Using the entire Belle data sample of 980 fb−1 of e+e− collisions, we present the results of a study of excited Ωc charmed baryons in the decay mode Ξc+K−. We show confirmation of four of the five ...narrow states reported by the LHCb Collaboration: the Ωc(3000), Ωc(3050), Ωc(3066), and Ωc(3090).
Aims
To clone, characterize and compare the bile salt hydrolase (BSH) genes of Lactobacillus johnsonii PF01.
Methods and Results
The BSH genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using ...specific oligonucleotide primers, and the products were inserted into the pET21b expression vector. Escherichia coli BLR (DE3) cells were transformed with pET21b vectors containing the BSH genes and induced using 0·1 mmol l−1 isopropylthiolgalactopyranoside. The overexpressed BSH enzymes were purified using a nickel–nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni2+‐NTA) agarose column and their activities characterized. BSH A hydrolysed tauro‐conjugated bile salts optimally at pH 5·0 and 55°C, whereas BSH C hydrolysed glyco‐conjugated bile salts optimally at pH 5·0 and 70°C. The enzymes had no preferential activities towards a specific cholyl moiety.
Conclusions
BSH enzymes vary in their substrate specificities and characteristics to broaden its activity. Despite the lack of conservation in their putative substrate‐binding sites, these remain functional through motif conservation.
Significance and Impact of the Study
This is to our knowledge the first report of isolation of BSH enzymes from a single strain, showing hydrolase activity towards either glyco‐conjugated or tauro‐conjugated bile salts. Future structural homology studies and site‐directed mutagenesis of sites associated with substrate specificity may elucidate specificities of BSH enzymes.
We investigated the electronic structure of 5d transition-metal oxide Sr2IrO4 using angle-resolved photoemission, optical conductivity, x-ray absorption measurements, and first-principles band ...calculations. The system was found to be well described by novel effective total angular momentum Jeff states, in which the relativistic spin-orbit coupling is fully taken into account under a large crystal field. Despite delocalized Ir 5d states, the Jeff states form such narrow bands that even a small correlation energy leads to the Jeff=1/2 Mott ground state with unique electronic and magnetic behaviors, suggesting a new class of Jeff quantum spin driven correlated-electron phenomena.
We report results from a study of the spin and parity of Ξ c ( 2970 ) + using a 980 fb −1 data sample collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e− collider. The decay angle ...distributions in the chain Ξc (2970)+→ Ξc (2645) 0π+ → Ξ+c π− π+ are analyzed to determine the spin of this charmed-strange baryon. The angular distributions strongly favor the Ξc (2970)+ spin J = 1/2 over 3/2 or 5/2, under an assumption that the lowest partial wave dominates in the decay. We also measure the ratio of Ξc (2970)+ decay branching fractions R = B Ξc (2970)+ → Ξc (2645)0π+/B Ξc (2970)+ → Ξ0c π+ = 1.67 ± 0.29 (stat)+0.15 −0.09 (syst) ± 0.25 (IS), where the last uncertainty is due to possible isospin-symmetry-breaking effects. This R value favors the spin-parity J P = 1/2+ with the spin of the light-quark degrees of freedom sl = 0. This is the first determination of the spin and parity of a charmed-strange baryon.
We present a new measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |Vcb| from B0→D*−ℓ+νℓ decays, reconstructed with the full Belle data set of 711 fb−1 integrated luminosity. Two form ...factor parametrizations, originally conceived by the Caprini-Lellouch-Neubert (CLN) and the Boyd, Grinstein and Lebed (BGL) groups, are used to extract the product F(1)ηEW|Vcb| and the decay form factors, where F(1) is the normalization factor and ηEW is a small electroweak correction. In the CLN parametrization we find F(1)ηEW|Vcb|=(35.06±0.15±0.56)×10−3, ρ2=1.106±0.031±0.007, R1(1)=1.229±0.028±0.009, R2(1)=0.852±0.021±0.006. For the BGL parametrization we obtain F(1)ηEW|Vcb|=(34.93±0.23±0.59)×10−3, which is consistent with the world average when correcting for F(1)ηEW. The branching fraction of B0→D*−ℓ+νℓ is measured to be B(B0→D*−ℓ+νℓ)=(4.90±0.02±0.16)%. We also present a new test of lepton flavor universality violation in semileptonic B decays, B(B0→D*−e+ν)B(B0→D*−μ+ν)=1.01±0.01±0.03. The errors quoted correspond to the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. This is the most precise measurement of F(1)ηEW|Vcb| and form factors to date and the first experimental study of the BGL form factor parametrization in an experimental measurement.
We present a measurement of angular observables and a test of lepton flavor universality in the B→K^{*}ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} decay, where ℓ is either e or μ. The analysis is performed on a data sample ...corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 711 fb^{-1} containing 772×10^{6} BBover ¯ pairs, collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider KEKB. The result is consistent with standard model (SM) expectations, where the largest discrepancy from a SM prediction is observed in the muon modes with a local significance of 2.6σ.
We report two microlensing planet candidates discovered by the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) survey in 2017. However, both events have the 2L1S/1L2S degeneracy, which is an obstacle ...to claiming the discovery of the planets with certainty unless the degeneracy can be resolved. For KMT-2017-BLG-0962, the degeneracy cannot be resolved. If the 2L1S solution is correct, KMT-2017-BLG-0962 might be produced by a super Jupiter-mass planet orbiting a mid-M-dwarf host star. For KMT-2017-BLG-1119, the light-curve modeling favors the 2L1S solution but higher-resolution observations of the baseline object tend to support the 1L2S interpretation rather than the planetary interpretation. This degeneracy might be resolved by a future measurement of the lens-source relative proper motion. This study shows that the problem of resolving 2L1S/1L2S degeneracy exists over a much wider range of conditions than those considered by the theoretical study of Gaudi (1998).
A
bstract
We report on the response of a high light-output NaI(Tl) crystal to nuclear recoils induced by neutrons from an Am-Be source and compare the results with the response to electron recoils ...produced by Compton-scattered 662 keV γ-rays from a
137
Cs source. The measured pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) power of the NaI(Tl) crystal is found to be significantly improved because of the high light output of the NaI(Tl) detector. We quantify the PSD power with a quality factor and estimate the sensitivity to the interaction rate for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with nucleons, and the result is compared with the annual modulation amplitude observed by the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. The sensitivity to spin-independent WIMP-nucleon interactions based on 100 kg·year of data from NaI detectors is estimated with simulated experiments, using the standard halo model.
This manuscript reports the consensus statements regarding the design and conduct of clinical trials in patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), following ...deliberation at the Fifth Ovarian Cancer Consensus Conference (OCCC), held in Tokyo in November 2015. Three important questions were identified for discussion prior to the meeting and achieved consensus during the meeting: (i) What are the most important factors to be evaluated prior to initial therapy? (ii) What are the most important factors to be evaluated specifically in recurrent disease? (iii) Are there specific considerations for special patient subpopulations? In addition, we report a list of important unmet needs compiled during the consensus process, which is intended to guide future research initiatives.
Metallic magnetic calorimeters (MMCs) are particle detectors that combine ultra-high energy resolution with a predictable and smooth response based on the physics of paramagnetism. For best energy ...resolution, MMCs are read out with dc SQUID preamplifiers. Since the ac Josephson effect also makes dc SQUIDs broadband RF sources in the 1–100 GHz range, the SQUID can potentially excite RF modes of the MMC sensor, with negative consequences. The importance of this possibility is magnified in direct-coupled MMCs, where the MMC sensor is part of the SQUID loop to maximize performance. For these reasons, the RF behavior of MMC sensors must be investigated. In this report, we present the results of exploratory RF simulations of MMC sensor modes and damping, and we assess three approaches to damp the parallel-meander direct-coupled MMC without excessive noise increase.
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