Measurements of the Branching Fraction, Polarization, and CP Asymmetry for the Decay B

We present a comprehensive study of B^{0}→ωω decays using 772×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider. This process is a suppressed charmless decay into two vector mesons and can exhibit interesting polarization and CP violation. The decay is observed for the first time with a significance of 7.9 standard deviations. We measure a branching fraction B=(1.53±0.29±0.17)×10^{-6}, a fraction of longitudinal polarization f_{L}=0.87±0.13±0.13, and a time-integrated CP asymmetry A_{CP}=-0.44±0.43±0.11, where the first uncertainties listed are statistical and the second are systematic. This is the first observation of B^{0}→ωω and the first measurements of f_{L} and A_{CP} for this decay.

Significance of MRI-based radiomics in predicting pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy of locally advanced rectal cancer: A narrative review.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced rectal cancers owing to its ability to downstage primary tumours. Some patients can achieve pathological complete response after neoadjuvant therapy, and can adopt a "watch and wait" treatment strategy to avoid overtreatment. Therefore, it is essential to develop strategies for predicting responses to neoadjuvant therapy. Radiomics has shown great potential in extracting tumour features from high-throughput medical images for the construction of mathematics models for predicting the effects of anticancerous therapies. Herein, we explored MRI-based radiomics and found that it can predict responses of locally advanced rectal cancers to chemoradiation. Efficient radiomics model allow early-stage prediction of the effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on locally advanced rectal cancers. It helps clinicians to make informed therapeutic decisions. In this review, we discuss the workflow of radiomics, and summarize the clinical application of MRI-based radiomics in predicting pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy of locally advanced rectal cancer.

Search for Baryon-Number-Violating Processes in B

We report the results of the first search for B^{-} decays to the Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} final state using 711 fb^{-1} of data collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The results are interpreted in terms of both direct baryon-number-violating B^{-} decay and Ξ_{c}^{0}-Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0} oscillations which follow the standard model decay B^{-}→Ξ_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}. We observe no evidence for baryon number violation and set the 95% confidence-level upper limits on the ratio of baryon-number-violating and standard model branching fractions B(B^{-}→Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-})/B(B^{-}→Ξ_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}) to be <2.7% and on the effective angular frequency of mixing ω in Ξ_{c}^{0}-Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0} oscillations to be <0.76 ps^{-1} (equivalent to τ_{mix}>1.3 ps).

Compact, ultrastable, high repetition-rate 2 µm and 3 µm fiber laser for seeding mid-IR OPCPA.

We report a compact and reliable ultrafast fiber laser system optimized for seeding a high energy, 2 µm pumped, 3 µm wavelength optical parametric chirped pulse amplification to drive soft X-ray high harmonics. The system delivers 100 MHz narrowband 2 µm pulses with >1 nJ energy, synchronized with ultra-broadband optical pulses with a ∼1 µm FWHM spectrum centered at 3 µm with 39 pJ pulse energy. The 2 µm and 3 µm pulses are derived from a single 1.5 µm fiber oscillator, fully fiber integrated with free-space downconversion for the 3 µm. The system operates hands-off with power instabilities <0.2% over extended periods of time.

Role of serum eosinophil cationic protein in distinct endotypes of chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels affect the surgical outcome of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps. Primary CRS can be classified into type 2 (T2) and non-T2. We aimed to differentiate the role of serum ECP levels in surgical outcomes between the distinct endotypes of primary CRS. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with bilateral primary CRS who underwent surgical treatment with postoperative follow-up for at least 12 months. Endotyping and serum parameter measurements were completed within 1 week before surgery. RESULTS: In total, 113 patients were enrolled, including 65 with T2 CRS and 48 with non-T2 CRS. Patients in the T2 CRS group with uncontrolled CRS had significantly higher serum ECP levels than those in patients in the non-T2 CRS group. An optimal cut-off value was obtained at 17.0 λg/L using the receiver operating characteristic curve, attaining a sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 56.6%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a higher serum ECP level was an independent factor for postoperative uncontrolled disease. The hazard ratio was 11.3 for the T2 group, with serum ECP levels over 17.0 λg/L. In the non-T2 group, no parameters were significantly correlated with postoperative uncontrolled CRS. CONCLUSIONS: Serum ECP levels appear to be a feasible predictor of postoperative uncontrolled disease in patients with T2 CRS as preoperative serum ECP levels >17.0 λg/L in these patients have an approximately 16.7-fold increased risk of postoperative uncontrolled disease and should be closely monitored.

Precise Measurement of the D_{s}

We measure the lifetime of the D_{s}^{+} meson using a data sample of 207 fb^{-1} collected by the Belle II experiment running at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The lifetime is determined by fitting the decay-time distribution of a sample of 116×10^{3} D_{s}^{+}→ϕπ^{+} decays. Our result is τ_{D_{s}^{+}}=(499.5±1.7±0.9) fs, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This result is significantly more precise than previous measurements.

Ethical Considerations and Fairness in the Use of Artificial Intelligence for Neuroradiology.

In this review, concepts of algorithmic bias and fairness are defined qualitatively and mathematically. Illustrative examples are given of what can go wrong when unintended bias or unfairness in algorithmic development occurs. The importance of explainability, accountability, and transparency with respect to artificial intelligence algorithm development and clinical deployment is discussed. These are grounded in the concept of "primum no nocere" (first, do no harm). Steps to mitigate unfairness and bias in task definition, data collection, model definition, training, testing, deployment, and feedback are provided. Discussions on the implementation of fairness criteria that maximize benefit and minimize unfairness and harm to neuroradiology patients will be provided, including suggestions for neuroradiologists to consider as artificial intelligence algorithms gain acceptance into neuroradiology practice and become incorporated into routine clinical workflow.

Regions Important for Hemagglutination Activity and Serotypes of Avibacterium paragallinarum HMTp210 Protein.

Avibacterium paragallinarum is an important respiratory pathogen of domestic chickens. Avibacterium paragallinarum has been subtyped into three serogroups and nine serovars according to the Page and revised Kume schemes. The major hemagglutinin antigen of A. paragallinarum is HMTp210, which is a large protein of about 2000 amino acids (aa), including a 70-aa signal peptide at its N-terminal end. However, the regions important for the hemagglutination (HA) activity and serotypes of HMTp210 remain unclear. In this study we constructed a series of A. paragallinarum strains expressing HMTp210 in-frame deletion mutants and determined their HA titers to identify the regions important for the HA activity and serotypes of HMTp210. Two distinct types of HA activities were found in HMTp210. The type 1 HA activity resided in the region spanning the full-length HA (aa 71-2084), whereas the type 2 resided in the region spanning aa 1003-2084. The putative ligand binding of the type 1 HA activity was located at aa 176-360, which had a structure similar to YadA of Yersinia enterocolitica. The putative ligand binding site of the type 2 HA activity was located at aa 1003-1125, which had a structure similar to UspA1 from Moraxella catarrhalis. The type 1 HA activity appeared to be Page serogroup specific, whereas type 2 appeared to be Kume serovar specific. Finally, sequence analyses of the regions spanning aa 1-400 and aa 1100-1600 of HMTp210 could be useful for the molecular serotyping (the Page and revised Kume schemes) of A. paragallinarum isolates.

Regiones importantes para la actividad de hemaglutinación y serotipos de la proteína HMTp210 de Avibacterium paragallinarum. La bacteria Avibacterium paragallinarum es un patógeno respiratorio importante de los pollos domésticos. Avibacterium paragallinarum se subtipificó en tres serogrupos y nueve serovares de acuerdo con los esquemas revisados de Page y Kume. El principal antígeno de la hemaglutinina de A. paragallinarum es la proteína HMTp210, que es una proteína grande de unos 2000 aminoácidos (aa), que incluye un péptido señal de 70 aminoácidos en su extremo N-terminal. Sin embargo, las regiones importantes para la actividad de hemaglutinación (HA) y de los serotipos de la proteína HMTp210 siguen sin estar determinados. En este estudio, se construyó una serie de cepas de A. paragallinarum que expresaban mutantes de deleción en marco de lectura de HMTp210 y se determinaron sus títulos de hemaglutinación para identificar las regiones importantes para la actividad de hemaglutinación y de los serotipos de HMTp210. Se encontraron dos tipos distintos de actividades hemaglutinación en la proteína HMTp210. La actividad de hemaglutinación de tipo 1 residía en la región que abarcaba la longitud completa (aminoácidos 71­2084), mientras que la de tipo 2 residía en la región que abarcaba entre los aminoácidos 1003­2084. El sitio supuesto de unión al ligando de la actividad de hemaglutinación tipo 1 se ubicó entre los aminoácidos 176­360, que tenía una estructura similar a la proteína YadA de Yersinia enterocolitica. El supuesto sitio de unión del ligando de la actividad de hemaglutinación tipo 2 se ubicó entre los aminoácidos 1003­1125, que tenía una estructura similar a la proteína UspA1 de Moraxella catarrhalis. La actividad de hemaglutinación tipo 1 parecía ser específica del serogrupo Page, mientras que la hemaglutinación tipo 2 parecía ser específica del serovar Kume. Finalmente, los análisis de secuencias de las regiones que abarcan los aminácidos 1­400 y aminoácidos 1100­1600 de HMTp210 podrían ser útiles para la serotipificación molecular (por el esquema revisado de Page y Kume revisado) de aislamientos de A. paragallinarum.

Search for an Invisible Z

The L_{µ}-L_{τ} extension of the standard model predicts the existence of a lepton-flavor-universality-violating Z^{'} boson that couples only to the heavier lepton families. We search for such a Z^{'} through its invisible decay in the process e^{+}e^{-}→µ^{+}µ^{-}Z^{'}. We use a sample of electron-positron collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV collected by the Belle II experiment in 2019-2020, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 79.7 fb^{-1}. We find no excess over the expected standard-model background. We set 90%-confidence-level upper limits on the cross section for this process as well as on the coupling of the model, which ranges from 3×10^{-3} at low Z^{'} masses to 1 at Z^{'} masses of 8 GeV/c^{2}.

Search for Lepton-Flavor-Violating τ Decays to a Lepton and an Invisible Boson at Belle II.

We search for lepton-flavor-violating τ^{-}→e^{-}α and τ^{-}→µ^{-}α decays, where α is an invisible spin-0 boson. The search uses electron-positron collisions at 10.58 GeV center-of-mass energy with an integrated luminosity of 62.8 fb^{-1}, produced by the SuperKEKB collider and collected with the Belle II detector. We search for an excess in the lepton-energy spectrum of the known τ^{-}→e^{-}ν[over ¯]_{e}ν_{τ} and τ^{-}→µ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{µ}ν_{τ} decays. We report 95% confidence-level upper limits on the branching-fraction ratio B(τ^{-}→e^{-}α)/B(τ^{-}→e^{-}ν[over ¯]_{e}ν_{τ}) in the range (1.1-9.7)×10^{-3} and on B(τ^{-}→µ^{-}α)/B(τ^{-}→µ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{µ}ν_{τ}) in the range (0.7-12.2)×10^{-3} for α masses between 0 and 1.6 GeV/c^{2}. These results provide the most stringent bounds on invisible boson production from τ decays.

First Measurement of the B

We study B^{+}→π^{+}π^{0}π^{0} using 711 fb^{-1} of data collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. We measure an inclusive branching fraction of (19.0±1.5±1.4)×10^{-6} and an inclusive CP asymmetry of (9.2±6.8±0.7)%, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic, and a B^{+}→ρ(770)^{+}π^{0} branching fraction of (11.2±1.1±0.9_{-1.6}^{+0.8})×10^{-6}, where the third uncertainty is due to possible interference with B^{+}→ρ(1450)^{+}π^{0}. We present the first observation of a structure around 1 GeV/c^{2} in the π^{0}π^{0} mass spectrum, with a significance of 6.4σ, and measure a branching fraction to be (6.9±0.9±0.6)×10^{-6}. We also report a measurement of local CP asymmetry in this structure.

Tissue eosinophilia and computed tomography features in paediatric chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps requiring revision surgery.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is an effective and safe treatment modality for medically recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in the paediatric population, especially in older children or those with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). We aimed to elucidate the inflammatory pattern and clinical characteristics of CRSwNP related to revision surgery after ESS in a paediatric population. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 146 patients with bilateral CRSwNP. Twenty-two patients had recurrent nasal polyps that required revision surgery. The clinical characteristics, computed tomography (CT) features, tissue eosinophil count, and immunoactivity of signature cytokines in the two groups were analysed. RESULTS: Tissue eosinophil infiltration and immunoreactivity of eosinophilic cationic protein and IL-5 in the sinus mucosa were higher in patients that required revision surgery. The revision surgery group was significantly younger and had positive aeroallergen test results, higher total Lund-Mackay scores, and ethmoid/maxillary sinus ratio on CT images than those without revision surgery. A nomogram was developed to predict the probability of the requirement of revision surgery according to the logistic regression analysis results. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a nomogram model using clinical characteristics, tissue eosinophilia, and CT features for the preoperative identification of patients vulnerable to revision surgery in paediatric CRSwNP. This could help clinicians predict the probability of recurrence and perform intensive postoperative adjunct therapy and follow-up.

Critical Appraisal of Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Imaging Tools Using the Levels of Evidence System.

Clinical adoption of an artificial intelligence-enabled imaging tool requires critical appraisal of its life cycle from development to implementation by using a systematic, standardized, and objective approach that can verify both its technical and clinical efficacy. Toward this concerted effort, the ASFNR/ASNR Artificial Intelligence Workshop Technology Working Group is proposing a hierarchal evaluation system based on the quality, type, and amount of scientific evidence that the artificial intelligence-enabled tool can demonstrate for each component of its life cycle. The current proposal is modeled after the levels of evidence in medicine, with the uppermost level of the hierarchy showing the strongest evidence for potential impact on patient care and health care outcomes. The intended goal of establishing an evidence-based evaluation system is to encourage transparency, foster an understanding of the creation of artificial intelligence tools and the artificial intelligence decision-making process, and to report the relevant data on the efficacy of artificial intelligence tools that are developed. The proposed system is an essential step in working toward a more formalized, clinically validated, and regulated framework for the safe and effective deployment of artificial intelligence imaging applications that will be used in clinical practice.

[Clinical and genetic characteristics of children with dopa-responsive dystonia caused by tyrosine hydroxylase gene variations].

Objective: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of children with dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) caused by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene variations. Methods: Clinical data of 9 children with DRD caused by TH gene variations diagnosed in the Department of Children Rehabilitation, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2017 to August 2022 were retrospectively collected and analyzed, including the general conditions, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, gene variations and follow-up data. Results: Of the 9 children with DRD caused by TH gene variations, 3 were males and 6 were females. The age at diagnosis was 12.0 (8.0, 15.0) months. The initial symptoms of the 8 severe patients were motor delay or degression. Clinical symptoms of the severe patients included motor delay (8 cases), truncal hypotonia (8 cases), limb muscle hypotonia (7 cases), hypokinesia (6 cases), decreased facial expression (4 cases), tremor (3 cases), limb dystonia (3 cases), diurnal fluctuation (2 cases), ptosis (2 cases), limb muscle hypertonia (1 case) and drooling (1 case). The initial symptom of the very severe patient was motor delay. Clinical symptoms of the very severe patient included motor delay, truncal hypotonia, oculogyric crises, status dystonicus, hypokinesia, decreased facial expression, and decreased sleep. Eleven TH gene variants were found, including 5 missense variants, 3 splice site variants, 2 nonsense variants, and 1 insertion variant, as well as 2 novel variants (c.941C>A (p.T314K), c.316_317insCGT (p.F106delinsSF)). Nine patients were followed up for 40 (29, 43) months, and no one was lost to follow-up. Seven of the 8 severe patients were treated by levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets and 1 severe patient was treated by levodopa tablets. All the severe patients responded well to levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets or levodopa tablets. Although the weight of the patients increased and the drug dosage was not increased, the curative effect remained stable and there was no obvious adverse reaction. One severe patient developed dyskinesia in the early stage of treatment with levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets and it disappeared after oral administration of benzhexol hydrochloride tablets. Until the last follow-up, motor development of 7 severe patients returned to normal and 1 severe patient still had motor delay due to receiving levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets for only 2 months. The very severe patient was extremely sensitive to levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets and no improvement was observed in this patient. Conclusions: Most of the DRD caused by TH gene variations are severe form. The clinical manifestations are varied and easily misdiagnosed. Patients of the severe patients responded well to levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets or levodopa tablets, and it takes a long time before full effects of treatment become established. Long-term effect is stable without increasing the drug dosage, and no obvious side effect is observed.

Propofol decreased the etomidate-induced myoclonus in adult patients: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Myoclonus is one of the main complications of etomidate anesthesia, which would develop into serious consequences during surgery. The present analysis was performed to evaluate systematically the effect of propofol on preventing etomidate-induced myoclonus in adult patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Systematic electronic literature search was performed in the databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, OVID, Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from inception to May 20, 2021, without any language restrictions. All randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of propofol on preventing etomidate-induced myoclonus were enrolled. The primary outcome included the incidence and degree of etomidate-induced myoclonus. RESULTS: 1,420 patients (with 602 received etomidate anesthesia and 818 received propofol plus etomidate anesthesia) from 13 studies were eventually included. Whatever the intravenous propofol dose for anesthesia induction 0.8-2 mg/kg (RR:4.04, 95% CI [2.42,6.74] p<0.0001, I2=56.5%), or the dose of propofol for anesthesia induction 0.5-0.8 mg/kg (RR:3.26, 95% CI [2.03,5.22] p<0.0001, I2=0%), or the dose of propofol for anesthesia induction 0.25-0.5mg/kg (RR:1.68, 95% CI [1.1,2.56] p=0.0160, I2=0%), combination of propofol and etomidate could significantly decrease the occurrence of etomidate-related myoclonus (RR=2.99, 95% CI [2.40, 3.71] p<0.0001, I2=43.4%), compared with etomidate alone. In addition, propofol plus etomidate attenuated the incidence of mild (RR:3.40, 95% CI [1.7,6.82] p=0.0010, I2=54.3%), moderate (RR:5.4, 95% CI [3.01, 9.67] p<0.0001, I2=12.6%), severe (RR:4.15, 95% CI [2.11, 8.13] p<0.0001, I2=0%) of etomidate-induced myoclonus without adverse effects except for the increased incidence of pain on injection (RR:0.47, 95% CI [0.26, 0.83] p=0.0100, I2=41.5%) compared with etomidate alone. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis currently generates the evidence of combination of propofol with the dosage of 0.25-2 mg/kg and etomidate can alleviate the occurrence and severity of etomidate-induced myoclonus, with decreased incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and comparative side effects of hemodynamic and respiratory depression of patients in comparison with etomidate alone.

Measurement of the Λ_{c}

An absolute measurement of the Λ_{c}^{+} lifetime is reported using Λ_{c}^{+}→pK^{-}π^{+} decays in events reconstructed from data collected by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy electron-positron collider. The total integrated luminosity of the data sample, which was collected at center-of-mass energies at or near the ϒ(4S) resonance, is 207.2 fb^{-1}. The result, τ(Λ_{c}^{+})=203.20±0.89±0.77 fs, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic, is the most precise measurement to date and is consistent with previous determinations.

The Relationship between Numbness and Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: Numbness is a term commonly used in clinical practice to describe an abnormal sensory experience that is produced by a stimulus or is present even without a stimulus. However, there is still much that remains obscure in this field, and also, few reports have focused on its symptoms. In addition, while pain itself is known to have a significant impact on quality of life (QOL), the relationship between numbness and QOL is often unclear. Therefore, we conducted an epidemiological survey and analyzed the relationship between painless numbness and QOL, using type, location, and age as influencing factors, respectively. METHODS: A nationwide epidemiological survey was conducted by mail using a survey panel designed by the Nippon Research Center. Questionnaires were sent to 10,000 randomly selected people aged 18 and over from all over Japan. Out of the 5682 people who responded, the relationship between numbness and QOL was analyzed using the EuroQol 5 Dimension-3L (EQ5D-3L) for patients who are currently experiencing painless numbness. FINDINGS: The results suggest that painless numbness affects QOL and that QOL decreases as its intensity increases. Furthermore, the two factors of numbness of feet and numbness among the young may be less likely to affect QOL. This study may be of great significance in the field of numbness research.

Evidence of a New Excited Charmed Baryon Decaying to Σ_{c}(2455)

We present the study of B[over ¯]^{0}→Σ_{c}(2455)^{0,++}π^{±}p[over ¯] decays based on 772×10^{6} BB[over ¯] events collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The Σ_{c}(2455)^{0,++} candidates are reconstructed via their decay to Λ_{c}^{+}π^{∓} and Λ_{c}^{+} decays to pK^{-}π^{+}, pK_{S}^{0}, and Λπ^{+} final states. The corresponding branching fractions are measured to be B(B[over ¯]^{0}→Σ_{c}(2455)^{0}π^{+}p[over ¯])=(1.09±0.06±0.07)×10^{-4} and B(B[over ¯]^{0}→Σ_{c}(2455)^{++}π^{-}p[over ¯])=(1.84±0.11±0.12)×10^{-4}, which are consistent with the world average values with improved precision. A new structure is found in the M_{Σ_{c}(2455)^{0,++}π^{±}} spectrum with a significance of 4.2σ including systematic uncertainty. The structure is possibly an excited Λ_{c}^{+} and is tentatively named Λ_{c}(2910)^{+}. Its mass and width are measured to be (2913.8±5.6±3.8) MeV/c^{2} and (51.8±20.0±18.8) MeV, respectively. The products of branching fractions for the Λ_{c}(2910)^{+} are measured to be B(B[over ¯]^{0}→Λ_{c}(2910)^{+}p[over ¯])×B(Λ_{c}(2910)^{+}→Σ_{c}(2455)^{0}π^{+})=(9.5±3.6±1.6)×10^{-6} and B(B[over ¯]^{0}→Λ_{c}(2910)^{+}p[over ¯])×B(Λ_{c}(2910)^{+}→Σ_{c}(2455)^{++}π^{-})=(1.24±0.35±0.10)×10^{-5}. Here, the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.