Search for supersymmetric particles in scenarios with a gravitino LSP and stau NLSP

Sleptons, neutralinos and charginos were searched for in the context of scenarios where the lightest supersymmetric particle is the gravitino. It was assumed that the stau is the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle. Data collected with the DELPHI detector at a centre-of-mass energy near 189 GeV were analysed combining the methods developed in previous searches at lower energies. No evidence for the production of these supersymmetric particles was found. Hence, limits were derived at 95% confidence level.Comment: 31 pages, 14 figure

Genome and transcriptome analysis of the Mesoamerican common bean and the role of gene duplications in establishing tissue and temporal specialization of genes

Background: Legumes are the third largest family of angiosperms and the second most important crop class. Legume genomes have been shaped by extensive large-scale gene duplications, including an approximately 58 million year old whole genome duplication shared by most crop legumes. Results: We report the genome and the transcription atlas of coding and non-coding genes of a Mesoamerican genotype of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., BAT93). Using a comprehensive phylogenomics analysis, we assessed the past and recent evolution of common bean, and traced the diversification of patterns of gene expression following duplication. We find that successive rounds of gene duplications in legumes have shaped tissue and developmental expression, leading to increased levels of specialization in larger gene families. We also find that many long non-coding RNAs are preferentially expressed in germ-line-related tissues (pods and seeds), suggesting that they play a significant role in fruit development. Our results also suggest that most bean-specific gene family expansions, including resistance gene clusters, predate the split of the Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools. Conclusions: The genome and transcriptome data herein generated for a Mesoamerican genotype represent a counterpart to the genomic resources already available for the Andean gene pool. Altogether, this information will allow the genetic dissection of the characters involved in the domestication and adaptation of the crop, and their further implementation in breeding strategies for this important crop.This work was supported by Ibero-American Programme for Science, Technology and Development - CYTED (PhasIbeAm project); Spanish Government - Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (EUI2009-04052, BIO2011-26205); Brazilian Government — National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq/Prosul (490725/2010-4) and Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation - Embrapa (MP2-0212000050000); Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva de la República Argentina; the European Molecular Biology Laboratory; Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología - Conacyt, Mexico (J010-214-2009) for financial support to undertake parts of research presented in this study. We acknowledge support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, ‘Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2013-2017’, SEV-2012-0208 and Instituto Nacional de Bioinformatica (INB, Project PT13/0001/0021, ISCIII — Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación/FEDER “Una Manera de hacer Europa”)

Determination of vertical bar V-cb vertical bar from the semileptonic decay B-0->D*(-)l(+)nu

Semileptonic decays B --> D*(-)l(+)nu X were selected from a sample of 3.1 million hadronic Z decays collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP. A topological search for semileptonic B decays to resonant and non-resonant D*(-)pi(+) states was performed and the ratio of the branching fractions: Br(B --> D*(-)l(+)nu X)/Br(B --> D*(-)l(+)nu X) + Br(B-0 --> D*(-)l(+)nu) = 0.19 +/- 0.10(stat) +/- 0.06(syst) was determined. Taking into account this contribution, the differential decay width of B-0 --> D*(-)l(+)nu was measured as a function of the momentum transfer from the B to the D*(-) in two separate analyses, using exclusive and inclusive methods of D*(-) reconstruction. The distributions were fitted over the full momentum transfer range to extract the product of /V-cb/ times the normalization of the decay form factor F(q(max)(2)): F(q(max)(2))/V-cb/ = (35.4 +/- 1.9(stat) +/- 2.4(syst)) . 10(-3). The value of /V-cb/ was computed using theoretical calculations of F(q(max?2), giving: /V-cb/ = (38.9 +/- 2.0(stat) +/- 2.6(syst) +/- 1.7(theory)) . 10(-3). The total branching fraction Br(B-0 --> D*(-)l(-)nu) was determined to be: Br(B-0 --> D*(-)l(+)nu) = (5.52 +/- 0.17(stat) +/- 0.68(syst))%

Observation of charge-ordering in particle production in hadronic Z(0) decay

Analysis of the rapidity structure of charge correlations in hadronic events from Z(0) decays gives evidence for chain-like charge-ordering of particle production along the thrust axis, as predicted by ‘QCD-motivated’ string-like fragmentation models. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V

Determination of the average lifetime of b-baryons

The average lifetime of b-baryons has been studied using 3 × 106 hadronic Z0 decays collected by the DEL-PHI detector at LEP. Three methods have been used, based on the measurement of different observables: the proper decay time distribution of 206 vertices reconstructed with a Λ, a lepton and an oppositely charged pion; the impact parameter distribution of 441 muons with high transverse momentum accompanied by a Λ in the same jet; and the proper decay time distribution of 125 Λc-lepton decay vertices with the Λc exclusively reconstructed through its pKπ, pK0 and Λ3π decay modes. The combined result is: τ(b-baryon) = (1.254-0.109+0.121(stat) ±0.04(syst)-0.05+0.03(syst)) ps where the first systematic error is due to experimental uncertainties and the second to the uncertainties in the modelling of the b-baryon production and semi-leptonic decay. Including the measurement recently published by DELPHI based on a sample of proton-muon vertices, the average b-baryon lifetime is : τ(b-baryon) = (1.255-0.102+0.115(stat) ±0.05) ps. © Springer-Verlag 1996