Non-leptonic charmless Bc decays and their search at LHCb

We discuss the decay of Bc mesons into two light mesons (pi, K^(*), eta', rho, omega, phi). All these decay channels come from a single type of diagram, namely tree annihilation. This allows us to derive extremely simple SU(3) relations among these processes. The size of annihilation contributions is an important issue in B physics, and we provide two different estimates in the case of non-leptonic charmless Bc decays, either a comparison with annihilation decays of heavy-light mesons or a perturbative model inspired by QCD factorisation. We finally discuss a possible search for these channels at LHCb.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figur

Genomics reveals historic and contemporary transmission dynamics of a bacterial disease among wildlife and livestock

Whole-genome sequencing has provided fundamental insights into infectious disease epidemiology, but has rarely been used for examining transmission dynamics of a bacterial pathogen in wildlife. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), outbreaks of brucellosis have increased in cattle along with rising seroprevalence in elk. Here we use a genomic approach to examine Brucella abortus evolution, cross-species transmission and spatial spread in the GYE. We find that brucellosis was introduced into wildlife in this region at least five times. The diffusion rate varies among Brucella lineages (∼3 to 8 km per year) and over time. We also estimate 12 host transitions from bison to elk, and 5 from elk to bison. Our results support the notion that free-ranging elk are currently a self-sustaining brucellosis reservoir and the source of livestock infections, and that control measures in bison are unlikely to affect the dynamics of unrelated strains circulating in nearby elk populations

Measurements of the branching fractions of B+→ppK+ decays

The branching fractions of the decay B+ → pp̄K+ for different intermediate states are measured using data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb-1, collected by the LHCb experiment. The total branching fraction, its charmless component Mpp̄ < 2.85 GeV/c2 and the branching fractions via the resonant cc̄ states η c(1S) and ψ(2S) relative to the decay via a J/ψ intermediate state are [Equation not available: see fulltext.] Upper limits on the B + branching fractions into the η c(2S) meson and into the charmonium-like states X(3872) and X(3915) are also obtained

CP violation studies on the B0 -> DK*0 decays and hadronic trigger performance with the LHCb detector at CERN

Dans le Modèle Standard de la physique des particules, le mécanisme Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) décrit le phénomène du mélange des quarks. De ses paramètres, l'angle gamma est celui connu avec la moins grande précision. Les mesures directes donnent une incertitude d'environ 15 , importante comparée à celle sur la valeur extraite des ajustements globaux, de 3 . Pour vérifier la cohérence du Modèle Standard, gamma doit être mesuré précisément. Cela est possible en utilisant des processus au niveau des arbres, où seules des contributions du Modèle Standard sont attendues, ou avec des processus impliquant des boucles, qui peuvent être sensibles à des effets au-delà. Des différences entre la mesure de gamma avec des diagrammes en arbres et avec des boucles pourraient être donc une indication de nouvelle physique. Cette thèse présente la première mesure des observables CP dans la désintégration B0 -> DK*0. Celle-ci est sensible à gamma du fait de l'interférence entre l'amplitude des diagrammes b -> u et b -> c, au niveau des arbres. L'asymétrie CP dans le mode B0 -> D(K+K-)K*0 et le rapport des largeurs partielles avec B0 -> D(K+pi-)K*0 sont mesurés avec 1 /fb de données récoltées par l'expérience LHCb en 2011,A_KK_d = -0,452 +/- 0,230 +/- 0,025 = A_CP+,R_KK_d = 1,360 +/- 0,366 +/- 0,075 = R_CP+. L'asymétrie CP du mode supprimé B0 -> D(K-pi+)K*0 et le rapport des largeurs partielles avec le favorisé B0 -> D(K+pi-)K*0 sont mesurés avec 3 /fb de données récoltées en 2011 et 2012,A_sup_d = -0,094 +/- 0,318 = A_ADS,R_d = 0,075 +/- 0,023 = R_ADS. Les études réalisées sur le système de déclenchement hadronique de l'expérience LHCb sont aussi présentées.In the Standard Model of particle physics, the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) mechanism describes the quark mixing effect. The CKM gamma angle is one of the parameters of the Standard Model that are known less accurately. Direct measurements give an uncertainty of around 15 , large with respect to the uncertainty on the value extracted from global fits, of 3 . In order to test the Standard Model consistency, the gamma angle needs to be measured precisely. This can be done using processes at the tree-level, where only Standard Model contributions are expected, or using processes involving loop diagrams, which can be sensitive to physics beyond the Standard Model. Differences in the gamma measurement from tree and loop diagrams would be an indication of new physics. This thesis presents the first measurement of the CP observables in the B0 -> DK*0 decay. Sensitivity to gamma arises from the interference of the b -> u mediated amplitude with the b -> c one, at the tree-level. The CP asymmetry of the B0 -> D(K+K-)K*0 mode and the partial width ratio of this channel with respect to B0 -> D(K+pi-)K*0 are measured using 1 /fb of data collected by the LHCb experiment in 2011,A_KK_d = -0.452 +/- 0.230 +/- 0.025 = A_CP+,R_KK_d = 1.360 +/- 0.366 +/- 0.075 = R_CP+. The CP asymmetry of the suppressed B0 -> D(K-pi+)K*0 mode and the partial width ratio with respect to the favoured B0 -> D(K+pi-)K*0 are measured using the total 3 /fb of data collected in 2011 and 2012,A_sup_d = -0.094 +/- 0.318 = A_ADS,R_d = 0.075 +/- 0.023 = R_ADS. In addition, the studies performed on the hardware hadronic trigger of the LHCb experiment are also presented.PARIS11-SCD-Bib. électronique (914719901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Study of B0(s)→K0Sh+h′− decays with first observation of B0s→K0SK±π∓ and B0s→K0Sπ+π−

A search for charmless three-body decays of B 0 and B0s mesons with a K0S meson in the final state is performed using the pp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1, collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV recorded by the LHCb experiment. Branching fractions of the B0(s)→K0Sh+h′− decay modes (h (′) = π, K), relative to the well measured B0→K0Sπ+π− decay, are obtained. First observation of the decay modes B0s→K0SK±π∓ and B0s→K0Sπ+π− and confirmation of the decay B0→K0SK±π∓ are reported. The following relative branching fraction measurements or limits are obtained B(B0→K0SK±π∓)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=0.128±0.017(stat.)±0.009(syst.), B(B0→K0SK+K−)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=0.385±0.031(stat.)±0.023(syst.), B(B0s→K0Sπ+π−)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=0.29±0.06(stat.)±0.03(syst.)±0.02(fs/fd), B(B0s→K0SK±π∓)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=1.48±0.12(stat.)±0.08(syst.)±0.12(fs/fd)B(B0s→K0SK+K−)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)∈[0.004;0.068]at90%CL

Observation of the decay B+c→Bºsπ+

The result of a search for the decay B+c→Bºsπ+ is presented, using the Bºs→Ds-π+ and Bºs→J/ψϕ channels. The analysis is based on a data sample of pp collisions collected with the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1  fb-1 taken at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, and 2  fb-1 taken at 8 TeV. The decay B+c→Bºsπ+ is observed with significance in excess of 5 standard deviations independently in both decay channels. The measured product of the ratio of cross sections and branching fraction is [σ(Bc+)/σ(Bºs)]×B(Bc+→Bºsπ+)=[2.37±0.31 (stat)±0.11 (syst)-0.13+0.17(τBc+)]×10-3, in the pseudorapidity range 2<η(B)<5, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the uncertainty on the Bc+ lifetime. This is the first observation of a B meson decaying to another B meson via the weak interaction

Observation of the decay Bc→J/ψK+K−π+B_c \rightarrow J/\psi K^+ K^- \pi^+

The decay $B_c\rightarrow J/\psi K^+ K^- \pi^+$ is observed for the first time, using proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3fb$^{-1}$. A signal yield of $78\pm14$ decays is reported with a significance of 6.2 standard deviations. The ratio of the branching fraction of \B_c \rightarrow J/\psi K^+ K^- \pi^+ decays to that of $B_c \rightarrow J/\psi \pi^+$ decays is measured to be $0.53\pm 0.10\pm0.05$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figure

Getting the feel of food structure with atomic force microscopy

This article describes the progress in the development of the atomic force microscope as an imaging tool and a force transducer, with particular reference to applications in food science. Use as an imaging tool has matured and emphasis is placed on the novel insights gained from the use of the technique to study food macromolecules and food colloids, and the subsequent applications of this new knowledge in food science. Use as a force transducer is still emerging and greater emphasis is given on the methodology and analysis. Where available, applications of force measurements between molecules or between larger colloidal particles are discussed, where they have led to new insights or solved problems related to food science. The future prospects of the technique in imaging or through force measurements are discussed

Identification of Mycobacterium spp. of veterinary importance using rpoB gene sequencing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies conducted on <it>Mycobacterium </it>spp. isolated from human patients indicate that sequencing of a 711 bp portion of the <it>rpoB </it>gene can be useful in assigning a species identity, particularly for members of the <it>Mycobacterium avium </it>complex (MAC). Given that MAC are important pathogens in livestock, companion animals, and zoo/exotic animals, we were interested in evaluating the use of <it>rpoB </it>sequencing for identification of <it>Mycobacterium </it>isolates of veterinary origin.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 386 isolates, collected over 2008 - June 2011 from 378 animals (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) underwent PCR and sequencing of a ~ 711 bp portion of the <it>rpoB </it>gene; 310 isolates (80%) were identified to the species level based on similarity at ≥ 98% with a reference sequence. The remaining 76 isolates (20%) displayed < 98% similarity with reference sequences and were assigned to a clade based on their location in a neighbor-joining tree containing reference sequences. For a subset of 236 isolates that received both 16S rRNA and <it>rpoB </it>sequencing, 167 (70%) displayed a similar species/clade assignation for both sequencing methods. For the remaining 69 isolates, species/clade identities were different with each sequencing method. <it>Mycobacterium avium </it>subsp. <it>hominissuis </it>was the species most frequently isolated from specimens from pigs, cervids, companion animals, cattle, and exotic/zoo animals.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>rpoB </it>sequencing proved useful in identifying <it>Mycobacterium </it>isolates of veterinary origin to clade, species, or subspecies levels, particularly for assemblages (such as the MAC) where 16S rRNA sequencing alone is not adequate to demarcate these taxa. <it>rpoB </it>sequencing can represent a cost-effective identification tool suitable for routine use in the veterinary diagnostic laboratory.</p