Temporal and spatial analysis of Neural tube defects and detection of geographical factors in Shanxi Province, China

Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are congenital birth defects that occur in the central nervous system, and they have the highest incidence among all birth defects. Shanxi Province in China has the world's highest rate of NTDs. Since the 1990s, China's government has worked on many birth defect prevention programs to reduce the occurrence of NTDs, such as pregnancy planning, health education, genetic counseling, antenatal ultrasonography and serological screening. However, the rate of NTDs in Shanxi Province is still higher than the world's average morbidity rate after intervention. In addition, Shanxi Province has abundant coal reserves, and is the largest coal production province in China. The objectives of this study are to determine the temporal and spatial variation of the NTD rate in rural areas of Shanxi Province, China, and identify geographical environmental factors that were associated with NTDs in the risk area. Methods: In this study, Heshun County and Yuanping County in Shanxi Province, which have high incidence of NTDs, were selected as the study areas. Two paired sample T test was used to analyze the changes in the risk of NTDs from the time dimension. Ripley's k function and spatial filtering were combined with geographic information system (GIS) software to study the changes in the risk of NTDs from the spatial dimension. In addition, geographical detectors were used to identify the risk geographical environmental factors of NTDs in the study areas, especially the areas close to the coal sites and main roads. Results: In both Heshun County and Yuanping County, the incidence of NTDs was significantly (P<0.05) reduced after intervention. The results from spatial analysis showed that significant spatial heterogeneity existed in both counties. NTD clusters were still identified in areas close to coal sites and main roads after interventions. This study also revealed that the elevation, fault and soil types always had a larger influence on the incidence of NTDs in our study areas. In addition, distance to the river was a risk factor of NTDs in areas close to the coal sites and main roads. Conclusion: The existing interventions may have played an important role to reduce the incidence of NTDs. However, there is still spatial heterogeneity in both counties after using the traditional intervention methods. The government needs to take more measures to strengthen the environmental restoration to prevent the occurrence of NTDs, especially those areas close to coal sites and main roads. The outcome of this research provides an important theoretical basis and technical support for the government to prevent the occurrence of NTDs

Observation of a ppb mass threshoud enhancement in \psi^\prime\to\pi^+\pi^-J/\psi(J/\psi\to\gamma p\bar{p}) decay

The decay channel $\psi^\prime\to\pi^+\pi^-J/\psi(J/\psi\to\gamma p\bar{p})$ is studied using a sample of $1.06\times 10^8$ $\psi^\prime$ events collected by the BESIII experiment at BEPCII. A strong enhancement at threshold is observed in the $p\bar{p}$ invariant mass spectrum. The enhancement can be fit with an $S$-wave Breit-Wigner resonance function with a resulting peak mass of $M=1861^{+6}_{-13} {\rm (stat)}^{+7}_{-26} {\rm (syst)} {\rm MeV/}c^2$ and a narrow width that is $\Gamma<38 {\rm MeV/}c^2$ at the 90% confidence level. These results are consistent with published BESII results. These mass and width values do not match with those of any known meson resonance.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Chinese Physics

Branching fraction measurements of χc0 and χc2 to π0π0 and ηη

Using a sample of 1.06×108 ψ ′ decays collected by the BESIII detector, χc0 and χc2 decays into π0π0 and ηη are studied. The branching fraction results are Br(χc0→π 0π0)=(3.23±0.03±0.23±0.14)×10 -3, Br(χc2→π0π0)=(8.8±0.2±0.6±0.4)×10 -4, Br(χc0→ηη)=(3.44±0.10±0. 24±0.2)×10 -3, and Br(χc2→ηη)=(6. 5±0.4±0.5±0.3)×10 -4, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic due to this measurement, and systematic due to the branching fractions of ψ ′→ γχcJ. The results provide information on the decay mechanism of χc states into pseudoscalars. © 2010 The American Physical Society.published_or_final_versio

First observation of the decays χcJ→π0π0π0π0

We present a study of the P-wave spin-triplet charmonium χ cJ decays (J=0, 1, 2) into π0π0π0π0. The analysis is based on 106×106 ψ⊃′ decays recorded with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII electron positron collider. The decay into the π0π0π0π0 hadronic final state is observed for the first time. We measure the branching fractions B(χ c0→π0π0π0π0)=(3.34±0. 06±0.44)×10⊃-3, B(χ c1→π0π0π0π0) =(0.57±0.03±0.08)×10⊃-3, and B(χ c2→π0π0π0π0)=(1.21±0.05±0.16) ×10⊃-3, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematical, respectively. © 2011 American Physical Society.published_or_final_versio

Determination of the number of J/ψ events with J/ψ → inclusive decays

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Measurement of the matrix element for the decay η′→ηπ +π -

The Dalitz plot of η⊃′→ηπ⊃+π⊃- decay is studied using (225.2±2.8)×106 J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII e⊃+e⊃- collider. With the largest sample of η⊃′ decays to date, the parameters of the Dalitz plot are determined in a generalized and a linear representation. Also, the branching fraction of J/ψ→γη⊃′ is determined to be (4.84±0.03±0.24)×10⊃-3, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. © 2011 American Physical Society.published_or_final_versio

Study of a00(980)-f0(980) mixing

Using samples of 2.25×108 J/ψ events and 1.06×108 ψ ′ events collected with the BES III detector, we study the f 0(980)→a00(980) and a00(980)→f 0(980) transitions in the processes J/ψ→φf 0(980) →φa00(980) and χ c1→π0a00(980)→π0f 0(980), respectively. Evidence for f 0(980)→a00(980) is found with a significance of 3.4σ, while in the case of a00(980)→f 0(980) transition, the significance is 1.9σ. Measurements and upper limits of both branching ratios and mixing intensities are determined. © 2011 American Physical Society.published_or_final_versio

Observation of \chi_{cJ} decaying into the p\bar{p}K^{+}K^{-} final state

First measurements of the decays of the three $\chi_{cJ}$ states to $p\bar{p}K^{+}K^{-}$ final states are presented. Intermediate $\phi\to K^{+}K^{-}$ and $\Lambda(1520)\to pK^{-}$ resonance states are observed, and branching fractions for $\chi_{cJ}\to \bar{p}K^{+}\Lambda(1520)$, $\Lambda(1520) \bar{\Lambda}(1520)$, and $\phi p\bar{p}$ are reported. We also measure branching fractions for direct $\chi_{cJ}\to p\bar{p} K^{+}K^{-}$ decays. These are first observations of $\chi_{cJ}$ decays to unstable baryon resonances and provide useful information about the $\chi_{cJ}$ states. The experiment uses samples of $\chi_{cJ}$ mesons produced via radiative transitions from 106 million $\psi^{\prime}$ mesons collected in the BESIII detector at the BEPCII $e^+e^-$ collider.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

Evidence for psi' decays into gamma pi^0 and gamma eta

The decays psi'->gamma pi^0, gamma eta and gamma eta' are studied using data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII e^+e^- collider. Processes psi'->gamma pi^0 and psi'->gamma eta are observed for the first time with signal significances of 4.6 sigma and 4.3 sigma, respectively. The branching fractions are determined to be: B(psi'->gamma pi^0)=(1.58+-0.40+-0.13)x10^{-6}, B(psi'->gamma eta)=(1.38+-0.48+-0.09)x10^{-6}, and B(psi'->gamma eta')=(126+-3+-8) x 10^{-6}, where the first errors are statistical and the second ones systematic.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure