S. Alghamdi

We study the processes e + e − → ϒ J ( 1 D ) η and e + e − → ϒ J ( 1 D ) π + π − at center-of-mass energies s = ( 10.73 − 11.02 ) GeV using a 142.5 fb − 1 data sample, including 122 fb − 1 near the ϒ ( 10860 ) peak ( s = 10.866 GeV ), collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e + e − collider. From the peak sample, the products of Born cross section times branching fraction are obtained for σ Born ( e + e − → ϒ J ( 1 D ) η ) or σ Born ( e + e − → ϒ J ( 1 D ) π + π − ) and B ( ϒ J ( 1 D ) → χ b 1 γ ) or B ( ϒ J ( 1 D ) → χ b 2 γ ) for each ϒ J ( 1 D ) state. The corresponding branching fractions for ϒ ( 10860 ) decays are also obtained. The significances of the ϒ 1 ( 1 D ) , ϒ 2 ( 1 D ) , and ϒ 3 ( 1 D ) signals are 4.8 σ , > 10 σ , and 3.0 σ , respectively, including systematic uncertainties. The mass for ϒ 2 ( 1 D ) is measured to be ( 10167.0 ± 1.0 ± 0.2 ) MeV / c 2 , where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic. The mass splittings Δ m 12 = m ( ϒ 2 ( 1 D ) ) − m ( ϒ 1 ( 1 D ) ) and Δ m 23 = m ( ϒ 3 ( 1 D ) ) − m ( ϒ 2 ( 1 D ) ) are ( 11.8 ± 1.5 ± 0.4 ) MeV / c 2 and ( 7.6 ± 2.4 ± 0.6 ) MeV / c 2 , respectively. We determine the energy dependence of the cross sections for e + e − → ϒ J ( 1 D ) η and e + e − → ϒ J ( 1 D ) π + π − for the ϒ 1 ( 1 D ) , ϒ 2 ( 1 D ) , and ϒ 3 ( 1 D ) states, combined.

We report the first observation of the decays B + → Σ c ( 2455 ) + + Ξ ¯ c ′ − and B 0 → Σ c ( 2455 ) 0 Ξ ¯ c ′ 0 , with significances of 6.4 σ and 5.3 σ , respectively, including systematic uncertainties. This analysis is based on data samples containing 771.6 × 10 6 ϒ ( 4 S ) decays collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB collider and 520.6 × 10 6 ϒ ( 4 S ) decays collected with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB collider. The branching fractions are measured to be B ( B + → Σ c ( 2455 ) + + Ξ ¯ c ′ − ) = ( 1.69 ± 0.31 ± 0.1 2 − 0.56 + 1.39 ) × 10 − 3 and B ( B 0 → Σ c ( 2455 ) 0 Ξ ¯ c ′ 0 ) = ( 1.28 ± 0.32 ± 0.1 0 − 0.22 + 0.26 ) × 10 − 3 , where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively, and the third arises from the uncertainties in the absolute branching fractions of Ξ ¯ c − and Ξ ¯ c 0 decays. This result represents the first observation of B -meson decays into a pair of charmed baryon-antibaryon states belonging to the same S U ( 3 ) flavor sextet.

We report the first searches for charged-lepton-flavor violation in decays of χ b J ( 1 P ) ( J = 0 , 1, and 2) to a pair of charged leptons using 158 million ϒ ( 2 S ) decays collected with the Belle detector in e + e − collisions at the KEKB collider. No significant signal is observed, and we set upper limits on the branching fractions for χ b J ( 1 P ) decays to e ± μ ∓ at the level of 10 − 6 and to e ± τ ∓ or μ ± τ ∓ at the level of 10 − 5 . Limits on χ b 0 ( 1 P ) decays are translated into bounds on the corresponding Wilson coefficients of scalar operators that mediate charged-lepton-flavor violation.

In this study, zinc-doped magnesium ferrite (Zn_x-Mg_1−xFe₂O₄) nanoparticles were synthesized using a facile combustion method and investigated for their electrochemical sensing and photocatalytic applications. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy band gap (Eg) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The synthesized Zn–MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles exhibited crystallite sizes ranging from 18.7 to 27.9 nm with an optical band gap of 1.86–1.89 eV. The catalyst achieved degradation efficiencies of 78% for Eriochrome Black T and 85% for Methyl Orange within 120 min, while the electrochemical sensor exhibited excellent linearity toward HgCl₂ detection (R² = 0.99664), demonstrating the multifunctional capability of the synthesized nanostructure. The synergistic effects of Zn doping contributed to enhanced electrical conductivity, catalytic activity, and structural stability. The novelty of this work lies in the development of combustion-synthesized Zn–MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles as a multifunctional material capable of simultaneously achieving efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and sensitive electrochemical detection of mercury chloride using a simple and scalable synthesis route. These findings demonstrate that Zn–MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles hold significant potential for integrated environmental remediation and electrochemical sensing applications.

Nanoparticles have attracted considerable interest for biomedical and catalytic applications due to their unique functional properties. This study aims to evaluate the structural, optical, photoelectric, photocatalytic, and wound-healing performance of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and cellulose nanoparticles with complementary physicochemical characteristics. The nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, while photoelectric properties were assessed through current–voltage (I–V) measurements. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated using methylene blue degradation under solar irradiation, and in vivo wound healing was examined using a rat excisional model over 13 days. Cellulose nanoparticles exhibited nearly double the photocurrent compared to CTAB, indicating enhanced charge transport efficiency. Photocatalytic results showed that cellulose achieved approximately ~70% degradation within 210 s, compared to ~50% for CTAB. In vivo findings revealed that cellulose achieved 82% wound closure, compared with 71% for CTAB, 67% for Betadine, and 35% for untreated controls, accompanied by improved tissue regeneration. Overall, cellulose nanoparticles exhibited better photoelectrochemical, photocatalytic, and wound-healing properties, whereas CTAB provided structural integrity and antimicrobial properties. These materials are therefore promising multifunctional nanomaterials for catalytic and biological applications.

Using a data sample of 427.9 fb − 1 collected by the Belle II detector at or near the ϒ ( 4 S ) and ϒ ( 10753 ) resonances, the cross sections for e + e − → h + h − J / ψ ( h = π / K / p ) at center-of-mass energies ranging from 3.8 GeV or the production threshold to 5.5 / 6.0 / 7.0 GeV have been measured via initial-state radiation. The cross sections for the processes e + e − → π + π − J / ψ and e + e − → K + K − J / ψ are consistent with previously published results. The cross sections for these channels obtained by combining with previous Belle results are also given. The process e + e − → p p ¯ J / ψ is investigated for the first time. The yields are small and no significant structure is observed in the cross section versus energy. Searches for vector charmoniumlike states in the h + h − J / ψ systems, and for associated intermediate states in the h ± J / ψ systems, are also presented.

We report a measurement of the branching fraction for the leptonic decay B + → μ + ν μ . This work presents the first B + → μ + ν μ result using Belle II data, an updated Belle measurement that supersedes the previous result, and their combination, which yields the most precise search to date. The analysis is based on 1076 fb − 1 of e + e − collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV with the Belle and Belle II detectors at the KEKB and SuperKEKB colliders, respectively. We measure B ( B + → μ + ν μ ) = ( 4.4 ± 1.9 ± 1.0 ) × 10 − 7 , where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The observed significance relative to the background-only hypothesis is 2.4 standard deviations. We set a 90% confidence level upper limit of B ( B + → μ + ν μ ) < 6.7 × 10 − 7 using a frequentist approach and a 90% credibility level upper limit of B ( B + → μ + ν μ ) < 7.2 × 10 − 7 using a Bayesian approach. These are the most stringent limits to date. The result is interpreted as an exclusion region in the parameter space of type II and type III two-Higgs-doublet models. We search for stable sterile neutrinos with masses m N ∈ [ 0 , 1.5 ] GeV . No signal is observed, and the resulting exclusion on the squared mixing parameter | U μ N | 2 provides improvement over previous limits. We report a measurement of the partial branching fraction of semileptonic B → X u ℓ ν ℓ decays with p μ B > 2.2 GeV , obtaining Δ B ( B → X u ℓ ν ℓ ) = ( 2.72 ± 0.05 ± 0.29 ) × 10 − 4 . We present a model-dependent study of weak annihilation decays using the muon momentum spectrum. We observe a signal of 2.4 standard deviations above the background-only hypothesis in regions where the distribution resembles that of B → X u ℓ ν ℓ decays.

We report the first observation of the radiative decay D s 0 * ( 2317 ) + → D s * + γ with a statistical significance exceeding 10 standard deviations. The signal is observed in the continuum e + e − → c c ¯ process, using combined data samples of 980.4 fb − 1 from Belle and 427.9 fb − 1 from Belle II, collected at the KEKB and SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy e + e − colliders, respectively. The branching fraction ratio B [ D s 0 * ( 2317 ) + → D s * + γ ] / B [ D s 0 * ( 2317 ) + → D s + π 0 ] is measured to be [ 7.13 ± 0.70 ( stat ) ± 0.26 ( syst ) ] % . This result provides crucial discrimination between theoretical models of the D s 0 * ( 2317 ) + structure.