Engineering topics

Cai, X.

Publications and source records attributed to Cai, X..

81 records · Page 5

DOE OSTI2024

First measurements of the absolute branching fraction of Λ c ( 2625 ) + → Λ c + π + π − and upper limit on Λ c ( 2595 ) + → Λ c + π + π −

The absolute branching fraction of the decay Λ c ( 2625 ) + → Λ c + π + π − is measured for the first time to be ( 50.2 ± 5.7 stat ± 3.5 syst ) % with 368.48 pb − 1 of e + e − collision data collected by the BESIII detector at the center-of-mass energies of s = 4.918 and 4.950 GeV. Although the central value of the result is lower than the theoretical prediction of 67%, obtained from isospin symmetry, they are consistent taking the uncertainties into account. This is the first absolute branching fraction measurement for Λ c ( 2625 ) + since it was found. This measurement is necessary to obtain the coupling constants for the transitions between s -wave and p -wave charmed baryons in heavy hadron chiral perturbation theory. In addition, we search for the decay Λ c ( 2595 ) + → Λ c + π + π − . No significant signal is observed, and the upper limit on its branching fraction is determined to be 85.0% at the 90% confidence level. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

DOE OSTI2024

First Study of Antihyperon-Nucleon Scattering Λ ¯ p → Λ ¯ p and Measurement of Λ p → Λ p Cross Section

Using ( 10.087 ± 0.044 ) × 10 9 J / ψ events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII storage ring, the processes Λ p → Λ p and Λ ¯ p → Λ ¯ p are studied, where the Λ / Λ ¯ baryons are produced in the process J / ψ → Λ Λ ¯ and the protons are the hydrogen nuclei in the cooling oil of the beam pipe. Clear signals are observed for the two reactions. The cross sections in − 0.9 ≤ cos θ Λ / Λ ¯ ≤ 0.9 are measured to be σ ( Λ p → Λ p ) = ( 12.2 ± 1.6 stat ± 1.1 syst ) and σ ( Λ ¯ p → Λ ¯ p ) = ( 17.5 ± 2.1 stat ± 1.6 syst ) mb at the Λ / Λ ¯ momentum of 1.074 GeV / c within a range of ± 0.017 GeV / c , where the θ Λ / Λ ¯ are the scattering angles of the Λ / Λ ¯ in the Λ p / Λ ¯ p rest frames. Furthermore, the differential cross sections of the two reactions are also measured, where there is a slight tendency of forward scattering for Λ p → Λ p , and a strong forward peak for Λ ¯ p → Λ ¯ p . We present an approach to extract the total elastic cross sections by extrapolation. The study of Λ ¯ p → Λ ¯ p represents the first study of antihyperon-nucleon scattering, and these new measurements will serve as important inputs for the theoretical understanding of the (anti)hyperon-nucleon interaction. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Physics↗

DOE OSTI2024

Search for the production of deuterons and antideuterons in e + e − annihilation at center-of-mass energies between 4.13 and 4.70 GeV

Using a data sample of e + e − collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19 fb − 1 collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we search for the production of deuterons and antideuterons via e + e − → p p π − d ¯ + c . c . for the first time at center-of-mass energies between 4.13 and 4.70 GeV. No significant signal is observed and the upper limit of the e + e − → p p π − d ¯ + c . c . cross section is determined to be from 9.0 to 145 fb depending on the center-of-mass energy at the 90% confidence level. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Ablikim, M.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of e + e − → η J / ψ cross section from s = 3.808 GeV to 4.951 GeV

Using data samples with an integrated luminosity of 22.42 fb − 1 collected by the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring, we measure the cross sections of the e + e − → η J / ψ process at center-of-mass energies from 3.808 to 4.951 GeV. Three structures are observed in the line shape of the measured cross sections. A maximum-likelihood fit with ψ ( 4040 ) , two additional resonances, and a nonresonant component are performed. The mass and width of the first additional state are ( 4219.7 ± 2.5 ± 4.5 ) MeV / c 2 and ( 80.7 ± 4.4 ± 1.4 ) MeV , respectively, consistent with the ψ ( 4230 ) . For the second state, the mass and width are ( 4386 ± 13 ± 17 ) MeV / c 2 and ( 177 ± 32 ± 13 ) MeV , respectively, consistent with the ψ ( 4360 ) . The first uncertainties are statistical, and the second ones are systematic. The statistical significance of ψ ( 4040 ) is 8.0 σ and those for ψ ( 4230 ) and ψ ( 4360 ) are more than 10.0 σ . Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Ablikim, M.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Evidence of the singly Cabibbo suppressed decay Λ c + → p π 0

Evidence for the singly Cabibbo suppressed decay Λ c + → p π 0 is reported for the first time with a statistical significance of 3.7 σ based on 6.0 fb − 1 of e + e − collision data collected at center-of-mass energies between 4.600 and 4.843 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The absolute branching fraction of Λ c + → p π 0 is measured to be ( 1.5 6 − 0.58 + 0.72 ± 0.20 ) × 10 − 4 . Combining with the branching fraction of Λ c + → n π + , ( 6.6 ± 1.3 ) × 10 − 4 , the ratio of the branching fractions of Λ c + → n π + and Λ c + → p π 0 is calculated to be 3.2 − 1.2 + 2.2 . As an important input for the theoretical models describing the decay mechanisms of charmed baryons, our result indicates that the nonfactorizable contributions play an essential role and their interference with the factorizable contributions should not be significant. In addition, the absolute branching fraction of Λ c + → p η is measured to be ( 1.63 ± 0.3 1 stat ± 0.1 1 syst ) × 10 − 3 . Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

NASA NTRS1994

Expression and purification of recombinant polyomavirus VP2 protein and its interactions with polyomavirus proteins

Recombinant polyomavirus VP2 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli (RK1448), using the recombinant expression system pFPYV2. Recombinant VP2 was purified to near homogeneity by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, electroelution, and Extracti-Gel chromatography. Polyclonal serum to this protein which reacted specifically with recombinant VP2 as well as polyomavirus virion VP2 and VP3 on Western blots (immunoblots) was produced. Purified VP2 was used to establish an in vitro protein-protein interaction assay with polyomavirus structural proteins and purified recombinant VP1. Recombinant VP2 interacted with recombinant VP1, virion VP1, and the four virion histones. Recombinant VP1 coimmunoprecipitated with recombinant VP2 or truncated VP2 (delta C12VP2), which lacked the carboxy-terminal 12 amino acids. These experiments confirmed the interaction between VP1 and VP2 and revealed that the carboxyterminal 12 amino acids of VP2 and VP3 were not necessary for formation of this interaction. In vivo VP1-VP2 interaction study accomplished by cotransfection of COS-7 cells with VP2 and truncated VP1 (delta N11VP1) lacking the nuclear localization signal demonstrated that VP2 was capable of translocating delta N11VP1 into the nucleus. These studies suggest that complexes of VP1 and VP2 may be formed in the cytoplasm and cotransported to the nucleus for virion assembly to occur.

Non-NASA Center↗

NASA NTRS1994

Purification of recombinant budgerigar fledgling disease virus VP1 capsid protein and its ability for in vitro capsid assembly

A recombinant system for the major capsid VP1 protein of budgerigar fledgling disease virus has been established. The VP1 gene was inserted into a truncated form of the pFlag-1 vector and expressed in Escherichia coli. The budgerigar fledgling disease virus VP1 protein was purified to near homogeneity by immunoaffinity chromatography. Fractions containing highly purified VP1 were pooled and found to constitute 3.3% of the original E. coli-expressed VP1 protein. Electron microscopy revealed that the VP1 protein was isolated as pentameric capsomeres. Electron microscopy also revealed that capsid-like particles were formed in vitro from purified VP1 capsomeres with the addition of Ca2+ ions and the removal of chelating and reducing agents.

NASA Discipline Developmental Biology↗

NASA NTRS1993

Characterization of the DNA binding properties of polyomavirus capsid protein

The DNA binding properties of the polyomavirus structural proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 were studied by Southwestern analysis. The major viral structural protein VP1 and host-contributed histone proteins of polyomavirus virions were shown to exhibit DNA binding activity, but the minor capsid proteins VP2 and VP3 failed to bind DNA. The N-terminal first five amino acids (Ala-1 to Lys-5) were identified as the VP1 DNA binding domain by genetic and biochemical approaches. Wild-type VP1 expressed in Escherichia coli (RK1448) exhibited DNA binding activity, but the N-terminal truncated VP1 mutants (lacking Ala-1 to Lys-5 and Ala-1 to Cys-11) failed to bind DNA. The synthetic peptide (Ala-1 to Cys-11) was also shown to have an affinity for DNA binding. Site-directed mutagenesis of the VP1 gene showed that the point mutations at Pro-2, Lys-3, and Arg-4 on the VP1 molecule did not affect DNA binding properties but that the point mutation at Lys-5 drastically reduced DNA binding affinity. The N-terminal (Ala-1 to Lys-5) region of VP1 was found to be essential and specific for DNA binding, while the DNA appears to be non-sequence specific. The DNA binding domain and the nuclear localization signal are located in the same N-terminal region.

NASA Discipline Cell Biology↗

NASA NTRS1992

Antipeptide antibodies that can distinguish specific subunit polypeptides of glutamine synthetase from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The amino acid sequences of the beta and gamma subunit polypeptides of glutamine synthetase from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root nodules are very similar. However, there are small regions within the sequences that are significantly different between the two polypeptides. The sequences between amino acids 2 and 9 and between 264 and 274 are examples. Three peptides (gamma 2-9, gamma 264-274, and beta 264-274) corresponding to these sequences were synthesized. Antibodies against these peptides were raised in rabbits and purified with corresponding peptide-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Western blot analysis of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of bean nodule proteins demonstrated that the anti-beta 264-274 antibodies reacted specifically with the beta polypeptide and the anti-gamma 264-274 and anti-gamma 2-9 antibodies reacted specifically with the gamma polypeptide of the native and denatured glutamine synthetase. These results showed the feasibility of using synthetic peptides in developing antibodies that are capable of distinguishing proteins with similar primary structures.

NASA Program NSCORT↗