A study of the f0(1370), f0(1500), f0(2000) and f2(1950) observed in the centrally produced 4pi final states

The production and decay properties of the f0(1370), f0(1500), f0(2000) and f2(1950) have been studied in central pp interactions at 450 GeV/c. The dPT, phi and |t| distributions of these resonances are presented. For the J = 0 states, the f0(1370) and f0(2000) have similar dPT and phi dependences. These are different to the dPT and phi dependences of the f0(980), f0(1500) and f0(1710). For the J = 2 states the f2(1950) has different dependences to the f2(1270) and f2'(1520). This shows that the dPT and phi dependences are not just J phenomena.Comment: 14 pages, Latex, 4 Figure

Systematization of tensor mesons and the determination of the 2++2^{++} glueball

It is shown that new data on the $(J^{PC}=2^{++})$-resonances in the mass range $M\sim1700-2400$MeV support the linearity of the $(n,M^2)$-trajectories, where $n$ is the radial quantum number of quark--antiquark state. In this way all vacancies for the isoscalar tensor $q\bar q$-mesons in the range up to 2450 MeV are filled in. This allows one to fix the broad $f_2$-state with $M=2000\pm30$MeV and $\Gamma=530\pm40$MeV as the lowest tensor glueball. PACS numbers: 14.40.-n, 12.38.-t, 12.39.-MkComment: 10 pages, 1 figur

The spanish influenza pandemic: a lesson from history 100 years after 1918

In Europe in 1918, influenza spread through Spain, France, Great Britain and Italy, causing havoc with military operations during the First World War. The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed more than 50 million people worldwide. In addition, its socioeconomic consequences were huge. "Spanish flu", as the infection was dubbed, hit different agegroups, displaying a so-called "W-trend", typically with two spikes in children and the elderly. However, healthy young adults were also affected. In order to avoid alarming the public, several local health authorities refused to reveal the numbers of people affected and deaths. Consequently, it was very difficult to assess the impact of the disease at the time. Although official communications issued by health authorities worldwide expressed certainty about the etiology of the infection, in laboratories it was not always possible to isolate the famous Pfeiffer's bacillus, which was, at that time, deemed to be the cause of influenza. The first official preventive actions were implemented in August 1918; these included the obligatory notification of suspected cases and the surveillance of communities such as day-schools, boarding schools and barracks. Identifying suspected cases through surveillance, and voluntary and/or mandatory quarantine or isolation, enabled the spread of Spanish flu to be curbed. At that time, these public health measures were the only effective weapons against the disease, as no vaccines or antivirals were available. Virological and bacteriological analysis of preserved samples from infected soldiers and other young people who died during the pandemic period is a major step toward a better understanding of this pandemic and of how to prepare for future pandemics

Comments on the Quark Content of the Scalar Meson f0(1370)f_0(1370)

Based on the measurements of $(D_s^+,D^+)\to f_0(1370)\pi^+$ we determine, in a model independent way, the allowed $s\bar s$ content in the scalar meson $f_0(1370)$. We find that, on the one hand, if this isoscalar resonance is a pure $n\bar n$ state [ $n\bar n\equiv(u\bar u+d\bar d)/\sqrt{2} ]$, a very large $W$-annihilation term will be needed to accommodate $D_s^+\to f_0(1370)\pi^+$. On the other hand, the $s\bar s$ component of $f_0(1370)$ should be small enough to avoid excessive $D_s^+\to f_0(1370)\pi^+$ induced from the external $W$-emission. Measurement of $f_0(1370)$ production in the decay $D_s^+\to K^+K^-\pi^+$ will be useful to test the above picture. For the decay $D^0\to f_0(1370)\bar K^0$ which is kinematically barely or even not allowed, depending on the mass of $f_0(1370)$, we find that the finite width effect of $f_0(1370)$ plays a crucial role on the resonant three-body decay $D^0\to f_0(1370)\bar K^0\to\pi^+\pi^-\bar K^0$.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure