Search for a doubly charged DDK bound state in ϒ (1S, 2S) inclusive decays and via direct production in e+e- collisions at s =10.520, 10.580, and 10.867 GeV SEARCH for A DOUBLY CHARGED DDK BOUND STATE

We report the results of a first search for a doubly charged DDK bound state, denoted the R++, in ϒ(1S) and ϒ(2S) inclusive decays and via direct production in e+e- collisions at s=10.520, 10.580, and 10.867 GeV. The search uses data accumulated with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider. No significant signals are observed in the D+Ds∗+ invariant-mass spectra of all studied modes. The 90% credibility level upper limits on their product branching fractions in ϒ(1S) and ϒ(2S) inclusive decays (B(ϒ(1S, 2S)→R+++anything)×B(R++→D+Ds∗+)), the product values of Born cross section and branching fraction in e+e- collisions (σ(e+e-→R+++anything)×B(R++→D+Ds∗+)) at s=10.520, 10.580, and 10.867 GeV under different assumptions of R++ masses varying from 4.13 to 4.17 GeV/c2 and widths varying from 0 to 5 MeV are obtained

Rapid Recovery of Tigers Panthera Tigris in Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Information on density and abundance of globally threatened species such as tigers Panthera tigris is essential for effective conservation as well as to evaluate the success of conservation programmes. We monitored tigers in Parsa Widlife Reserve, Nepal, using camera traps, in 2013, 2014 and 2016. Once believed to be a sink for tigers from adjacent Chitwan National Park, Parsa now provides a new hope for tigers. Spatially explicit capture–recapture analysis over 3 survey years revealed an increase in tiger density from 0.78 to 1.38 individuals per 100 km2 from 2013 to 2016. The tiger abundance was estimated to be seven (6–13), 11 (10–16) and 17 (17–20) in 2013, 2014 and 2016, respectively. Resettlement of communities from the core area, reduced anthropogenic pressure, and improved security have made Parsa Wildlife Reserve a suitable habitat for tigers. Tiger abundance increased considerably within a 5 km radius of the evacuated village sites, from two in 2013 to eight in 2014 and 10 in 2016. Population turnover has remained moderate (< 30% per year), with persistence of individuals in multiple years. Dispersing tigers from Chitwan's source population accounted for a large portion (c. 40%) of the tigers detected in Parsa. Conservation efforts along with annual monitoring should be continued in Parsa to sustain the increase and monitor the persistence of tigers. The Chitwan–Parsa complex should be managed as a single ecological unit for conserving the Endangered tiger and other wide-ranging species.Global Challenges (FSW

Role of genetic testing for inherited prostate cancer risk: Philadelphia prostate cancer consensus conference 2017

Purpose: Guidelines are limited for genetic testing for prostate cancer (PCA). The goal of this conference was to develop an expert consensus-dri

New Blood Pressure-Associated Loci Identified in Meta-Analyses of 475,000 Individuals

Background - Genome-wide association studies have recently identified &gt;400 loci that harbor DNA sequence variants that influence blood pressure (BP). Our earlier studies identified and validated 56 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) associated with BP from meta-analyses of exome chip genotype data. An additional 100 variants yielded suggestive evidence of association. Methods and Results - Here, we augment the sample with 140 886 European individuals from the UK Biobank, in whom 77 of the 100 suggestive SNVs were available for association analysis with systolic BP or diastolic BP or pulse pressure. We performed 2 meta-analyses, one in individuals of European, South Asian, African, and Hispanic descent (pan-ancestry, ≈475 000), and the other in the subset of individuals of European descent (≈423 000). Twenty-one SNVs were genome-wide significant (P&lt;5×10-8) for BP, of which 4 are new BP loci: rs9678851 (missense, SLC4A1AP), rs7437940 (AFAP1), rs13303 (missense, STAB1), and rs1055144 (7p15.2). In addition, we identified a potentially independent novel BP-associated SNV, rs3416322 (missense, SYNPO2L) at a known locus, uncorrelated with the previously reported SNVs. Two SNVs are associated with expression levels of nearby genes, and SNVs at 3 loci are associated with other traits. One SNV with a minor allele frequency &lt;0.01, (rs3025380 at DBH) was genome-wide significant. Conclusions - We report 4 novel loci associated with BP regulation, and 1 independent variant at an established BP locus. This analysis highlights several candidate genes with variation that alter protein function or gene expression for potential follow-up

Measurements of branching fractions and asymmetry parameters of Ξc0→ΛK¯∗0 , Ξc0→Σ0K¯∗0 , and Ξc0→Σ+K∗− decays at Belle

Using a data sample of 980 fb−1 collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e− collider, we study the processes of Ξc0→ΛK¯∗0, Ξc0→Σ0K¯∗0, and Ξc0→Σ+K∗− for the first time. The relative branching ratios to the normalization mode of Ξc0→Ξ−π+ are measured to beB(Ξc0→ΛK¯∗0)/B(Ξc0→Ξ−π+)=0.18±0.02(stat.)±0.01(syst.),B(Ξc0→Σ0K¯∗0)/B(Ξc0→Ξ−π+)=0.69±0.03(stat.)±0.03(syst.),B(Ξc0→Σ+K∗−)/B(Ξc0→Ξ−π+)=0.34±0.06(stat.)±0.02(syst.), where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. We obtainB(Ξc0→ΛK¯∗0)=(3.3±0.3(stat.)±0.2(syst.)±1.0(ref.))×10−3,B(Ξc0→Σ0K¯∗0)=(12.4±0.5(stat.)±0.5(syst.)±3.6(ref.))×10−3,B(Ξc0→Σ+K∗0)=(6.1±1.0(stat.)±0.4(syst.)±1.8(ref.))×10−3, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and from B(Ξc0→Ξ−π+), respectively. The asymmetry parameters α(Ξc0→ΛK¯∗0) and α(Ξc0→Σ+K∗−) are 0.15 ± 0.22(stat.) ± 0.04(syst.) and −0.52 ± 0.30(stat.) ± 0.02(syst.), respectively, where the uncertainties are statistical followed by systematic

Measurements of the branching fractions of Λc+ →pη and Λc+ →pπ0 decays at Belle

We report measurements of the branching fractions of singly Cabibbo-suppressed decays Λc+→pη and Λc+→pπ0 using the full Belle data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 980.6 fb-1. The data were collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- asymmetric energy collider. A clear Λc+ signal is seen in the invariant mass distribution of pη. The fitted number of signal events of the Λc+→pη process is 7734±263; from this, we measure the ratio of branching fractions B(Λc+→pη)/B(Λc+→pK-π+)=[2.258±0.077(stat)±0.122(syst)]×10-2, from which we infer the branching fraction B(Λc+→pη)=[1.42±0.05(stat)±0.11(syst)]×10-3. In addition, no significant signal for Λc+→pπ0 is found, so an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(Λc+→pπ0)<8.0×10-5 at a 90% credibility level is set, more than 3 times better than the best current upper limit

Search for a Light Higgs Boson in Single-Photon Decays of ϒ (1S) Using ϒ (2S) →π+π- ϒ (1S) Tagging Method

We search for a light Higgs boson (A0) decaying into a τ+τ- or μ+μ- pair in the radiative decays of ϒ(1S). The production of ϒ(1S) mesons is tagged by ϒ(2S)→π+π-ϒ(1S) transitions, using 158×106 ϒ(2S) events accumulated with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy electron-positron collider. No significant A0 signals in the mass range from the τ+τ- or μ+μ- threshold to 9.2 GeV/c2 are observed. We set the upper limits at 90% credibility level (C.L.) on the product branching fractions for ϒ(1S)→γA0 and A0→τ+τ- varying from 3.8×10-6 to 1.5×10-4. Our results represent an approximately twofold improvement on the current world best upper limits for the ϒ(1S)→γA0(→τ+τ-) production. For A0→μ+μ-, the upper limits on the product branching fractions for ϒ(1S)→γA0 and A0→μ+μ- are at the same level as the world average limits, and vary from 3.1×10-7 to 1.6×10-5. The upper limits at 90% credibility level on the Yukawa coupling fϒ(1S) and mixing angle sinθA0 are also given. © 2022 authors. Published by the American Physical Society

Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of IFT81 : associated ciliopathy syndrome

Short‐rib polydactyly syndromes are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by narrow thorax with short ribs, polydactyly and often other visceral and skeletal malformations. To date there have only been six reported patients with homozygous and compound heterozygous variants in IFT81, causing a short‐rib thoracic dysplasia, with, or without, polydactyly (SRTD19: OMIM 617895). IFT81 is a protein integral to the core of the intraflagellar transport complex B (IFT‐B), which is involved in anterograde transport in the cilium. We describe the case of a male infant with compound heterozygous variants in IFT81, who presented with short long bones, a narrow thorax, polydactyly, and multiple malformations. Three novel clinical features are reported including complete situs inversus, micropenis, and rectal atresia, which have not previously been associated with variants in IFT81. We reviewed the literature and identified the most consistent clinical features associated with this rare ciliopathy syndrome. We postulate that dolichocephaly and sagittal craniosynostosis may be associated with this condition, and provide a clue to considering IFT81 as the causative gene when deciphering complex ciliopathies