for primary and secondary metabolites.     

Potassium-intercalated H(2)Pc films: Alkali-induced electronic and geometrical modifications

X-ray spectroscopy studies of potassium intercalated metal-free phthalocyanine multilayers adsorbed on Al(110) have been undertaken. Photoelectron spectroscopy measurements show the presence of several charge states of the molecules upon K intercalation, due to a charge transfer from the alkali. In addition, the comparison of valence band photoemission spectra with the density functional theory calculations of the density of states of the H(2)Pc(-) anion indicates a filling of the formerly lowest unoccupied molecular orbital by charge transfer from the alkali. This is further confirmed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies, which show a decreased density of unoccupied states. XAS measurements in different experimental geometries reveal that the molecules in the pristine film are standing upright on the surface or are only slightly tilted away from the surface normal but upon K intercalation, the molecular orientation is changed in that the tilt angle of the molecules increases.     

Color removal method considering perceived lightness

Optical Review - A novel color removal method for digital color images is proposed. In this method, differences of colors in an input color image are reflected effectively, and the perceived...     

GaAs/AlGaAs photonic crystals for VCSEL-type semiconductor lasers

The results of modelling of the influence of photonic crystal on the performance of VCSEL-type semiconductor laser structure are shown and indicate that the use of those structures would significantly improve the working parameters of the devices. The method of fabrication of photonic crystals in the Bragg mirrors of GaAs/AlGaAs-based VCSELs is presented.     

Ferromagnetic resonance in Ni-Mn-Ga thin films and thin-film tubes

We report on FMR experiments performed for the first time on thin Ni-Mn-Ga films clamped to the mica substrates and then fully released from them. The aim is to evaluate the role of magnetoelastic coupling in stressed Ni-Mn-Ga Heusler alloy films that undergo martensitic transformation. The experimental results show that the difference in the effective magnetization 4π(M_eff ^tubes-M_eff ^films) is negligible in the austenite phase and it increases to about 1–1.5 kG at temperatures well below the martensitic transformation. The data suggests that magnetoelastic coupling in the martensite phase of Ni-Mn-Ga thin films is typical of normal thin magnetic films with magnetostriction of about 50 ppm.