Serological survey on immunity status against polioviruses in children and adolescents living in a border region, Apulia (Southern Italy)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 1988 the World Health Assembly adopted the goal to eradicate poliomyelitis by routine immunization using Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). On 21 June 2002 the WHO European Region was declared polio-free. In 2008 poliomyelitis is still endemic in 4 countries (Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan), where 1201 new cases were registered in 2007; 107 sporadic cases were also notified in countries where poliovirus is not endemic. The aim of this work was to verify the level of antipoliomyelitis immunity status in children and adolescents in the Apulia region (south of Italy), which may be considered a border region due to its position.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>704 blood specimens from a convenience sample were collected in six laboratories. The age of subjects enrolled was 0–15 years. The immunity against poliomyelitis was evaluated by neutralizing antibody titration in tissue culture microplates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seropositivity (neutralising antibodies titre ≥ 8) for polioviruses 1, 2 and 3 was detected in 100%, 99.8% and 99.4% of collected sera. Antibody titres were not lower in subjects who received either four doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) or a sequential schedule consisting of two doses of IPV and two of oral polio vaccine than in subjects who received four doses of OPV.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results confirmed current data of vaccine coverage for poliomyelitis: during the last ten years in Apulia, the coverage in 24 months old children was more than 90%. The high level of immunization found confirms the effectiveness both of the sequential schedule IPV-OPV and of the schedule all-IPV. Apulia region has to face daily arrivals of refugees and remains subject to the risk of the importation of poliovirus from endemic areas. Surveys aimed at determining anti-polio immunity in subpopulations as well as in the general population should be carried out.</p

Measurement of ϒ production in pp collisions at √s = 2.76 TeV

The production of ϒ(1S), ϒ(2S) and ϒ(3S) mesons decaying into the dimuon final state is studied with the LHCb detector using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.3 pb−1 collected in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 2.76 TeV. The differential production cross-sections times dimuon branching fractions are measured as functions of the ϒ transverse momentum and rapidity, over the ranges pT &#60; 15 GeV/c and 2.0 &#60; y &#60; 4.5. The total cross-sections in this kinematic region, assuming unpolarised production, are measured to be σ (pp → ϒ(1S)X) × B ϒ(1S)→μ+μ− = 1.111 ± 0.043 ± 0.044 nb, σ (pp → ϒ(2S)X) × B ϒ(2S)→μ+μ− = 0.264 ± 0.023 ± 0.011 nb, σ (pp → ϒ(3S)X) × B ϒ(3S)→μ+μ− = 0.159 ± 0.020 ± 0.007 nb, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic

Study of D-(*())(+)(sJ) mesons decaying to D*K-+(S)0 and D*K-0(+) final states

A search is performed for $D^{(*)+}_{sJ}$ mesons in the reactions $pp \to D^{*+} K^0_{\rm S} X$ and $pp \to D^{*0} K^+ X$ using data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV with the LHCb detector. For the $D^{*+} K^0_{\rm S}$ final state, the decays $D^{*+} \to D^0 \pi^+$ with $D^0 \to K^- \pi^+$ and $D^0 \to K^- \pi^+ \pi^+ \pi^-$ are used. For $D^{*0} K^+$, the decay $D^{*0} \to D^0 \pi^0$ with $D^0 \to K^- \pi^+$ is used. A prominent $D_{s1}(2536)^+$ signal is observed in both $D^{*+} K^0_{\rm S}$ and $D^{*0} K^+$ final states. The resonances $D^*_{s1}(2700)^+$ and $D^*_{s3}(2860)^+$ are also observed, yielding information on their properties, including spin-parity assignments. The decay $D^*_{s2}(2573)^+ \to D^{*+} K^0_{\rm S}$ is observed for the first time, at a significance of 6.9 $\sigma$, and its branching fraction relative to the $D^*_{s2}(2573)^+ \to D^+ K^0_{\rm S}$ decay mode is measured

Search for Violations of Lorentz Invariance and CPT Symmetry in B-(s)(0) Mixing

Violations of CPT symmetry and Lorentz invariance are searched for by studying interference effects in B^{0} mixing and in B_{s}^{0} mixing. Samples of B^{0}→J/ψK_{S}^{0} and B_{s}^{0}→J/ψK^{+}K^{-} decays are recorded by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb^{-1}. No periodic variations of the particle-antiparticle mass differences are found, consistent with Lorentz invariance and CPT symmetry. Results are expressed in terms of the standard model extension parameter Δa_{μ} with precisions of O(10^{-15}) and O(10^{-14})  GeV for the B^{0} and B_{s}^{0} systems, respectively. With no assumption on Lorentz (non)invariance, the CPT-violating parameter z in the B_{s}^{0} system is measured for the first time and found to be Re(z)=-0.022±0.033±0.005 and Im(z)=0.004±0.011±0.002, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic

Study of the doubly charmed tetraquark T+cc

Quantum chromodynamics, the theory of the strong force, describes interactions of coloured quarks and gluons and the formation of hadronic matter. Conventional hadronic matter consists of baryons and mesons made of three quarks and quark-antiquark pairs, respectively. Particles with an alternative quark content are known as exotic states. Here a study is reported of an exotic narrow state in the D0D0π+ mass spectrum just below the D*+D0 mass threshold produced in proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The state is consistent with the ground isoscalar T+cc tetraquark with a quark content of ccu⎯⎯⎯d⎯⎯⎯ and spin-parity quantum numbers JP = 1+. Study of the DD mass spectra disfavours interpretation of the resonance as the isovector state. The decay structure via intermediate off-shell D*+ mesons is consistent with the observed D0π+ mass distribution. To analyse the mass of the resonance and its coupling to the D*D system, a dedicated model is developed under the assumption of an isoscalar axial-vector T+cc state decaying to the D*D channel. Using this model, resonance parameters including the pole position, scattering length, effective range and compositeness are determined to reveal important information about the nature of the T+cc state. In addition, an unexpected dependence of the production rate on track multiplicity is observed

Observation of Lambda(0)(b) -> psi (2S)pK(-) and Lambda(0)(b) -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-)pK(-) decays and a measurement of the A(b)(0) baryon mass

The decays Lambda(0)(b) -> psi(2S)pK(-) and Lambda(0)(b) -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-)pK(-) are observed in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1), collected in proton-proton collisions at 7 and 8 TeV centre-of-mass energies by the LHCb detector. The psi(2S) mesons are reconstructed through the decay modes psi(2S) -> mu(+)mu(-) and psi(2S) -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-) The branching fractions relative to that of Lambda(0)(b) -> J/psi pk(-) are measured to be [GRAPHICS] where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second are systematic and the third is related to the knowledge of J/psi and psi(2S) branching fractions. The mass of the Ai baryon is measured to be M(Lambda(0)(b)) = 5619.65 +/- 0.17 0.17 MeV/c(2), where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic

First study of the CP-violating phase and decay-width difference in Bs 0→ψ(2S)ϕ decays

A time-dependent angular analysis of Bs 0→ψ(2S)ϕ decays is performed using data recorded by the LHCb experiment. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3.0fb−1 collected during Run 1 of the LHC. The CP-violating phase and decay-width difference of the Bs 0 system are measured to be ϕs=0.23−0.28 +0.29±0.02rad and ΔΓs=0.066−0.044 +0.041±0.007ps−1, respectively, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This is the first time that ϕs and ΔΓs have been measured in a decay containing the ψ(2S) resonance. © 2016 The Author(s

Measurement of the B-s(0) -> D-s(()*D-)+(s)(*()-) branching fractions

The branching fraction of the decay B-s(0) -> D-s(()*D-)+(s)(*()-) is measured using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1), collected using the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. It is found to be B(B-s(0) -> D-s(()*D-)(s)(*()-)) = (3.05 +/- 0.10 +/- 0.20 +/- 0.34) where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the normalization channel, respectively. The branching fractions of the individual decays corresponding to the presence of one or two D-s(*+/-) are also measured. The individual branching fractions are found to be B(B-s(0) -> D-s*D-+/-(s)-/+) = (1.35 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.15) B(B-s(0) -> D-s*D-+(s)*(-)) = (1.27 +/- 0.08 +/- 0.10 +/- 0.14)%. All three results are the most precise determinations to date

Measurement of the CP Asymmetry in Bs0 - B s0 Mixing

The CP asymmetry in the mixing of Bs0 and Bs0 mesons is measured in proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb-1, recorded by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. Semileptonic Bs0 and Bs0 decays are studied in the inclusive mode Ds\u3bc\ub1\u3bd(-)\u3bcX with the Ds mesons reconstructed in the K\u3c0 final state. Correcting the observed charge asymmetry for detection and background effects, the CP asymmetry is found to be asls=(0.39\ub10.26\ub10.20)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This is the most precise measurement of asls to date. It is consistent with the prediction from the standard model and will constrain new models of particle physics

A new algorithm for identifying the flavour of B-s(0) mesons at LHCb

A new algorithm for the determination of the initial flavour of B-s(0) mesons is presented. The algorithm is based on two neural networks and exploits the b hadron production mechanism at a hadron collider. The first network is trained to select charged kaons produced in association with the B-s(0) meson. The second network combines the kaon charges to assign the B-s(0) flavour and estimates the probability of a wrong assignment. The algorithm is calibrated using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1) collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at 7 and 8 TeV centre-of-mass energies. The calibration is performed in two ways: by resolving the B-s(0)-B-s(0) flavour oscillations in B-s(0) -> D-s(-)pi(+) decays, and by analysing flavour-specific B-s2*(5840)(0) -> B+K- decays. The tagging power measured in B-s(0) -> D-s(-)pi(+) decays is found to be (1.80 +/- 0.19 ( stat) +/- 0.18 (syst)) which is an improvement of about 50% compared to a similar algorithm previously used in the LHCb experiment