Role of endophytic Penicillium species and Pseudomonas monteilii in inducing the systemic resistance in okra against root rotting fungi and their effect on some physiochemical properties of okra fruit.

AIMS: The efficacy of three isolates of endophytic Penicillium species that have shown significant suppressive effect on root rotting fungi in our previous study were further evaluated in pots and field plot experiments for their effect on root diseases of okra, induction of systemic resistance and physiochemical properties of okra fruit. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aqueous suspensions of endophytic Penicillium and Pseudomonas monteilii were applied in pots and field plots using okra as test plant. Data on the fungal infection of roots, plant growth, plant resistance markers like polyphenol, salicylic acid and antioxidant status of plant were determined. These isolates significantly suppressed root diseases and induced systemic resistance via increasing level of resistance markers, polyphenol and salicylic acid besides improving antioxidant activity of Penicillium and P. monteilii-treated plants as compared to control plants. GC-MS analysis of n-hexane extract of mycelium of P. nigricans revealed the presence of 15 different volatile compounds. CONCLUSIONS: Endophytic Penicillium and P. monteilii have potential against root-infecting fungi of okra and can improve plant growth and yield. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Endophytic Penicillium species and P. monteilii can suppress root rotting fungi by direct mechanism or induction of systemic resistance in plants.

Search for CP Violation and Measurement of the Branching Fraction in the Decay D

We report a study of the decay D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0} using 921 fb^{-1} of data collected at or near the ϒ(4S) and ϒ(5S) resonances with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The measured time-integrated CP asymmetry is A_{CP}(D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0})=(-0.02±1.53±0.02±0.17)%, and the branching fraction is B(D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0})=(1.321±0.023±0.036±0.044)×10^{-4}, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the normalization mode (D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}π^{0}). These results are significantly more precise than previous measurements available for this mode. The A_{CP} measurement is consistent with the standard model expectation.

Evidence for Isospin Violation and Measurement of CP Asymmetries in B→K

We report the first evidence for isospin violation in B→K^{*}γ and the first measurement of the difference of CP asymmetries between B^{+}→K^{*+}γ and B^{0}→K^{*0}γ. This analysis is based on the data sample containing 772×10^{6}BB[over ¯] pairs that was collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e^{+}e^{-} collider. We find evidence for the isospin violation with a significance of 3.1σ, Δ_{0+}=[+6.2±1.5(stat)±0.6(syst)±1.2(f_{+-}/f_{00})]%, where the third uncertainty is due to the uncertainty on the fraction of B^{+}B^{-} to B^{0}B[over ¯]^{0} production in ϒ(4S) decays. The measured value is consistent with predictions of the standard model. The result for the difference of CP asymmetries is ΔA_{CP}=[+2.4±2.8(stat)±0.5(syst)]%, consistent with zero. The measured branching fractions and CP asymmetries for charged and neutral B meson decays are the most precise to date. We also calculate the ratio of branching fractions of B^{0}→K^{*0}γ to B_{s}^{0}→ϕγ.

Measurement of the τ Lepton Polarization and R(D

We report the first measurement of the τ lepton polarization P_{τ}(D^{*}) in the decay B[over ¯]→D^{*}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ} as well as a new measurement of the ratio of the branching fractions R(D^{*})=B(B[over ¯]→D^{*}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})/B(B[over ¯]→D^{*}ℓ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{ℓ}), where ℓ^{-} denotes an electron or a muon, and the τ is reconstructed in the modes τ^{-}→π^{-}ν_{τ} and τ^{-}→ρ^{-}ν_{τ}. We use the full data sample of 772×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs recorded with the Belle detector at the KEKB electron-positron collider. Our results, P_{τ}(D^{*})=-0.38±0.51(stat)_{-0.16}^{+0.21}(syst) and R(D^{*})=0.270±0.035(stat)_{-0.025}^{+0.028}(syst), are consistent with the theoretical predictions of the standard model.

Lepton-Flavor-Dependent Angular Analysis of B→K

We present a measurement of angular observables and a test of lepton flavor universality in the B→K^{*}ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} decay, where ℓ is either e or µ. The analysis is performed on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 711 fb^{-1} containing 772×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs, collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider KEKB. The result is consistent with standard model (SM) expectations, where the largest discrepancy from a SM prediction is observed in the muon modes with a local significance of 2.6σ.

Observation of D

We report the first observation of the radiative charm decay D^{0}→ρ^{0}γ and the first search for CP violation in decays D^{0}→ρ^{0}γ, ϕγ, and K[over ¯]^{*0}(892)γ, using a data sample of 943 fb^{-1} collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The branching fraction is measured to be B(D^{0}→ρ^{0}γ)=(1.77±0.30±0.07)×10^{-5}, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The obtained CP asymmetries A_{CP}(D^{0}→ρ^{0}γ)=+0.056±0.152±0.006, A_{CP}(D^{0}→ϕγ)=-0.094±0.066±0.001, and A_{CP}(D^{0}→K[over ¯]^{*0}γ)=-0.003±0.020±0.000 are consistent with no CP violation. We also present an improved measurement of the branching fractions B(D^{0}→ϕγ)=(2.76±0.19±0.10)×10^{-5} and B(D^{0}→K[over ¯]^{*0}γ)=(4.66±0.21±0.21)×10^{-4}.

Assessment of global longitudinal strain at low-dose anthracycline-based chemotherapy for the prediction of subsequent cardiotoxicity.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess whether global longitudinal strain (GLS) measured early during treatment with anthracycline (at a cumulative dose of 150mg/m2) can predict subsequent alterations in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-six patients suffering from Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or acute leukemia and receiving anthracyclines were prospectively included. They underwent complete echocardiography on four separate occasions: baseline (V1); after reaching a cumulative dose of 150mg/m2 (V2); end of treatment (V3); one year follow-up (V4). Six patients developed cardiotoxicity defined by a decrease in LVEF by more than 10 percentage points to a value of at least less than 53% at V4. Both GLS measured at V1 and at V2 were significantly lower in the cardiotoxicity group compared with the control group (P=0.042 and P=0.01, respectively). Compared to GLS at V1, GLS obtained at V2 provided implemental predictive information and appeared to be the strongest predictor of cardiotoxicity (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.823). At a threshold of -17.45% for GLS measured at V2, the sensitivity and specificity of detecting cardiotoxicity were 67% (95%CI: [33-100%]) and 97% (95%CI: [94-100%]) respectively. CONCLUSION: GLS>-17.45%, obtained after 150mg/m2 of anthracycline therapy, is a significant predictor of future anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. This study should encourage physicians to perform echocardiography earlier during treatment with anthracyclines.

First Observation of the Doubly Cabibbo-Suppressed Decay of a Charmed Baryon: Λ_{c}

We report the first observation of the decay Λ_{c}^{+}→pK^{+}π^{-} using a 980 fb^{-1} data sample collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. This is the first observation of a doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decay of a charmed baryon. We measure the branching ratio of this decay with respect to its Cabibbo-favored counterpart to be B(Λ_{c}^{+}→pK^{+}π^{-})/B(Λ_{c}^{+}→pK^{-}π^{+})=(2.35±0.27±0.21)×10^{-3}, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

Observation of Z_{b}(10610) and Z_{b}(10650) Decaying to B Mesons.

We report the analysis of the three-body e^{+}e^{-}→BB[over ¯]π^{±}, BB[over ¯]^{*}π^{±}, and B^{*}B[over ¯]^{*}π^{±} processes, including the first observations of the Z_{b}^{±}(10610)→[BB[over ¯]^{*}+c.c.]^{±} and Z_{b}^{±}(10650)→[B^{*}B[over ¯]^{*}]^{±} transitions that are found to dominate the corresponding final states. We measure Born cross sections for the three-body production of σ(e^{+}e^{-}→[BB[over ¯]^{*}+c.c.]^{±}π^{∓})=[17.4±1.6(stat)±1.9(syst)] pb and σ(e^{+}e^{-}→[B^{*}B[over ¯]^{*}]^{±}π^{∓})=[8.75±1.15(stat)±1.04(syst)] pb and set a 90% C.L. upper limit of σ(e^{+}e^{-}→[BB[over ¯]]^{±}π^{∓})<2.9 pb. The results are based on a 121.4 fb^{-1} data sample collected with the Belle detector at a center-of-mass energy near the ϒ(10860) peak.

Observation of the Decay B_{s}

We measure the decay B_{s}^{0}→K^{0}K[over ¯]^{0} using data collected at the ϒ(5S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 121.4 fb^{-1}. We measure a branching fraction B(B_{s}^{0}→K^{0}K[over ¯]^{0})=[19.6_{-5.1}^{+5.8}(stat)±1.0(syst)±2.0(N_{B_{s}^{0}B[over ¯]_{s}^{0}})]×10^{-6} with a significance of 5.1 standard deviations. This measurement constitutes the first observation of this decay.

Observation of B

We report the first observation of the decays B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{(*)-}. The data sample of 711 fb^{-1} used in this analysis corresponds to 772×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs, collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. We observe 19.8σ and 10.8σ excesses of events for the two decay modes and measure the branching fractions of B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{-} and B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{*-} to be (25.1±2.6±3.5)×10^{-6} and (33.6±6.3±4.4)×10^{-6}, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. These results are not compatible with the predictions based on the generalized factorization approach. In addition, a threshold enhancement in the dibaryon (pΛ[over ¯]) system is observed, consistent with that observed in similar B decays.

First Observation of the Hadronic Transition ϒ(4S)→ηh(b)(1P) and New Measurement of the h(b)(1P) and η(b)(1S) Parameters.

Using a sample of 771.6×10(6) ϒϒ(4S) decays collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider, we observe, for the first time, the transition ϒ(4S)→ηh(b)(1P) with the branching fraction B[ϒ(4S)→ηh(b)(1P)]=(2.18±0.11±0.18)×10(-3) and we measure the h(b)(1P) mass M(h(b)(1P))=(9899.3±0.4±1.0) MeV/c(2), corresponding to the hyperfine (HF) splitting ΔM(HF)(1P)=(0.6±0.4±1.0) MeV/c(2). Using the transition h(b)(1P)→γη(b)(1S), we measure the η(b)(1S) mass M(η(b)(1S))=(9400.7±1.7±1.6) MeV/c(2), corresponding to ΔM(HF)(1S)=(59.6±1.7±1.6) MeV/c(2), the η(b)(1S) width Γ(η(b)(1S))=(8(-5)(+6)±5) MeV/c(2) and the branching fraction B[h(b)(1P)→γη(b)(1S)]=(56±8±4)%.

Search for the dark photon and the dark Higgs boson at belle.

The dark photon A^{'} and the dark Higgs boson h^{'} are hypothetical constituents featured in a number of recently proposed dark sector models. Assuming prompt decays of both dark particles, we search for their production in the so-called Higgstrahlung channel e^{+}e^{-}→A^{'}h^{'}, with h^{'}→A^{'}A^{'}. We investigate ten exclusive final states with A^{'}→e^{+}e^{-}, µ^{+}µ^{-}, or π^{+}π^{-} in the mass ranges 0.1 GeV/c^{2}

Measurement of the Direct CP Asymmetry in B¯â†’X(s+dγ) Decays with a Lepton Tag.

We report the measurement of the direct CP asymmetry in the radiative B¯â†’X(s+dγ) decay using a data sample of (772 ± 11)×10(6) BB[over ¯] pairs collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The CP asymmetry is measured as a function of the photon energy threshold. For Eγ*≥2.1 GeV, where Eγ* is the photon energy in the center-of-mass frame, we obtain A(CP)(B¯â†’X(s+dγ))=(2.2±3.9±0.9)%, consistent with the standard model prediction.

Observation of e+e- → π+π-π(0)(χbJ) and Search for X(b) → ωϒ(1S) at sqrt[s] = 10.867 GeV.

The e(+)e(-) → π(+)π(-)π(0)χ(bJ) (J = 0,1,2) processes are studied using a 118 fb(-1) data sample acquired with the Belle detector at a center-of-mass energy of 10.867 GeV. Unambiguous π(+)π(-)π(0)χ(bJ) (J = 1,2), ωχ(b1) signals are observed, and indication for ωχ(b2) is seen, both for the first time, and the corresponding cross section measurements are presented. No significant π(+)π(-)π(0)χ(b0) or ωχ(b0) signals are observed, and 90% confidence level upper limits on the cross sections for these two processes are obtained. In the π(+)π(-)π(0) invariant mass spectrum, significant non-ω signals are also observed. We search for the X(3872)-like state (named X(b)) decaying into ωϒ(1S); no significant signal is observed with a mass between 10.55 and 10.65 GeV/c(2).

Measurement of the branching fraction B(Λc+ → pK-π+).

We present the first model-independent measurement of the absolute branching fraction of the Λ(c)(+) → pK(-)π(+) decay using a data sample of 978 fb(-1) collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The number of Λ(c)(+) baryons is determined by reconstructing the recoiling D((*)-) pπ(+) system in events of the type e(+)e(-) → D((*)-) pπ(+)Λ(c)(+). The branching fraction is measured to be B(Λ(c)(+) → pK(-)π(+)) = (6.84 ± 0.24(-0.27)(+0.21))%, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

Observation of D0-D0 mixing in e+e- collisions.

We observe D(0)-D(0) mixing in the decay D(0) → K+π- using a data sample of integrated luminosity 976 fb(-1) collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- asymmetric-energy collider. We measure the mixing parameters x'(2) = (0.09 ± 0.22) × 10(-3) and y'=(4.6 ± 3.4) × 10(-3) and the ratio of doubly Cabibbo-suppressed to Cabibbo-favored decay rates R(D) = (3.53 ± 0.13) × 10(-3), where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic combined. Our measurement excludes the no-mixing hypothesis at the 5.1 standard deviation level.

Measurement of the τ-lepton lifetime at Belle.

The lifetime of the τ lepton is measured using the process e+ e- → τ+ τ- , where both τ leptons decay to 3πν(τ). The result for the mean lifetime, based on 711 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at the ϒ(4S) resonance and 60 MeV below, is τ=(290.17±0.53(stat)±0.33(syst))×10(-15) s. The first measurement of the lifetime difference between τ+ and τ- is performed. The upper limit on the relative lifetime difference between positive and negative τ leptons is |Δτ|/τ<7.0×10(-3) at 90% C.L.

Search for bottomonium states in exclusive radiative Υ(2S) decays.

We search for bottomonium states in Υ(2S) → (bb)γ decays with an integrated luminosity of 24.7 fb(-1) recorded at the Υ(2S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEK, containing (157.8±3.6)×10(6) Υ(2S) events. The (bb) system is reconstructed in 26 exclusive hadronic final states composed of charged pions, kaons, protons, and K(S)(0) mesons. We find no evidence for the state recently observed around 9975 MeV (X(bb)) in an analysis based on a data sample of 9.3×10(6) Υ(2S) events collected with the CLEO III detector. We set a 90% confidence level upper limit on the branching fraction B[Υ(2S) → X(bb)γ] × ∑(i)B[X(bb) → h(i)] < 4.9×10(-6), summed over the exclusive hadronic final states employed in our analysis. This result is an order of magnitude smaller than the measurement reported with CLEO data. We also set an upper limit for the ηb(1S) state of B[Υ(2S) → ηb(1S)γ] × ∑(i)B[ηb(1S) → h(i)] < 3.7×10(-6).

Evidence of a new narrow resonance decaying to χ(c1)γ in B→χ(c1)γK.

We report measurements of B→χ(c1)γK and χ(c2)γK decays using 772×10(6) BB[over ¯] events collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. Evidence of a new resonance in the χ(c1)γ final state is found with a statistical significance of 3.8σ. This state has a mass of 3823.1±1.8(stat)±0.7(syst) MeV/c(2), a value that is consistent with theoretical expectations for the previously unseen 1(3)D(2) cc[over ¯] meson. We find no other narrow resonance and set upper limits on the branching fractions of the X(3872)→χ(c1)γ and χ(c2)γ decays.