Search for a τ^{+}τ^{-} Resonance in e^{+}e^{-}→μ^{+}μ^{-}τ^{+}τ^{-} Events with the Belle II Experiment

We report the first search for a nonstandard-model resonance decaying into τ pairs in e^{+}e^{-}→μ^{+}μ^{-}τ^{+}τ^{-} events in the 3.6-10  GeV/c^{2} mass range. We use a 62.8  fb^{-1} sample of e^{+}e^{-} collisions collected at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB collider. The analysis probes three different models predicting a spin-1 particle coupling only to the heavier lepton families, a Higgs-like spin-0 particle that couples preferentially to charged leptons (leptophilic scalar), and an axionlike particle, respectively. We observe no evidence for a signal and set exclusion limits at 90% confidence level on the product of cross section and branching fraction into τ pairs, ranging from 0.7 to 24 fb, and on the couplings of these processes. We obtain world-leading constraints on the couplings for the leptophilic scalar model for masses above 6.5  GeV/c^{2} and for the axionlike particle model over the entire mass range.

Experimental and Clinical Investigation of Cytokines in Migraine: A Narrative Review

The role of neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of migraines is increasingly being recognized, and cytokines, which are important endogenous substances involved in immune and inflammatory responses, have also received attention. This review examines the current literature on neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of migraine. Elevated TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels have been identified in non-invasive mouse models with cortical spreading depolarization (CSD). Various mouse models to induce migraine attack-like symptoms also demonstrated elevated inflammatory cytokines and findings suggesting differences between episodic and chronic migraines and between males and females. While studies on human blood during migraine attacks have reported no change in TNF-α levels and often inconsistent results for IL-1β and IL-6 levels, serial analysis of cytokines in jugular venous blood during migraine attacks revealed consistently increased IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. In a study on the interictal period, researchers reported higher levels of TNF-α and IL-6 compared to controls and no change regarding IL-1β levels. Saliva-based tests suggest that IL-1β might be useful in discriminating against migraine. Patients with migraine may benefit from a cytokine perspective on the pathogenesis of migraine, as there have been several encouraging reports suggesting new therapeutic avenues.

Precise Measurement of the D^{0} and D^{+} Lifetimes at Belle II

We report a measurement of the D^{0} and D^{+} lifetimes using D^{0}→K^{-}π^{+} and D^{+}→K^{-}π^{+}π^{+} decays reconstructed in e^{+}e^{-}→cc[over ¯] data recorded by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The data, collected at center-of-mass energies at or near the ϒ(4S) resonance, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 72  fb^{-1}. The results, τ(D^{0})=410.5±1.1(stat)±0.8(syst)  fs and τ(D^{+})=1030.4±4.7(stat)±3.1(syst)  fs, are the most precise to date and are consistent with previous determinations.

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome induced by diazoxide and furosemide in a 5-year-old girl

Hyperglycemia and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS) are the rare adverse effects of diazoxide. Furosemide has been reported to worsen glucose tolerance and cause HHS. A 5-yr-old girl presented to the emergency department with complaints of tachycardia, polyuria, and lethargy for 1 wk prior to hospitalization. She was treated with two diuretics for aortic valve reflux disease and diazoxide for congenital hyperinsulinemia. She was diagnosed with HHS based on her serum glucose level of 529 mg/dL and serum osmotic pressure of 357 mOsm/kg. There were no findings suggestive of new-onset diabetes mellitus. She had fever on admission and, was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. The blood diazoxide level at the time of hospitalization was 25 µg/dL. Diazoxide use, even in patients with low diazoxide levels, may cause hyperglycemia. Patients on diuretics and diazoxide must be carefully monitored, considering the risk of developing HHS.

Evidence for X(3872)→J/ψπ^{+}π^{-} Produced in Single-Tag Two-Photon Interactions

We report the first evidence for X(3872) production in two-photon interactions by tagging either the electron or the positron in the final state, exploring the highly virtual photon region. The search is performed in e^{+}e^{-}→e^{+}e^{-}J/ψπ^{+}π^{-}, using 825  fb^{-1} of data collected by the Belle detector operated at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider. We observe three X(3872) candidates, where the expected background is 0.11±0.10 events, with a significance of 3.2σ. We obtain an estimated value for Γ[over ˜]_{γγ}B(X(3872)→J/ψπ^{+}π^{-}) assuming the Q^{2} dependence predicted by a cc[over ¯] meson model, where -Q^{2} is the invariant mass squared of the virtual photon. No X(3915)→J/ψπ^{+}π^{-} candidates are found.

Search for Axionlike Particles Produced in e^{+}e^{-} Collisions at Belle II

We present a search for the direct production of a light pseudoscalar a decaying into two photons with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB collider. We search for the process e^{+}e^{-}→γa, a→γγ in the mass range 0.2<m_{a}<9.7  GeV/c^{2} using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of (445±3)  pb^{-1}. Light pseudoscalars interacting predominantly with standard model gauge bosons (so-called axionlike particles or ALPs) are frequently postulated in extensions of the standard model. We find no evidence for ALPs and set 95% confidence level upper limits on the coupling strength g_{aγγ} of ALPs to photons at the level of 10^{-3}  GeV^{-1}. The limits are the most restrictive to date for 0.2<m_{a}<1  GeV/c^{2}.

Remifentanil for sedation and analgesia during awake division of tongue flap in children: a report of two cases

Background

The tongue flap is an accepted treatment method for cleft palate repair. Orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation using a fiberoptic scope is preferred for the division of the tongue flap. We report two cases of tongue flap division in which the patients received adequate sedation and analgesia without tracheal intubation.

Case presentation

Twelve- and 13-year-old male patients were treated at our hospital for tongue flap division, performed as part of a cleft palate repair. We planned to divide the tongue flap under sedation with remifentanil (1 μg/kg/min continuous infusion) and local anesthesia, followed by induction of general anesthesia, and orotracheal intubation after the tongue flap was divided. During the procedure, patients were breathing spontaneously and were cooperative. Patients were able to follow the surgeons' verbal cues to thrust out the tongue during the procedure, so that the surgeons could easily insert the sutures.

Conclusions

During the division of the tongue flap in two children, excellent sedative and analgesic effects were achieved using continuous remifentanil infusion.

Modulating the microtubule-tau interactions in biomotility systems by altering the chemical environment

Obstacles in microtubule mediated neuronal transport can trigger dementia. We use bio-motility assays, that simulate the neuron chemistry in axonopathy, to screen chemicals, that retain the microtubule dynamics in healthy neuronal activity. Tau protein inhibits microtubule activity and leads to oligomerization. Iron(iii) untangles, whereas mono-sodium-glutamate destabilizes the microtubule oligomer.

Isomorphic coalescence of aster cores formed in vitro from microtubules and kinesin motors

We report fluorescence microscopy studies of the formation of aster-like structures emerging from a cellular element-based active system and a novel analysis of the aster condensation. The system consists of rhodamine labeled microtubules which are dynamically coupled by functionalized kinesin motor proteins cross-linked via streptavidin-coated quantum dots (QDs). The aster-shaped objects contain core structures. The cores are aggregates of the QD-motor protein complexes, and result from the dynamic condensation of sub-clusters that are connected to each other randomly. The structural specificity of the aster core reflects a configuration of the initial connectivity between sub-clusters. Detailed image analysis allows us to extract a novel correlation between the condensation speed and the sub-cluster separation. The size of the core is scaled down during the condensation process, following a power law dependence on the distance between sub-clusters. The exponent of the power law is close to two, as expected from a geometric model. This single exponent common to all the contractile lines implies that there exists a time regime during which an isomorphic contraction of the aster core continues during the condensation process. We analyze the observed contraction by using a model system with potential applicability in a wide range of emergent phenomena in randomly coupled active networks, which are prevalent in the cellular environment.

Measurement and comparison of individual external doses of high-school students living in Japan, France, Poland and Belarus-the 'D-shuttle' project

Twelve high schools in Japan (of which six are in Fukushima Prefecture), four in France, eight in Poland and two in Belarus cooperated in the measurement and comparison of individual external doses in 2014. In total 216 high-school students and teachers participated in the study. Each participant wore an electronic personal dosimeter 'D-shuttle' for two weeks, and kept a journal of his/her whereabouts and activities. The distributions of annual external doses estimated for each region overlap with each other, demonstrating that the personal external individual doses in locations where residence is currently allowed in Fukushima Prefecture and in Belarus are well within the range of estimated annual doses due to the terrestrial background radiation level of other regions/countries.

Experimental and theoretical studies of Si–Cl and Ge–Cl σ-bond activation reactions by iridium-hydride

We report the iridium hydride-mediated Si–Cl and Ge–Cl σ-bond activation in a low-polarity toluene solution owing to diphosphine-chelation, in which the Si–Cl and Ge–Cl σ-bonds are readily cleaved through an S_N2-type pathway via the formation of a free chloride anion.

First Observation of CP Violation in B[over ¯]^{0}→D_{CP}^{(*)}h^{0} Decays by a Combined Time-Dependent Analysis of BABAR and Belle Data

We report a measurement of the time-dependent CP asymmetry of B[over ¯]^{0}→D_{CP}^{(*)}h^{0} decays, where the light neutral hadron h^{0} is a π^{0}, η, or ω meson, and the neutral D meson is reconstructed in the CP eigenstates K^{+}K^{-}, K_{S}^{0}π^{0}, or K_{S}^{0}ω. The measurement is performed combining the final data samples collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance by the BABAR and Belle experiments at the asymmetric-energy B factories PEP-II at SLAC and KEKB at KEK, respectively. The data samples contain (471±3)×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs recorded by the BABAR detector and (772±11)×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs recorded by the Belle detector. We measure the CP asymmetry parameters -η_{f}S=+0.66±0.10(stat)±0.06(syst) and C=-0.02±0.07(stat)±0.03(syst). These results correspond to the first observation of CP violation in B[over ¯]^{0}→D_{CP}^{(*)}h^{0} decays. The hypothesis of no mixing-induced CP violation is excluded in these decays at the level of 5.4 standard deviations.

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.

[Anesthetic management of a morbidly obese patient undergoing laparoscopic right nephrectomy]

A 41-year-old man weighing 196 kg (body mass index of 62.5 kg m2) with renal cancer was scheduled for laparoscopic right nephrectomy. On the day before surgery, we confirmed the intraoperative patient position with the patient and medical staff to prevent neurological deficit during the intraoperative period. For postoperative analgesia and prevention of respiratory complications, an epidural catheter was inserted under radiography and ultrasound guidance. Difficult airway was anticipated, and we attempted awake intubation in the left lateral position with Airwayscope (AWS). The vocal cord was visualized with AWS; however, because of his small oral cavity, we could not place the Intlock of AWS to insert the tracheal tube appropriately. Using a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope under AWS guidance, the trachea was intubated. During neumoperitoneum at 12 mmHg, mechanical ventilation was achieved without hypercapnia, hypoxia or elevated airway pressure, with rate of 12 min-1, FIO2 of 0.6, PIP of 25 cmH2O and PEEP of 8 cmH2O. The surgery was completed and his trachea was extubated in the operating room. He did not develop any perioperative complications and was discharged on the 10th day after the surgery.

Impact of immunoreactive substances contained in apheresis platelet concentrate on postoperative respiratory function in surgical patients receiving platelet transfusion: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To construct an alternative policy for the donor selection of platelet concentrate (PC), a clinical study exploring the features of lung injury following PC administration is needed.

BACKGROUND

Although a male-donor-only policy for plasma products appears to have efficiently reduced transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), this policy may not be applied to PC because of supply shortages.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We prospectively examined pulmonary function after the transfusion of PC in informed surgical patients treated at a tertiary university hospital in Japan. The contributions of immunoreactive substances contained in the PC to respiratory function after PC transfusion was then statistically examined.

RESULTS

Eighty-six patients (56 men, 30 women) were enrolled in the analysis. Fifty-four cases experienced respiratory failure (PaO2 /FiO2 <300 mmHg) after transfusion. Five cases were diagnosed as possible TRALI based on permeability pulmonary oedema, while 23 cases were diagnosed as transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) based on chest radiograph findings. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the presence of anti-granulocyte antibody as a significant predictor of possible TRALI [P = 0.023; odds ratio (OR), 13.0; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4-118.3]. Meanwhile, anti-leukocyte antibody class II was identified as a significant independent predictor of TACO (P = 0.010; OR, 18.4; 95% CI, 2.0-170.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that antibodies contained in PC may contribute to the deterioration of respiratory function after PC transfusion, although the diagnoses of TACO and TRALI may have overlapped among the patients with pulmonary distress in this cohort.

Study of e+ e- → π+ π- J/ψ and observation of a charged charmoniumlike state at Belle

The cross section for ee+ e- → π+ π- J/ψ between 3.8 and 5.5 GeV is measured with a 967  fb(-1) data sample collected by the Belle detector at or near the Υ(nS) (n = 1,2,…,5) resonances. The Y(4260) state is observed, and its resonance parameters are determined. In addition, an excess of π+ π- J/ψ production around 4 GeV is observed. This feature can be described by a Breit-Wigner parametrization with properties that are consistent with the Y(4008) state that was previously reported by Belle. In a study of Y(4260) → π+ π- J/ψ decays, a structure is observed in the M(π(±)J/ψ) mass spectrum with 5.2σ significance, with mass M = (3894.5 ± 6.6 ± 4.5)  MeV/c2 and width Γ = (63 ± 24 ± 26)  MeV/c2, where the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. This structure can be interpreted as a new charged charmoniumlike state.

Development of an (e,2e) electron momentum spectroscopy apparatus using an ultrashort pulsed electron gun

An (e,2e) apparatus for electron momentum spectroscopy (EMS) has been developed, which employs an ultrashort-pulsed incident electron beam with a repetition rate of 5 kHz and a pulse duration in the order of a picosecond. Its instrumental design and technical details are reported, involving demonstration of a new method for finding time-zero. Furthermore, EMS data for the neutral Ne atom in the ground state measured by using the pulsed electron beam are presented to illustrate the potential abilities of the apparatus for ultrafast molecular dynamics, such as by combining EMS with the pump-and-probe technique.

Evidence for B- → τ- ν(τ) with a hadronic tagging method using the full data sample of Belle

We measure the branching fraction of B- → τ- ν(τ) using the full Υ(4S) data sample containing 772×10(6) BB pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider. Events with BB pairs are tagged by reconstructing one of the B mesons decaying into hadronic final states, and B- → τ- ν(τ) candidates are detected in the recoil. We find evidence for B- → τ- ν(τ) with a significance of 3.0 standard deviations including systematic errors and measure a branching fraction B(B- → τ- ν(τ))=[0.72(-0.25)(+0.27)(stat)±0.11(syst)]×10(-4).

Oscillatory Electric Potential on the Olfactory Epithelium Observed during the Breeding Migration Period in the Japanese Toad, Bufo japonicus

Japanese toad (Bufo japonicus) tracks the route to and from the breeding sites using the olfactory cues from the migration route and not from the destination (). We recorded a slow extracellular potential change (electro-olfactogram or EOG) evoked on the olfactory epithelium by applying an olfactory stimulus with an air stream. In September toads, only a simple typical EOG that is common in various vertebrate species was observed. Oscillatory potential changes (OSC) superimposed on the typical EOG were observed in the breeding season when studied throughout a year. There were no sexual differences in the occurrence and the amplitude of the OSC. Oscillatory potentials were observed also from the olfactory nerve of the brain. The OSC in the olfactory epithelium remained even after denervation. In addition, it was suggested that there are multiple sites of OSC initiation in the olfactory epithelium. These results suggest an intimate relationship between OSC appearance and the breeding migration in the toad.

Evidence for CP violation in the decay D+ → K(S)(0)π+

We observe evidence for CP violation in the decay D+ → K(S)(0)π+ using a data sample with an integrated luminosity of 977  fb(-1) collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB e+ e- asymmetric-energy collider. The CP asymmetry in the decay is measured to be (-0.363±0.094±0.067)%, which is 3.2 standard deviations away from zero, and is consistent with the expected CP violation due to the neutral kaon in the final state.

Observation of new resonant structures in γγ → ωϕ, ϕϕ, and ωω

The processes γγ → ωϕ, ϕϕ, and ωω are measured using an 870  fb(-1) data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider. Production of vector meson pairs is clearly observed and their cross sections are measured for masses that range from threshold to 4.0 GeV. In addition to signals from well established spin-zero and spin-two charmonium states, there are resonant structures below charmonium threshold, which have not been previously observed. We report a spin-parity analysis for the new structures and determine the products of the η(c), χ(c0), and χ(c2) two-photon decay widths and branching fractions to ωϕ, ϕϕ, and ωω.

First observation of B(s)(0) → J/ψη and B(s)(0) → J/ψη'

We report first observations of B(s)(0) → J/ψη and B(s)(0) → J/ψη'. The results are obtained from 121.4  fb(-1) of data collected at the Υ(5S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+ e- collider. We obtain the branching fractions B(B(s)(0) → J/ψη)=[5.10±0.50(stat)±0.25(syst)(-0.79)(+1.14)(N(B(s)(*) B(s)(*))]×10(-4), and B(B(s)(0) → J/ψη')=[3.71±0.61(stat)±0.18(syst)(-0.57)(+0.83)(N(B(s)(*) B(s)(*))]×10(-4). The ratio of the two branching fractions is measured to be (B(B(s) → J/ψη'))/(B(B(s) → J/ψη))=0.73±0.14(stat)±0.02(syst).

Precise measurement of the CP violation parameter sin2φ1 in B0→(cc¯)K0 decays

We present a precise measurement of the CP violation parameter sin2φ1 and the direct CP violation parameter A(f) using the final data sample of 772×10(6) BB[over ¯] pairs collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson is reconstructed in a J/ψK(S)(0), ψ(2S)K(S)(0), χ(c1)K(S)(0), or J/ψK(L)(0) CP eigenstate and its flavor is identified from the decay products of the accompanying B meson. From the distribution of proper-time intervals between the two B decays, we obtain the following CP violation parameters: sin2φ1=0.667±0.023(stat)±0.012(syst) and A(f)=0.006±0.016(stat)±0.012(syst).

Measurement of the CP-violation parameter sin2φ1 with a new tagging method at the Υ(5S) resonance

We report a measurement of the CP-violation parameter sin2φ1 at the Υ(5S) resonance using a new tagging method, called "B-π tagging." In Υ(5S) decays containing a neutral B meson, a charged B, and a charged pion, the neutral B is reconstructed in the J/ψK(S)(0) CP-eigenstate decay channel. The initial flavor of the neutral B meson at the moment of the Υ(5S) decay is opposite to that of the charged B and may thus be inferred from the charge of the pion without reconstructing the charged B. From the asymmetry between B-π(+) and B-π(-) tagged J/ψK(S)(0) yields, we determine sin2φ1=0.57±0.58(stat)±0.06(syst). The results are based on 121 fb(-1) of data recorded by the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider.

First observation of the P-wave spin-singlet bottomonium states hb(1P) and hb(2P)

We report the first observations of the spin-singlet bottomonium states h(b)(1P) and h(b)(2P). The states are produced in the reaction e(+)e(-)→h(b)(nP)π(+)π(-) using a 121.4 fb(-1) data sample collected at energies near the Υ(5S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. We determine M[h(b)(1P)]=(9898.2(-1.0-1.1)(+1.1+1.0)) MeV/c(2) and M[h(b)(2P)]=(10,259.8±0.6(-1.0)(+1.4)) MeV/c(2), which correspond to P-wave hyperfine splittings ΔM(HF)=(+1.7±1.5) and (+0.5(-1.2)(+1.6)) MeV/c(2), respectively. The significances of the h(b)(1P) and h(b)(2P) are 5.5σ and 11.2σ, respectively. We find that the production of the h(b)(1P) and h(b)(2P) is not suppressed relative to the production of the Υ(1S), Υ(2S), and Υ(3S).

Observation of D+ → K(+)η(') and search for CP violation in D+ → π(+)η(') decays

We report the first observation of the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decays D(+)→K(+)η((')) using a 791 fb(-1) data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The ratio of the branching fractions of doubly Cabibbo-suppressed relative to singly Cabibbo-suppressed D(+)→π(+)η((')) decays are B(D(+)→K(+)η)/B(D(+)→π(+)η)=(3.06±0.43±0.14)% and B(D(+)→K(+)η')/B(D(+)→π(+)η')=(3.77±0.39±0.10)%. From these, we find that the relative final-state phase difference between the tree and annihilation amplitudes in D(+) decays, δ(TA), is (72±9)° or (288±9)°. We also report the most precise measurements of CP asymmetries to date: A(CP)(D(+)→π(+)η)=(+1.74±1.13±0.19)% and A(CP)(D(+)→π(+)η')=(-0.12±1.12±0.17)%.

Search for CP violation in τ±→K(S)0π±ντ decays at Belle

We report on a search for CP violation in τ(±)→K(S)(0)π(±)ν(τ) decays using a data sample of 699 fb(-1) collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB electron-positron asymmetric-energy collider. The CP asymmetry is measured in four bins of the invariant mass of the K(S)(0)π(±) system and found to be compatible with zero with a precision of O(10(-3)) in each mass bin. Limits for the CP violation parameter Im(η(S)) are given at the 90% confidence level. These limits are |Im(η(S))| < 0.026 or better, depending on the parametrization used to describe the hadronic form factors, and improve upon previous limits by 1 order of magnitude.

Observation of X(3872)→J/ψγ and search for X(3872)→ψ'γ in B decays

We report a study of B→(J/ψγ)K and B→(ψ'γ)K decay modes using 772×10⁶ B ̅B events collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. We observe X(3872)→J/ψγ and report the first evidence for χ(c2)→J/ψγ in B→(X_{c ̅cγ)K decays, while in a search for X(3872)→ψ'γ no significant signal is found. We measure the branching fractions, B(B(±)→X(3872)K(±))B(X(3872)→J/ψγ)=(1.78(-0.44)(+0.48)±0.12)×10(-6), B(B(±)→χ(c2)K(±))=(1.11(-0.34)(+0.36)±0.09)×10(-5), B(B(±)→X(3872)K(±))B(X(3872)→ψ'γ)<3.45×10⁶ (upper limit at 90% C.L.), and also provide upper limits for other searches.

Evidence for the suppressed decay B(-)→DK(-), D→K(+)π(-)

The suppressed decay chain B(-)→DK(-), D→K(+)π(-), where D indicates a D(¯)(0) or D(0) state, provides important information on the CP-violating angle ϕ(3). We measure the ratio R(DK) of the decay rates to the favored mode B(-)→DK(-), D→K(-)π(+) to be R(DK)=[1.63(-0.41)(+0.44)(stat)(-0.13)(+0.07)(syst)]×10(-2), which indicates the first evidence of the signal with a significance of 4.1σ. We also measure the asymmetry A(DK) between the charge-conjugate decays to be A(DK)=-0.39(-0.28)(+0.26)(stat)(-0.03)(+0.04)(syst). The results are based on the full 772×10(6) BB(¯) pair data sample collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector.

Observation of B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(980) and evidence for B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(1370)

We report the observation of B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(980) and evidence for B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(1370), which are CP eigenstate decay modes. These results are obtained from 121.4 fb⁻¹ of data collected at the Υ(5S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e⁻ collider. We measure the branching fractions B(B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(980); f₀(980)→π(+)π⁻)=(1.16(-0.19)(+0.31)(stat)(-0.17)(+0.15)(syst)(-0.18)(+0.26)(N(B(s)((*))B(s)((*)))))×10⁻⁴ with a significance of 8.4σ, and B(B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(1370); f₀(1370)→π(+)π⁻)=(0.34(-0.14)(+0.11)(stat)(-0.02)(+0.03)(syst)(-0.05)(+0.08)(N(B(s)((*))B(s)((*)))))×10⁻⁴ with a significance of 4.2σ. The last error listed is due to uncertainty in the number of produced B(s)((*))B(s)((*)) pairs.

Observation of B(s)(0) → D(s)(*)+ D(s)(*)- using e+ e- collisions and a determination of the B(s)-B(s) width difference ΔΓ(s)

We have made the first observation of B(s)(0)→D(s)(*)+ D(s)(*)- decays using 23.6  fb(-1) of data recorded by the Belle experiment running on the Υ(5S) resonance. The branching fractions are measured to be B(B(s)(0)→D(s)+ D(s)-)=(1.03(-0.32-0.25)(+0.39+0.26))%, B(B(s)(0)→D(s)(*±) D(s)(∓))=(2.75(-0.71)(+0.83)±0.69)%, and B(B(s)(0)→D(s)*+ D(s)*-)=(3.08(-1.04-0.86)(+1.22+0.85))%; the sum is B[B(s)(0)→D(s)(*)+ D(s)(*)-]=(6.85(-1.30-1.80)(+1.53+1.79))%. Assuming B(s)(0)→D(s)(*)+ D(s)(*)- saturates decays to CP-even final states, the branching fraction determines the ratio ΔΓ(s)/cosφ, where ΔΓ(s) is the difference in widths between the two B(s)-B(s) mass eigenstates, and φ is a CP-violating weak phase. Taking CP violation to be negligibly small, we obtain ΔΓ(s)/Γ(s)=0.147(-0.030)(+0.036)(stat)(-0.041)(+0.042)(syst), where Γ(s) is the mean decay width.

First measurement of inclusive B→Xsη decays

We report a first measurement of inclusive B→Xsη decays, where Xs is a charmless state with unit strangeness. The measurement is based on a pseudoinclusive reconstruction technique and uses a sample of 657×10(6)BB pairs accumulated with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider. For MXs < 2.6 GeV/c2, we measure a branching fraction of [26.1±3.0(stat)-2.1+1.9(syst)-7.1+4.0(model)]×10(-5) and a direct CP asymmetry of ACP=-0.13±0.04-0.03+0.02. Over half of the signal occurs in the range MXs > 1.8 GeV/c2.

Search for a low mass particle decaying into μ+ μ- in B0 → K*0 X and B0 → ρ0 X at Belle

We search for dimuon decays of a low mass particle in the decays B0→K*0 X and B0→ρ0 X using a data sample of 657×10(6)BB events collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider. We find no evidence for such a particle in the mass range from 212  MeV/c2 to 300  MeV/c2 for lifetimes below 10(-12)  s, and set upper limits on its branching fractions. In particular, we search for a particle with a mass of 214.3  MeV/c2 reported by the HyperCP experiment, and obtain upper limits on the products B(B0→K*0 X)×B(X→μ+ μ- )<2.26(2.27)×10(-8) and B(B0→ρ0 X)×B(X→μ+ μ-)<1.73(1.73)×10(-8) at 90% C.L. for a scalar (vector) X particle.

Observation of B(s)(0) → D(s)(*-) π+ and B(s)(0) → D(s)(*-) ρ+ and measurement of the B(s)(0) → D(s)(*-) ρ+ longitudinal polarization fraction

First observations of the B(s)(0) → D(s)(*-) π+, B(s)(0) → D(s)(-) ρ+ and B(s)(0) → D(s)(*-) ρ+ decays are reported together with measurements of their branching fractions: B(B(s)(0) → D(s)(*-) π+) = [2.4(-0.4)(+0.5)(stat) ± 0.3(syst) ± 0.4(f(s))]×10(-3), B(B(s)(0) → D(s)(-) ρ+) = [8.5(-1.2)(+1.3)(stat) ± 1.1(syst) ± 1.3(f(s))]×10(-3) and B(B(s)(0) → D(s)(*-) ρ+) = [11.9(-2.0)(+2.2)(stat) ± 1.7(syst) ± 1.8(f(s))]×10(-3) (f(s) = N(B(s)(*) B(s)(*))/N(bb)). From helicity-angle distributions, we measured the longitudinal polarization fraction in B(s)(0) → D(s)(*-) ρ+ decays to be f(L)(B(s)(0) → D(s)(*-) ρ+) = 1.05(-0.10)(+0.08)(stat)(-0.04)(+0.03)(syst). These results are based on a 23.6  fb(-1) data sample collected at the Υ(5S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+ e- collider.

Improvement of the long-term stability for dioxin toxicity evaluation method by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A dioxin enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is one of the methods that may satisfy the requirements to reduce the cost and turn around time for the dioxin analysis. We developed a dioxin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to rapidly analyze for trace levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in human milk. In this study, to aim to supply the stable assay quality, the development of long-term stable coated plates for the ELISA system was reported. To the conventional coated plate (wet plate), the dry plate ELISA indicated the stability to be able to store for 1.5 years at 11 degrees C. The IC(50) of this ELISA was 17 +/- 4 pg/well. The standard curve showed almost the same as that of the wet plate. A fairly good correlation between cross-reactivity of the ELISA and WHO-TEF was achieved for environmental matrices. This ELISA should be more practical for environmental sample monitoring.

Evidence for a new resonance and search for the Y(4140) in the gammagamma-->phiJ/psi process

The process gammagamma-->phiJ/psi is measured using a data sample of 825 fb{-1} collected with the Belle detector. A narrow peak of 8.8{-3.2}{+4.2} events, with a significance of 3.2 standard deviations including systematic uncertainty, is observed. The mass and natural width of the structure [named X(4350)] are measured to be [4350.6{-5.1}{+4.6}(stat)+/-0.7(syst)] MeV/c{2} and [13{-9}{+18}(stat)+/-4(syst)] MeV, respectively. The product of its two-photon decay width and branching fraction to phiJ/psi is [6.7{-2.4}{+3.2}(stat)+/-1.1(syst)] eV for J{P}=0{+}, or [1.5{-0.6}{+0.7}(stat)+/-0.3(syst)] eV for J{P}=2{+}. No signal for the Y(4140)-->phiJ/psi structure reported by the CDF Collaboration in B-->K{+}phiJ/psi decays is observed, and limits of Gamma_{gammagamma}(Y(4140))B(Y(4140)-->phiJ/psi)<41 eV for J{P}=0;{+} or <6.0 eV for J{P}=2{+} are determined at the 90% C.L. This disfavors the scenario in which the Y(4140) is a D{s}{*+}D{s}{*-} molecule.

Observation of a charmoniumlike enhancement in the gammagamma-->omega(J)/psi process

We report the results of a search for a charmoniumlike state produced in the process gammagamma-->omegaJ/psi in the 3.9-4.2 GeV/c{2} mass region. We observe a significant enhancement, which is well described by a resonant shape with mass M=(3915+/-3+/-2) MeV/c{2} and total width Gamma=(17+/-10+/-3) MeV. This enhancement may be related to one or more of the three charmoniumlike states so far reported in the 3.90-3.95 GeV/c{2} mass region.