1,862 research outputs found

    Functional colour genes and signals of selection in colour polymorphic salamanders

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    Coloration has been associated with multiple biologically relevant traits that drive adaptation and diversification in many taxa. However, despite the great diversity of colour patterns present in amphibians the underlying molecular basis is largely unknown. Here, we use insight from a highly colour-variable lineage of the European fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra bernardezi) to identify functional associations with striking variation in colour morph and pattern. The three focal colour morphs—ancestral black-yellow striped, fully yellow and fully brown—differed in pattern, visible coloration and cellular composition. From population genomic analyses of up to 4,702 loci, we found no correlations of neutral population genetic structure with colour morph. However, we identified 21 loci with genotype–phenotype associations, several of which relate to known colour genes. Furthermore, we inferred response to selection at up to 142 loci between the colour morphs, again including several that relate to coloration genes. By transcriptomic analysis across all different combinations, we found 196 differentially expressed genes between yellow, brown and black skin, 63 of which are candidate genes involved in animal coloration. The concordance across different statistical approaches and ‘omic data sets provide several lines of evidence for loci linked to functional differences between colour morphs, including TYR, CAMK1 and PMEL. We found little association between colour morph and the metabolomic profile of its toxic compounds from the skin secretions. Our research suggests that current ecological and evolutionary hypotheses for the origins and maintenance of these striking colour morphs may need to be revisited.This research was supported by a Natural Environment Research Council; a Royal Society Research Grant; a Glasgow Natural History Society grant; a Wellcome Trust ISSF Catalyst Grant and a Spanish Ministry of Science Grant

    Observation of two new Ξb\Xi_b^- baryon resonances

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    Two structures are observed close to the kinematic threshold in the Ξb0π\Xi_b^0 \pi^- mass spectrum in a sample of proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb1^{-1} recorded by the LHCb experiment. In the quark model, two baryonic resonances with quark content bdsbds are expected in this mass region: the spin-parity JP=12+J^P = \frac{1}{2}^+ and JP=32+J^P=\frac{3}{2}^+ states, denoted Ξb\Xi_b^{\prime -} and Ξb\Xi_b^{*-}. Interpreting the structures as these resonances, we measure the mass differences and the width of the heavier state to be m(Ξb)m(Ξb0)m(π)=3.653±0.018±0.006m(\Xi_b^{\prime -}) - m(\Xi_b^0) - m(\pi^{-}) = 3.653 \pm 0.018 \pm 0.006 MeV/c2/c^2, m(Ξb)m(Ξb0)m(π)=23.96±0.12±0.06m(\Xi_b^{*-}) - m(\Xi_b^0) - m(\pi^{-}) = 23.96 \pm 0.12 \pm 0.06 MeV/c2/c^2, Γ(Ξb)=1.65±0.31±0.10\Gamma(\Xi_b^{*-}) = 1.65 \pm 0.31 \pm 0.10 MeV, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The width of the lighter state is consistent with zero, and we place an upper limit of Γ(Ξb)<0.08\Gamma(\Xi_b^{\prime -}) < 0.08 MeV at 95% confidence level. Relative production rates of these states are also reported.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figure

    Study of BDKπ+πB^{-}\to DK^-\pi^+\pi^- and BDππ+πB^-\to D\pi^-\pi^+\pi^- decays and determination of the CKM angle γ\gamma

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    We report a study of the suppressed BDKπ+πB^-\to DK^-\pi^+\pi^- and favored BDππ+πB^-\to D\pi^-\pi^+\pi^- decays, where the neutral DD meson is detected through its decays to the Kπ±K^{\mp}\pi^{\pm} and CP-even K+KK^+K^- and π+π\pi^+\pi^- final states. The measurement is carried out using a proton-proton collision data sample collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0~fb1^{-1}. We observe the first significant signals in the CP-even final states of the DD meson for both the suppressed BDKπ+πB^-\to DK^-\pi^+\pi^- and favored BDππ+πB^-\to D\pi^-\pi^+\pi^- modes, as well as in the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed DK+πD\to K^+\pi^- final state of the BDππ+πB^-\to D\pi^-\pi^+\pi^- decay. Evidence for the ADS suppressed decay BDKπ+πB^{-}\to DK^-\pi^+\pi^-, with DK+πD\to K^+\pi^-, is also presented. From the observed yields in the BDKπ+πB^-\to DK^-\pi^+\pi^-, BDππ+πB^-\to D\pi^-\pi^+\pi^- and their charge conjugate decay modes, we measure the value of the weak phase to be γ=(7419+20)o\gamma=(74^{+20}_{-19})^{\rm o}. This is one of the most precise single-measurement determinations of γ\gamma to date.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures; All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2015-020.htm

    Observation of an Excited Bc+ State

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    Using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 8.5 fb-1 recorded by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of s=7, 8, and 13 TeV, the observation of an excited Bc+ state in the Bc+π+π- invariant-mass spectrum is reported. The observed peak has a mass of 6841.2±0.6(stat)±0.1(syst)±0.8(Bc+) MeV/c2, where the last uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the Bc+ mass. It is consistent with expectations of the Bc∗(2S31)+ state reconstructed without the low-energy photon from the Bc∗(1S31)+→Bc+γ decay following Bc∗(2S31)+→Bc∗(1S31)+π+π-. A second state is seen with a global (local) statistical significance of 2.2σ (3.2σ) and a mass of 6872.1±1.3(stat)±0.1(syst)±0.8(Bc+) MeV/c2, and is consistent with the Bc(2S10)+ state. These mass measurements are the most precise to date

    Study of WW boson production in association with beauty and charm

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    The associated production of a WW boson with a jet originating from either a light parton or heavy-flavor quark is studied in the forward region using proton-proton collisions. The analysis uses data corresponding to integrated luminosities of 1.0 and 2.0fb12.0\,{\rm fb}^{-1} collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, respectively. The WW bosons are reconstructed using the WμνW\to\mu\nu decay and muons with a transverse momentum, pTp_{\rm T}, larger than 20 GeV in the pseudorapidity range 2.0202.0 20 GeV and 2.2<η<4.22.2 < \eta < 4.2. The sum of the muon and jet momenta must satisfy pT>20p_{\rm T} > 20 GeV. The fraction of W+W+jet events that originate from beauty and charm quarks is measured, along with the charge asymmetries of the W ⁣+ ⁣bW\!+\!b and W ⁣+ ⁣cW\!+\!c production cross-sections. The ratio of the W+W+jet to Z+Z+jet production cross-sections is also measured using the ZμμZ\to\mu\mu decay. All results are in agreement with Standard Model predictions

    Observation of the Bs0ηηB^0_s\to\eta'\eta' decay

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    The first observation of the Bs0ηηB^0_s\to\eta'\eta' decay is reported. The study is based on a sample of proton-proton collisions corresponding to 3.03.0 fb1{\rm fb^{-1}} of integrated luminosity collected with the LHCb detector. The significance of the signal is 6.46.4 standard deviations. The branching fraction is measured to be [3.31±0.64(stat)±0.28(syst)±0.12(norm)]×105[3.31 \pm 0.64\,{\rm (stat)} \pm 0.28\,{\rm (syst)} \pm 0.12\,{\rm (norm)}]\times10^{-5}, where the third uncertainty comes from the B±ηK±B^{\pm}\to\eta' K^{\pm} branching fraction that is used as a normalisation. In addition, the charge asymmetries of B±ηK±B^{\pm}\to\eta' K^{\pm} and B±ϕK±B^{\pm}\to\phi K^{\pm}, which are control channels, are measured to be (0.2±1.3)%(-0.2 \pm1.3)\% and (+1.7±1.3)%(+1.7\pm1.3)\%, respectively. All results are consistent with theoretical expectations

    Differential branching fraction and angular analysis of Λb0Λμ+μ\Lambda^{0}_{b} \rightarrow \Lambda \mu^+\mu^- decays

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    The differential branching fraction of the rare decay Λb0Λμ+μ\Lambda^{0}_{b} \rightarrow \Lambda \mu^+\mu^- is measured as a function of q2q^{2}, the square of the dimuon invariant mass. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 \mbox{ fb}^{-1}, collected by the LHCb experiment. Evidence of signal is observed in the q2q^2 region below the square of the J/ψJ/\psi mass. Integrating over 15 < q^{2} < 20 \mbox{ GeV}^2/c^4 the branching fraction is measured as d\mathcal{B}(\Lambda^{0}_{b} \rightarrow \Lambda \mu^+\mu^-)/dq^2 = (1.18 ^{+ 0.09} _{-0.08} \pm 0.03 \pm 0.27) \times 10^{-7} ( \mbox{GeV}^{2}/c^{4})^{-1}, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and due to the normalisation mode, Λb0J/ψΛ\Lambda^{0}_{b} \rightarrow J/\psi \Lambda, respectively. In the q2q^2 intervals where the signal is observed, angular distributions are studied and the forward-backward asymmetries in the dimuon (AFBlA^{l}_{\rm FB}) and hadron (AFBhA^{h}_{\rm FB}) systems are measured for the first time. In the range 15 < q^2 < 20 \mbox{ GeV}^2/c^4 they are found to be A^{l}_{\rm FB} = -0.05 \pm 0.09 \mbox{ (stat)} \pm 0.03 \mbox{ (syst)} and A^{h}_{\rm FB} = -0.29 \pm 0.07 \mbox{ (stat)} \pm 0.03 \mbox{ (syst)}.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figures, Erratum adde

    Precision measurement of CPCP violation in Bs0J/ψK+KB_s^0 \to J/\psi K^+K^- decays

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    The time-dependent CPCP asymmetry in Bs0J/ψK+KB_s^0 \to J/\psi K^+K^- decays is measured using pppp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.03.0fb1^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 77 and 88TeV. In a sample of 96 000 Bs0J/ψK+KB_s^0 \to J/\psi K^+K^- decays, the CPCP-violating phase ϕs\phi_s is measured, as well as the decay widths ΓL\Gamma_{L} and ΓH\Gamma_{H} of the light and heavy mass eigenstates of the Bs0Bˉs0B_s^0-\bar{B}_s^0 system. The values obtained are ϕs=0.058±0.049±0.006\phi_s = -0.058 \pm 0.049 \pm 0.006 rad, Γs(ΓL+ΓH)/2=0.6603±0.0027±0.0015\Gamma_s \equiv (\Gamma_{L}+\Gamma_{H})/2 = 0.6603 \pm 0.0027 \pm 0.0015ps1^{-1}, andΔΓsΓLΓH=0.0805±0.0091±0.0032\Delta\Gamma_s \equiv \Gamma_{L} - \Gamma_{H} = 0.0805 \pm 0.0091 \pm 0.0032ps1^{-1}, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. These are the most precise single measurements of those quantities to date. A combined analysis with Bs0J/ψπ+πB_s^{0} \to J/\psi \pi^+\pi^- decays gives ϕs=0.010±0.039\phi_s = -0.010 \pm 0.039 rad. All measurements are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions. For the first time the phase ϕs\phi_s is measured independently for each polarisation state of the K+KK^+K^- system and shows no evidence for polarisation dependence.Comment: 6 figure
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