A survey of backward proton and pion production in p+C interactions at beam momenta from 1 to 400 GeV/c

New data on proton and pion production in p+C interactions from the CERN PS and SPS accelerators are used in conjunction with other available data sets to perform a comprehensive survey of backward hadronic cross sections. This survey covers the complete backward hemisphere in the range of lab angles from 10 to 180 degrees, from 0.2 to 1.4 GeV/c in lab momentum and from 1 to 400 GeV/c in projectile momentum. Using the constraints of continuity and smoothness of the angular, momentum and energy dependences a consistent description of the inclusive cross sections is established which allows the control of the internal consistency of the nineteen available data sets.Comment: 52 pages 47 figure

Serological monitoring of avian influenza and Newcastle disease in the Russian Federation in 2020

Within the framework of the Rosselkhoznadzor measures aimed at control of highly dangerous  diseases and development of timely recommendations for disease prevention and control, 36,986 serum samples to be tested for the presence of avian influenza virus antibodies and 30,325 serum samples to be tested for the presence of Newcastle disease virus antibodies were submitted to the FGBI “ARRIAH” Reference Laboratory for Avian Viral Diseases  in 2020. The samples were collected from domestic, wild and synanthropic birds in 60 Subjects of the Russian Federation. As a result of the laboratory diagnosis, antibodies against type A influenza virus were found in vaccinated chickens from two poultry farms in the Primorsky Krai. Typing of sample sera using hemagglutination inhibition test showed that the detected antibodies were specific to the haemagglutinin subtype of the vaccine antigen  (A/H9). Antibodies to the H9 subtype  avian influenza  virus were detected in sera of non-vaccinated geese from two poultry farms in the Kurgan Oblast and from one poultry farm in the Republic of Bashkortostan. As for the  backyards where  scheduled  vaccination  against  avian influenza  A/H5 is carried out, a low level of immunity  was seen in the Republics of Adygea and Chechnya (0 and 15%, respectively), while a high immunity level was observed in the Rostov Oblast (74%). High seroprevalence  of Newcastle disease virus was found in adult poultry in indoor industrial farms, which was associated with mass vaccination against the disease. In broiler chickens, post-vaccination antibodies were observed, on average, in 44% of the tested sera samples. The antibodies  against  Newcastle  disease  virus and avian influenza  virus subtype  H5 detected in wild and synanthropic birds indicate the circulation of these viruses in the Russian Federation. The insufficient level of post-vaccination antibodies suggests that the risk of epidemic among poultry in industrial poultry farms and backyards remains

Testing of chickens experimentally infected with A/H9N2 avian influenza virus isolates for their immune responses

Data on tests of chickens for their immune responses to infection with low pathogenic А/Н9N2 avian influenza virus isolates belonging to Y-280 and G1 genetic lines are presented in the paper. CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratios were determined with flow cytometry for initial immune status examination and for detection of apparent immune system disorders. Quantitative analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in chickens revealed changes characteristic of the immune suppression. Analysis of dynamics of T- and B-lymphocyte levels in blood of the infected chickens revealed decrease in relative T-lymphocyte counts and increase in relative B-lymphocyte counts. T-lymphocyte subpopulation composition expressed as CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio (%) changed after the infection: CD4⁺ cell proportion was found to decrease whereas CD8⁺ cell proportion increased. According to literature data, immune response activated by vaccination induces the reverse dynamics towards to increase in CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio. Both cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity play role in development of the immune response in chickens infected with avian influenza viruses. Apparent humoral immune response was detected by serological tests of sera taken from chickens on day 14 after infection. Mean specific anti-A/H9N2 AIV antibody titre in all groups of test chickens infected with low pathogenic avian influenza virus isolates was higher than 6 log₂ . High level of specific antibodies to avian influenza virus was indicative of postvaccinal humoral immune response development

Infectious bursal disease virus: identification of the novel genetic group and reassortant viruses

The results of the phylogenic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the IBDV A and B genome segments have been presented. Traditionally the IBDV isolates are classified based on the phylogenic analysis of the hypervariable region of the VP2 gene. The analysis of the VP2 gene segments of the isolates detected in the Russian Federation demonstrated that most of them belong to the genetic group comprising highly virulent IBDV isolates. However, not all isolates belonging to one genetic group have the same phenotypic characteristics. This is related to the fact that the virulence is determined not only based on the characteristics of the VP2 gene (A segment) but on the characteristics of the VP1 gene (B segment) as well. The IBDV genome segmentation allows formation of reassortant viruses which can be identified as a result of the genome segment analysis. The phylogenic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of VP2 and VP1 genes of 28 IBDV isolates detected at RF, Ukrainian and Kazakh poultry establishments in 2007 and 2019 showed that 15 of them are reassortant viruses. Different combinations of the genome segments have been identified among these reassortant viruses. Detection of different combinations of IBDV genome segments is indicative of the fact that the heterogeneous virus population circulates on the poultry farms. Pathogenicity studies of the three IBDV isolates showed that the most virulent was an isolate having two genome segments characteristic of the highly virulent virus. Two reassortant viruses having only one genome segment A or B, characteristic of the infectious bursal disease, demonstrated less pronounced virulent properties

Phase-space dependence of particle-ratio fluctuations in Pb+Pb collisions from 20A to 158A GeV beam energy

A novel approach, the identity method, was used for particle identification and the study of fluctuations of particle yield ratios in Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS). This procedure allows to unfold the moments of the unknown multiplicity distributions of protons (p), kaons (K), pions ($\pi$) and electrons (e). Using these moments the excitation function of the fluctuation measure $\nu_{\text{\text{dyn}}}$[A,B] was measured, with A and B denoting different particle types. The obtained energy dependence of $\nu_{\text{dyn}}$ agrees with previously published NA49 results on the related measure $\sigma_{\text{dyn}}$. Moreover, $\nu_{\text{dyn}}$ was found to depend on the phase space coverage for [K,p] and [K,$\pi$] pairs. This feature most likely explains the reported differences between measurements of NA49 and those of STAR in central Au+Au collisions

Measurement of event-by-event transverse momentum and multiplicity fluctuations using strongly intensive measures Δ[PT,N]\Delta[P_T, N] and Σ[PT,N]\Sigma[P_T, N] in nucleus-nucleus collisions at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron

Results from the NA49 experiment at the CERN SPS are presented on event-by-event transverse momentum and multiplicity fluctuations of charged particles, produced at forward rapidities in central Pb+Pb interactions at beam momenta 20$A$, 30$A$, 40$A$, 80$A$, and 158$A$ GeV/c, as well as in systems of different size ($p+p$, C+C, Si+Si, and Pb+Pb) at 158$A$ GeV/c. This publication extends the previous NA49 measurements of the strongly intensive measure $\Phi_{p_T}$ by a study of the recently proposed strongly intensive measures of fluctuations $\Delta[P_T, N]$ and $\Sigma[P_T, N]$. In the explored kinematic region transverse momentum and multiplicity fluctuations show no significant energy dependence in the SPS energy range. However, a remarkable system size dependence is observed for both $\Delta[P_T, N]$ and $\Sigma[P_T, N]$, with the largest values measured in peripheral Pb+Pb interactions. The results are compared with NA61/SHINE measurements in $p+p$ collisions, as well as with predictions of the UrQMD and EPOS models.Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures, to be submitted to PR

Production of deuterium, tritium, and 3^3He in central Pb+Pb collisions at 20A, 30A, 40A, 80A, and 158A GeV at the CERN SPS

Production of $d$, $t$, and $^3$He nuclei in central Pb+Pb interactions was studied at five collision energies ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 6.3, 7.6, 8.8, 12.3, and 17.3 GeV) with the NA49 detector at the CERN SPS. Transverse momentum spectra, rapidity distributions, and particle ratios were measured. Yields are compared to predictions of statistical models. Phase-space distributions of light nuclei are discussed and compared to those of protons in the context of a coalescence approach. The coalescence parameters $B_2$ and $B_3$, as well as coalescence radii for $d$ and $^3$He were determined as a function of transverse mass at all energies.Comment: 22 pages, 29 figures, 8 tables, for submission to Phys. Rev.

Status and Plans of the NA49 pp and pA Programme

Short memorandum in context of the presentation of the status and plans of the NA49 pp and pA Programme at the SPSC-83 open session

Antideuteron and deuteron production in mid-central Pb+Pb collisions at 158AA GeV

Production of deuterons and antideuterons was studied by the NA49 experiment in the 23.5% most central Pb+Pb collisions at the top SPS energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=17.3 GeV. Invariant yields for $\bar{d}$ and $d$ were measured as a function of centrality in the center-of-mass rapidity range $-1.2<y<-0.6$. Results for $\bar{d}(d)$ together with previously published $\bar{p}(p)$ measurements are discussed in the context of the coalescence model. The coalescence parameters $B_2$ were deduced as a function of transverse momentum $p_t$ and collision centrality.Comment: 9 figure