370 research outputs found

    Tracking echovirus eleven outbreaks in Guangdong, China

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    In April 2019, a suspect cluster of enterovirus cases was reported in a neonatology department in Guangdong, China, resulting in five deaths. We aimed to investigate the pathogen profiles in fatal cases, the circulation and transmission pattern of the viruses by combining metatranscriptomic, phylogenetic, and epidemiological analyses. Metatranscriptomic sequencing was used to characterize the enteroviruses. Clinical and environmental surveillance in the local population was performed to understand the prevalence and genetic diversity of the viruses in the local population. The possible source(s), evolution, transmission, and recombination of the viruses were investigated by incorporating genomes from the current outbreak, from local retrospective surveillance, and from public databases. Metatranscriptomic analysis identified Echovirus 11 (E11) in three fatal cases. Seroprevalence of neutralization antibody to E11 was 35 to 44 per cent in 3–15 age groups of general population, and the viruses were associated with various clinical symptoms. From the viral phylogeny, nosocomial transmissions were identified and all E11 2019 outbreak strains were closely related with E11 strains circulating in local population 2017–19. Frequent recombination occurred among the 2019 Guangdong E11 outbreak strains and various genotypes in enterovirus B species. This study provides an example of combining advanced genetic technology and epidemiological surveillance in pathogen diagnosis, source(s), and transmission tracing during an infectious disease outbreak. The result highlights the hidden E11 circulation and the risk of viral transmission and infection in the young age population in China. Frequent recombination between Guangdong-like strains and other enterovirus genotypes also implies the prevalence of these emerging E11 strains

    Molecular insights on the interference of simplified lung surfactant models by gold nanoparticle pollutants

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    YesInhaled nanoparticles (NPs) are experienced by the first biological barrier inside the alveolus known as lung surfactant (LS), a surface tension reducing agent, consisting of phospholipids and proteins in the form of the monolayer at the air-water interface. The monolayer surface tension is continuously regulated by the alveolus compression and expansion and protects the alveoli from collapsing. Inhaled NPs can reach deep into the lungs and interfere with the biophysical properties of the lung components. The interaction mechanisms of bare gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with the LS monolayer and the consequences of the interactions on lung function are not well understood. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to elucidate the interactions of AuNPs with simplified LS monolayers at the nanoscale. It was observed that the interactions of AuNPs and LS components deform the monolayer structure, change the biophysical properties of LS and create pores in the monolayer, which all interfere with the normal lungs function. The results also indicate that AuNP concentrations >0.1 mol% (of AuNPs/lipids) hinder the lowering of the LS surface tension, a prerequisite of the normal breathing process. Overall, these findings could help to identify the possible consequences of airborne NPs inhalation and their contribution to the potential development of various lung diseases.University of Technology Sydney (UTS) FEIT Research Scholarship, UTS IRS (S.I.H.), 2018 Blue Sky scheme–Suvash Saha (Activity 2232368), N.S.G is supported by the Vice-Chancellor fellowship funded by QUT

    Measurements of the observed cross sections for e+e−→e^+e^-\to exclusive light hadrons containing π0π0\pi^0\pi^0 at s=3.773\sqrt s= 3.773, 3.650 and 3.6648 GeV

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    By analyzing the data sets of 17.3, 6.5 and 1.0 pb−1^{-1} taken, respectively, at s=3.773\sqrt s= 3.773, 3.650 and 3.6648 GeV with the BES-II detector at the BEPC collider, we measure the observed cross sections for e+e−→π+π−π0π0e^+e^-\to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^0\pi^0, K+K−π0π0K^+K^-\pi^0\pi^0, 2(π+π−π0)2(\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0), K+K−π+π−π0π0K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0\pi^0 and 3(π+π−)π0π03(\pi^+\pi^-)\pi^0\pi^0 at the three energy points. Based on these cross sections we set the upper limits on the observed cross sections and the branching fractions for ψ(3770)\psi(3770) decay into these final states at 90% C.L..Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

    Partial wave analysis of J/\psi \to \gamma \phi \phi

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    Using 5.8×107J/ψ5.8 \times 10^7 J/\psi events collected in the BESII detector, the radiative decay J/ψ→γϕϕ→γK+K−KS0KL0J/\psi \to \gamma \phi \phi \to \gamma K^+ K^- K^0_S K^0_L is studied. The ϕϕ\phi\phi invariant mass distribution exhibits a near-threshold enhancement that peaks around 2.24 GeV/c2c^{2}. A partial wave analysis shows that the structure is dominated by a 0−+0^{-+} state (η(2225)\eta(2225)) with a mass of 2.24−0.02+0.03−0.02+0.032.24^{+0.03}_{-0.02}{}^{+0.03}_{-0.02} GeV/c2c^{2} and a width of 0.19±0.03−0.04+0.060.19 \pm 0.03^{+0.06}_{-0.04} GeV/c2c^{2}. The product branching fraction is: Br(J/ψ→γη(2225))⋅Br(η(2225)→ϕϕ)=(4.4±0.4±0.8)×10−4Br(J/\psi \to \gamma \eta(2225))\cdot Br(\eta(2225)\to \phi\phi) = (4.4 \pm 0.4 \pm 0.8)\times 10^{-4}.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures. corrected proof for journa

    Direct Measurements of Absolute Branching Fractions for D0 and D+ Inclusive Semimuonic Decays

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    By analyzing about 33 pb−1\rm pb^{-1} data sample collected at and around 3.773 GeV with the BES-II detector at the BEPC collider, we directly measure the branching fractions for the neutral and charged DD inclusive semimuonic decays to be BF(D0→μ+X)=(6.8±1.5±0.7)BF(D^0 \to \mu^+ X) =(6.8\pm 1.5\pm 0.7)% and BF(D+→μ+X)=(17.6±2.7±1.8)BF(D^+ \to \mu^+ X) =(17.6 \pm 2.7 \pm 1.8)%, and determine the ratio of the two branching fractions to be BF(D+→μ+X)BF(D0→μ+X)=2.59±0.70±0.25\frac{BF(D^+ \to \mu^+ X)}{BF(D^0 \to \mu^+ X)}=2.59\pm 0.70 \pm 0.25

    Measurements of the observed cross sections for exclusive light hadron production in e^+e^- annihilation at \sqrt{s}= 3.773 and 3.650 GeV

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    By analyzing the data sets of 17.3 pb−1^{-1} taken at s=3.773\sqrt{s}=3.773 GeV and 6.5 pb−1^{-1} taken at s=3.650\sqrt{s}=3.650 GeV with the BESII detector at the BEPC collider, we have measured the observed cross sections for 12 exclusive light hadron final states produced in e+e−e^+e^- annihilation at the two energy points. We have also set the upper limits on the observed cross sections and the branching fractions for ψ(3770)\psi(3770) decay to these final states at 90% C.L.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figur

    Search for the Rare Decays J/Psi --> Ds- e+ nu_e, J/Psi --> D- e+ nu_e, and J/Psi --> D0bar e+ e-

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    We report on a search for the decays J/Psi --> Ds- e+ nu_e + c.c., J/Psi --> D- e+ nu_e + c.c., and J/Psi --> D0bar e+ e- + c.c. in a sample of 5.8 * 10^7 J/Psi events collected with the BESII detector at the BEPC. No excess of signal above background is observed, and 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions are set: B(J/Psi --> Ds- e+ nu_e + c.c.)<4.8*10^-5, B(J/Psi --> D- e+ nu_e + c.c.) D0bar e+ e- + c.c.)<1.1*10^-5Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

    A study of charged kappa in J/ψ→K±Ksπ∓π0J/\psi \to K^{\pm} K_s \pi^{\mp} \pi^0

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    Based on 58×10658 \times 10^6 J/ψJ/\psi events collected by BESII, the decay J/ψ→K±Ksπ∓π0J/\psi \to K^{\pm} K_s \pi^{\mp} \pi^0 is studied. In the invariant mass spectrum recoiling against the charged K∗(892)±K^*(892)^{\pm}, the charged κ\kappa particle is found as a low mass enhancement. If a Breit-Wigner function of constant width is used to parameterize the kappa, its pole locates at (849±77−14+18)−i(256±40−22+46)(849 \pm 77 ^{+18}_{-14}) -i (256 \pm 40 ^{+46}_{-22}) MeV/c2c^2. Also in this channel, the decay J/ψ→K∗(892)+K∗(892)−J/\psi \to K^*(892)^+ K^*(892)^- is observed for the first time. Its branching ratio is (1.00±0.19−0.32+0.11)×10−3(1.00 \pm 0.19 ^{+0.11}_{-0.32}) \times 10^{-3}.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

    Measurements of psi(2S) decays to octet baryon-antibaryon pairs

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    With a sample of 14 million psi(2S) events collected by the BESII detector at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPC), the decay channels psi(2S)->p p-bar, Lambda Lambda-bar, Sigma0 Sigma0-bar, Xi Xi-bar are measured, and their branching ratios are determined to be (3.36+-0.09+-0.24)*10E-4, (3.39+-0.20+-0.32)*10E-4, (2.35+-0.36+-0.32)*10E-4, (3.03+-0.40+-0.32)*10E-4, respectively. In the decay psi(2S)->p p-bar, the angular distribution parameter alpha is determined to be 0.82+-0.17+-0.04.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure
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