New horizons for future research - Critical issues to consider for maximizing research excellence and impact.

We live in an era in which the pace of research and the obligation to integrate new discoveries into a field's conceptual framework are rapidly increasing. At the same time, uncertainties about resources, funding, positions and promotions, the politics of science, publishing (the drive to publish in so-called high-impact journals) and many other concerns are mounting. To consider many of these phenomena in depth, a meeting was recently convened to discuss issues critical to conducting research with an emphasis on the neurobiology of metabolism and related areas. Attendees included a mix of senior and junior investigators from the United States, Latin America, and Western Europe, representing several relevant disciplines. Participants were initially assigned to small groups to consider specific questions in depth, and the results of those deliberations were then presented and discussed over several plenary sessions. Although there was spirited discussion with sometimes differing opinions on some issues, in general there was good consensus among individuals and the various groups. While the discussions were wide-ranging, we have condensed the topics into three (albeit often overlapping) major areas: 1) General research issues applicable to multiple areas of translational research; for instance, animal models, sex and gender differences, examples of emerging technologies, as well as the issue of data reproducibility and related topics. 2) Funding issues, such as how to secure industry funding without compromising research direction or academic integrity, and the training of students and fellows, with a focus on how to optimally prepare trainees for the diverse potential career paths available. 3) Finally, specific research topics of interest were discussed, including whether peptides or other signaling compounds, or specific brain areas, have “thematic functions” or the challenges associated with investigating the function of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) in the brain

Observation of the Resonant Character of the Z(4430)(-) State

Resonant structures in B-0 -> psi'pi K--(+) decays are analyzed by performing a four-dimensional fit of the decay amplitude, using pp collision data corresponding to 3 fb(-1) collected with the LHCb detector. The data cannot be described with K+pi(-) resonances alone, which is confirmed with a model-independent approach. A highly significant Z(4430)(-) -> psi'pi(-) component is required, thus confirming the existence of this state. The observed evolution of the Z(4430)(-) amplitude with the psi'pi(-) mass establishes the resonant nature of this particle. The mass and width measurements are substantially improved. The spin parity is determined unambiguously to be 1(+)

Study of Beauty Hadron Decays into Pairs of Charm Hadrons

First observations of the decays A(b)(0) -> A(c)(+)D((s))(-) are reported using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1) collected at 7 and 8 TeV center-of- ass energies in proton-proton collisions with the LHCb detector. In addition, the most precise measurement of the branching fraction B(B-s(0) -> D+Ds-) is made and a search is performed for the decays B-0((s)) -> A(c)(+)A(c)(-). The results obtained are B(A(b)(0) -> A(c)(+)D(-))/B(A(b)(0) -> A(c)(+)D(s)(-)) = 0.042 +/- 0.003 (stat) +/- 0.003 (syst), [B(A(b)(0) -> A(c)(+)D(s)(-))/B((B) over bar (0) -> D+Ds-)]/[B(A(b)(0) -> A(c)(+)pi(-))/B((B) over bar (0) -> D+pi(-))] = 0.96 +/- 0.02 (stat) +/- 0.06 (syst), B(B-s(0) -> D+Ds-)/B((B) over bar (0) -> D+Ds-) = 0.038 +/- 0.004 (stat) +/- (syst), B((B) over bar (0) -> A(c)(+)A(c)(-))/B((B) over bar (0) -> D+Ds-) A(c)(+)A(c)(-)) /B(B-s(0) -> D+Ds-) < 0.30[95% C.L.]. Measurement of the mass of the A(b)(0) baryon relative to the (B) over bar (0) meson gives M(A(b)(0)) ¿ M((B) over bar (0)) = 339.72 +/- 0.24 (stat) +/- 0.18 (syst) MeV/c(2). This result provides the most precise measurement of the mass of the A(b)(0) baryon to date

Measurement of polarization amplitudes and CP asymmetries in B-0 -> phi K*(892)(0)

An angular analysis of the decay B (0) -> phi K (*)(892)(0) is reported based on a pp collision data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1), collected at a centre-of-mass energy of root S = 7 TeV with the LHCb detector. The P-wave amplitudes and phases are measured with a greater precision than by previous experiments, and confirm about equal amounts of longitudinal and transverse polarization. The S-wave K+ pi(-) and K+ K- contributions are taken into account and found to be significant. A comparison of the B (0) -> phi K (*)(892)(0) and results shows no evidence for direct CP violation in the rate asymmetry, in the triple-product asymmetries or in the polarization amplitudes and phases

Measurement of CP asymmetry in D-0 -> K- K+ and D-0 -> pi(-) pi(+) decays

Time-integrated CP asymmetries in D-0 decays to the final states K- K+ and pi(-) pi(+) are measured using proton-proton collisions corresponding to 3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected at centre-of-mass energies of 7 TeV and 8 TeV. The D-0 mesons are produced in semileptonic b-hadron decays, where the charge of the accompanying muon is used to determine the initial flavour of the charm meson. The difference in CP asymmetries between the two final states is measured to be Delta A(CP) = A(CP)(K- K+) ¿ A(CP)(pi(-) pi(+)) = (+0.14 +/- 0.16 (stat) +/- 0.08 (syst))% . A measurement of A(CP)(K- K+) is obtained assuming negligible CP violation in charm mixing and in Cabibbo-favoured D decays. It is found to be A(CP)(K- K+) = (-0.06 +/- 0.15 (stat) +/- 0.10 (syst))% , where the correlation coefficient between Delta A(CP) and A(CP)(K- K+) is rho = 0.28. By combining these results, the CP asymmetry in the D-0 -> pi(-) pi(+) channel is A(CP)(pi(-) pi(+)) = (-0.20 +/- 0.19 (stat) +/- 0.10 (syst))%

Evidence for the decay Bc+→J/ψ3π+2π−B_c^+ \rightarrow J/\psi 3\pi^+ 2\pi^-

Evidence is presented for the decay $B_c+\rightarrow J/\psi 3\pi^+2\pi^-$ using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3fb$^{-1}$, collected with the LHCb detector. A signal yield of $32\pm8$ decays is found with a significance of 4.5 standard deviations. The ratio of the branching fraction of the $B_c^+\rightarrow J/\psi 3\pi^+ 2\pi^-$ decay to that of the $B_c^+ \rightarrow J/\psi \pi^+$ decay is measured to be $$\frac{Br (B_c^+ \rightarrow J/\psi 3\pi^+2\pi^)}{Br (B_c^+ \rightarrow J/\psi \pi^+)} = 1.74\pm0.44\pm0.24,$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Study of beauty hadron decays into pairs of harm hadrons

First observations of the decays Λ0b→Λ+cD−(s) are reported using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb−1 collected at 7 and 8 TeV center-of-mass energies in proton-proton collisions with the LHCb detector. In addition, the most precise measurement of the branching fraction B(B0s→D+D−s) is made and a search is performed for the decays B0(s)→Λ+cΛ−c. The results obtained are B(Λ0b→Λ+cD−)/B(Λ0b→Λ+cD−s)=0.042±0.003(stat)±0.003(syst),[B(Λ0b→Λ+cD−s)B(B¯0→D+D−s)]/[B(Λ0b→Λ+cπ−)B(B¯0→D+π−)]=0.96±0.02(stat)±0.06(syst),B(B0s→D+D−s)/B(B¯0→D+D−s)=0.038±0.004(stat)±0.003(syst),B(B¯0→Λ+cΛ−c)/B(B¯0→D+D−s)&#60;0.0022[95%  C.L.],B(B0s→Λ+cΛ−c)/B(B0s→D+D−s)&#60;0.30[95%  C.L.]. Measurement of the mass of the Λ0b baryon relative to the B¯0 meson gives M(Λ0b)−M(B¯0)=339.72±0.24(stat)±0.18(syst)  MeV/c2. This result provides the most precise measurement of the mass of the Λ0b baryon to date

A global analysis of terrestrial plant litter dynamics in non-perennial waterways

Perennial rivers and streams make a disproportionate contribution to global carbon (C) cycling. However, the contribution of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES), which sometimes cease to flow and can dry completely, is largely ignored although they represent over half the global river network. Substantial amounts of terrestrial plant litter (TPL) accumulate in dry riverbeds and, upon rewetting, this material can undergo rapid microbial processing. We present the results of a global research collaboration that collected and analysed TPL from 212 dry riverbeds across major environmental gradients and climate zones. We assessed litter decomposability by quantifying the litter carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and oxygen (O2) consumption in standardized assays and estimated the potential short-term CO2 emissions during rewetting events. Aridity, cover of riparian vegetation, channel width and dry-phase duration explained most variability in the quantity and decomposability of plant litter in IRES. Our estimates indicate that a single pulse of CO2 emission upon litter rewetting contributes up to 10% of the daily CO2 emission from perennial rivers and stream, particularly in temperate climates. This indicates that the contributions of IRES should be included in global C-cycling assessments

Differential branching fractions and isospin asymmetries of B → K (*) μ + μ − decays

The isospin asymmetries of $B \to K\mu^+\mu^-$ and $B \to K^{*}\mu^+\mu^-$ decays and the partial branching fractions of the $B^0 \to K^0\mu^+\mu^-$, $B^+ \to K^+\mu^+\mu^-$ and $B^+ \to K^{*+}\mu^+\mu^-$ decays are measured as functions of the dimuon mass squared, $q^2$. The data used correspond to an integrated luminosity of 3$~$fb$^{-1}$ from proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7$\,$TeV and 8$\,$TeV in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The isospin asymmetries are both consistent with the Standard Model expectations. The three measured branching fractions, while individually consistent, all favour lower values than their respective Standard Model predictions.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figures, 7 tables, fix typ