Measurement of the integrated luminosity of the Phase 2 data of the Belle II experiment

From April to July 2018, a data sample at the peak energy of the γ(4S) resonance was collected with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider. This is the first data sample of the Belle II experiment. Using Bhabha and digamma events, we measure the integrated luminosity of the data sample to be (496.3 ± 0.3 ± 3.0) pb-1, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This work provides a basis for future luminosity measurements at Belle II

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

Enzymatic Synthesis of a Novel Neuroprotective Hydroxytyrosyl Glycoside

The eco-friendly synthesis of non-natural glycosides from different phenolic antioxidants was carried out using a fungal β-xylosidase to evaluate changes in their bioactivities. Xylosides from hydroquinone and catechol were successfully formed, although the best results were obtained for hydroxytyrosol, the main antioxidant from olive oil. The formation of the new products was followed by thin-layer chromatography, liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The hydroxytyrosyl xyloside was analyzed in more detail, to maximize its production and evaluate the effect of glycosylation on some hydroxytyrosol properties. The synthesis was optimized up to the highest production reported for a hydroxytyrosyl glycoside. The structure of this compound was solved by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and identified as 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-ethyl-<i>O</i>-β-d-xylopyranoside. Evaluation of its biological effect showed an enhancement of both its neuroprotective capacity and its ability to ameliorate intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species

Correction: Evolving Trends in the Management of Acute Appendicitis During COVID-19 Waves: The ACIE Appy II Study

Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide

Measurement of branching-fraction ratios and CP asymmetries in B± → DCP±K± decays at Belle and Belle II

Abstract We report results from a study of B ± → DK ± decays followed by D decaying to the CP-even final state K + K − and CP-odd final state K S 0 π 0 $${K}_S^0{\pi}^0$$ , where D is an admixture of D 0 and D ¯ 0 $${\overline{D}}^0$$ states. These decays are sensitive to the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa unitarity-triangle angle ϕ 3. The results are based on a combined analysis of the final data set of 772 × 106 B B ¯ $$B\overline{B}$$ pairs collected by the Belle experiment and a data set of 198 × 106 B B ¯ $$B\overline{B}$$ pairs collected by the Belle II experiment, both in electron-positron collisions at the Υ(4S) resonance. We measure the CP asymmetries to be A $$\mathcal{A}$$ CP+ = (+12.5 ± 5.8 ± 1.4)% and A $$\mathcal{A}$$ CP− = (−16.7 ± 5.7 ± 0.6)%, and the ratios of branching fractions to be R $$\mathcal{R}$$ CP+ = 1.164 ± 0.081 ± 0.036 and R $$\mathcal{R}$$ CP− = 1.151 ± 0.074 ± 0.019. The first contribution to the uncertainties is statistical, and the second is systematic. The asymmetries A $$\mathcal{A}$$ CP+ and A $$\mathcal{A}$$ CP− have similar magnitudes and opposite signs; their difference corresponds to 3.5 standard deviations. From these values we calculate 68.3% confidence intervals of (8.5 ° < ϕ 3 < 16.5 ° ) or (84.5 ° < ϕ 3 < 95.5 ° ) or (163.3 ° < ϕ 3 < 171.5 ° ) and 0.321 < r B < 0.465

Measurement of branching fractions and direct CP asymmetries for B→Kπ and B→ππ decays at Belle II

We report measurements of the branching fractions and direct CP asymmetries of the decays B0→K+π−, B+→K+π0, B+→K0π+, and B0→K0π0, and use these for testing the standard model through an isospin-based sum rule. In addition, we measure the branching fraction and direct CP asymmetry of the decay B+→π+π0 and the branching fraction of the decay B0→π+π−. The data are collected with the Belle II detector from e+e− collisions at the Υ(4S) resonance produced by the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy collider and contain 387×106 bottom-antibottom meson pairs. Signal yields are determined in two-dimensional fits to background-discriminating variables, and range from 500 to 3900 decays, depending on the channel. We obtain −0.03±0.13±0.04 for the sum rule in agreement with the standard model expectation of zero and with a precision comparable to the best existing determinations

Search for the e + e − → ηb(1S)ω and e+ e− → χ b0 (1P)ω processes at √s = 10.745 GeV

We search for the e+ e− → ηb (1S)ω and e+ e− → χ b0 (1P)ω processes at a center-of-mass energy of 10.745 GeV, which is close to the peak of the Υ(10753) state. We use data collected by the Belle II experiment during a special run, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9.8 fb−1. We reconstruct ω → π+ π− π0 decays and use the ω meson’s recoil mass to search for the signals. We do not find evidence for either process, and set upper limits on the corresponding Born-level cross sections of 2.5 pb and 7.8 pb, respectively, at the 90% confidence level. The χb0(1P)ω limit is the result of a combination of this analysis and a previous search using full reconstruction

Pancreatic surgery outcomes: multicentre prospective snapshot study in 67 countries

Background: Pancreatic surgery remains associated with high morbidity rates. Although postoperative mortality appears to have improved with specialization, the outcomes reported in the literature reflect the activity of highly specialized centres. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes following pancreatic surgery worldwide.Methods: This was an international, prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional snapshot study of consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic operations worldwide in a 3-month interval in 2021. The primary outcome was postoperative mortality within 90 days of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore relationships with Human Development Index (HDI) and other parameters.Results: A total of 4223 patients from 67 countries were analysed. A complication of any severity was detected in 68.7 percent of patients (2901 of 4223). Major complication rates (Clavien-Dindo grade at least IIIa) were 24, 18, and 27 percent, and mortality rates were 10, 5, and 5 per cent in low-to-middle-, high-, and very high-HDI countries respectively. The 90-day postoperative mortality rate was 5.4 per cent (229 of 4223) overall, but was significantly higher in the low-to-middle-HDI group (adjusted OR 2.88, 95 per cent c.i. 1.80 to 4.48). The overall failure-to-rescue rate was 21 percent; however, it was 41 per cent in low-to-middle-compared with 19 per cent in very high-HDI countries.Conclusion: Excess mortality in low-to-middle-HDI countries could be attributable to failure to rescue of patients from severe complications. The authors call for a collaborative response from international and regional associations of pancreatic surgeons to address management related to death from postoperative complications to tackle the global disparities in the outcomes of pancreatic surgery (NCT04652271; ISRCTN95140761)