Refine
Year of publication
Document Type
- Preprint (2230) (remove)
Has Fulltext
- yes (2230) (remove)
Keywords
- Kollisionen schwerer Ionen (33)
- heavy ion collisions (27)
- Deutsch (23)
- Quark-Gluon-Plasma (14)
- equation of state (13)
- QGP (12)
- heavy-ion collisions (11)
- Kongress (10)
- Syntax (10)
- quark-gluon plasma (10)
Institute
- Physik (1346)
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) (962)
- Informatik (757)
- Medizin (173)
- Extern (82)
- Biowissenschaften (73)
- Ernst Strüngmann Institut (70)
- Mathematik (48)
- MPI für Hirnforschung (47)
- Psychologie (46)
Based on e+e− collision data collected at center-of-mass energies from 2.000 to 3.080 GeV by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, a partial wave analysis is performed for the process e+e−→K0SK0Lπ0. The results allow the Born cross sections of the process e+e−→K0SK0Lπ0, as well as its subprocesses e+e−→K∗(892)0K¯ and K∗2(1430)0K¯ to be measured. The Born cross sections for e+e−→K0SK0Lπ0 are consistent with previous measurements by BaBar and SND, but with substantially improved precision. The Born cross section lineshape of the process e+e−→K∗(892)0K¯ is consistent with a vector meson state around 2.2 GeV with a statistical significance of 3.2σ. A Breit-Wigner fit determines its mass as MY=(2164.1±9.6±3.1) MeV/c2 and its width as ΓY=(32.4±21.1±1.5) MeV, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones are systematic, respectively.
Based on e+e− collision data collected at center-of-mass energies from 2.000 to 3.080 GeV by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, a partial wave analysis is performed for the process e+e−→K0SK0Lπ0. The results allow the Born cross sections of the process e+e−→K0SK0Lπ0, as well as its subprocesses e+e−→K∗(892)0K¯0 and K∗2(1430)0K¯0 to be measured. The Born cross sections for e+e−→K0SK0Lπ0 are consistent with previous measurements by BaBar, but with substantially improved precision. The Born cross section lineshape of the process e+e−→K∗(892)0K¯0 is consistent with a vector meson state around 2.2 GeV with a significance of 3.2σ. A Breit-Wigner fit determines its mass as MY=(2164.7±9.1±3.1) MeV/c2 and its width as ΓY=(32.4±21.0±1.8) MeV.
Based on 7.33 fb−1 of e+e− collision data collected at center-of-mass energies between 4.128 and 4.226 GeV with the BESIII detector, the experimental studies of the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decays D+s→K+K+π− and D+s→K+K+π−π0 are reported. We determine the absolute branching fraction of D+s→K+K+π− to be (1.23+0.28−0.25(stat)±0.06(syst)) ×10−4. No significant signal of D+s→K+K+π−π0 is observed and the upper limit on its decay branching fraction at 90\% confidence level is set to be 1.7×10−4.
Improved measurement of the branching fractions of the inclusive decays D⁺ → Kₛ⁰X and D⁰ → Kₛ⁰X
(2023)
By analyzing 2.93 fb−1 of e+e− collision data taken at the center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector, the branching fractions of the inclusive decays D+→K0SX and D0→K0SX are measured to be (32.78±0.13±0.27)% and (20.54±0.12±0.18)%, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. These results are consistent with the world averages of previous measurements, but with improved precision.
Using a data sample of (1.0087±0.0044)×1010 J/ψ decay events collected with the BESIII detector at the center-of-mass energy of s√=3.097 GeV, we present a search for the hyperon semileptonic decay Ξ0→Σ−e+νe which violates the ΔS=ΔQ rule. No significant signal is observed, and the upper limit on the branching fraction B(Ξ0→Σ−e+νe) is determined to be 1.6×10−4 at the 90% confidence level. This result improves the previous upper limit result by about one order of magnitude.
Using a data sample of (1.0087±0.0044)×1010 J/ψ decay events collected with the BESIII detector at the center-of-mass energy of s√=3.097 GeV, we present a search for the hyperon semileptonic decay Ξ0→Σ−e+νe which violates the ΔS=ΔQ rule. No significant signal is observed, and the upper limit on the branching fraction B(Ξ0→Σ−e+νe) is determined to be 1.6×10−4 at the 90% confidence level. This result improves the previous upper limit result by about one order of magnitude.
Utilizing the data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.19 fb−1 collected by the BESIII detector at a center-of-mass energy of 4.178 GeV, we perform an amplitude analysis of the D+s→π+π−π+ decay. The sample contains 13,797 candidates with a signal purity of ∼80%. The amplitude and phase of the contributing ππ S wave are measured based on a quasi-model-independent approach, along with the amplitudes and phases of the P and D waves parametrized by Breit-Wigner models. The fit fractions of different intermediate decay channels are also reported.
Utilizing the data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.19 fb−1 collected by the BESIII detector at a center-of-mass energy of 4.178 GeV, we perform an amplitude analysis of the D+s→π+π−π+ decay. The sample contains 13,797 candidate events with a signal purity of ∼80%. We use a quasi-model-independent approach to measure the magnitude and phase of the D+s→π+π−π+ decay, where the P and D waves are parameterized by a sum of three Breit-Wigner amplitudes ρ(770)0, ρ(1450)0, and f2(1270). The fit fractions of different decay channels are also reported.
Using e+e− annihilation data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1 taken at the center-of-mass energy s√=3.773~GeV with the BESIII detector, a joint amplitude analysis is performed on the decays D0→π+π−π+π− and D0→π+π−π0π0(non-η). The fit fractions of individual components are obtained, and large interferences among the dominant components of D0→a1(1260)π, D0→π(1300)π, D0→ρ(770)ρ(770) and D0→2(ππ)S are found in both channels. With the obtained amplitude model, the CP-even fractions of D0→π+π−π+π− and D0→π+π−π0π0(non-η) are determined to be (75.2±1.1stat.±1.5syst.)% and (68.9±1.5stat.±2.4syst.)%, respectively. The branching fractions of D0→π+π−π+π− and D0→π+π−π0π0(non-η) are measured to be (0.688±0.010stat.±0.010syst.)% and (0.951±0.025stat.±0.021syst.)%, respectively. The amplitude analysis provides an important model for binning strategy in the measurements of the strong phase parameters of D0→4π when used to determine the CKM angle γ(ϕ3) via the B−→DK− decay.
Using e+e− annihilation data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1 taken at the center-of-mass energy s√=3.773~GeV with the BESIII detector, a joint amplitude analysis is performed on the decays D0→π+π−π+π− and D0→π+π−π0π0(non-η). The fit fractions of individual components are obtained, and large interferences among the dominant components of D0→a1(1260)π, D0→π(1300)π, D0→ρ(770)ρ(770) and D0→2(ππ)S are found in both channels. With the obtained amplitude model, the CP-even fractions of D0→π+π−π+π− and D0→π+π−π0π0(non-η) are determined to be (75.2±1.1stat.±1.5syst.)% and (68.9±1.5stat.±2.4syst.)%, respectively. The branching fractions of D0→π+π−π+π− and D0→π+π−π0π0(non-η) are measured to be (0.688±0.010stat.±0.010syst.)% and (0.951±0.025stat.±0.021syst.)%, respectively. The amplitude analysis provides an important model for binning strategy in the measurements of the strong phase parameters of D0→4π when used to determine the CKM angle γ(ϕ3) via the B−→DK− decay.
The e+e−→D+sDs1(2536)− and e+e−→D+sD∗s2(2573)− processes are studied using data samples collected with the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies from 4.530 to 4.946~GeV. The absolute branching fractions of Ds1(2536)−→D¯∗0K− and D∗s2(2573)−→D¯0K− are measured for the first time to be (35.9±4.8±3.5)% and (37.4±3.1±4.6)%, respectively. The measurements are in tension with predictions based on the assumption that the Ds1(2536) and D∗s2(2573) are dominated by a bare cs¯ component. The e+e−→D+sDs1(2536)− and e+e−→D+sD∗s2(2573)− cross sections are measured, and a resonant structure at around 4.6~GeV with a width of 50~MeV is observed for the first time with a statistical significance of 15σ in the e+e−→D+sD∗s2(2573)− process. It could be the Y(4626) found by the Belle collaboration in the D+sDs1(2536)− final state, since they have similar masses and widths. There is also evidence for a structure at around 4.75~GeV in both processes.
Experimental data from the NA49 collaboration show an unexpectedly steep rise of the rapidity width of the ϕ meson as function of beam energy, which was suggested as possible interesting signal for novel physics. In this work we show that the Ultra-relativistic Quantum-Molecular-Dynamics (UrQMD) model is able to reproduce the shapes of the rapidity distributions of most measured hadrons and predicts a common linear increase of the width for all hadrons. Only when following the exact same analysis technique and experimental acceptance of the NA49 and NA61/SHINE collaborations, we find that the extracted value of the rapidity width of the ϕ increases drastically for the highest beam energy. We conclude that the observed steep increase of the ϕ rapidity width is a problem of limited detector acceptance and the simplified Gaussian fit approximation.
Gravitational waves from a core g-mode in supernovae as probes of the high-density equation of state
(2023)
Using relativistic supernova simulations of massive progenitor stars with a quark-hadron equation of state (EoS) and a purely hadronic EoS, we identify a distinctive feature in the gravitational-wave signal that originates from a buoyancy-driven mode (g-mode) below the proto-neutron star convection zone. The mode frequency lies in the range 200≲f≲800Hz and decreases with time. As the mode lives in the core of the proto-neutron star, its frequency and power are highly sensitive to the EoS, in particular the sound speed around twice saturation density.
Gravitational waves from a core g-mode in supernovae as probes of the high-density equation of state
(2023)
Using relativistic supernova simulations of massive progenitor stars with a quark-hadron equation of state (EoS) and a purely hadronic EoS, we identify a distinctive feature in the gravitational-wave signal that originates from a buoyancy-driven mode (g-mode) below the proto-neutron star convection zone. The mode frequency lies in the range 200≲f≲800Hz and decreases with time. As the mode lives in the core of the proto-neutron star, its frequency and power are highly sensitive to the EoS, in particular the sound speed around twice saturation density.
In this work, we study for the first time the thermal evolution of twin star pairs, i.e., stars that present the same mass but different radius and compactness. We collect available equations of state that give origin to a second branch of stable compact stars with quarks in their core. For each equation of state, we investigate the particle composition inside stars and how differently each twin evolves over time, which depends on the central density/pressure and consequent crossing of the threshold for the Urca cooling process. We find that, although the general stellar thermal evolution depends on mass and particle composition, withing one equation of state, only twin pairs that differ considerably on compactness can be clearly distinguished by how they cool down.
The cosmological implications of the Covariant Canonical Gauge Theory of Gravity (CCGG) are investigated. CCGG is a Palatini theory derived from first principles using the canonical transformation formalism in the covariant Hamiltonian formulation. The Einstein-Hilbert theory is thereby extended by a quadratic Riemann-Cartan term in the Lagrangian. Moreover, the requirement of covariant conservation of the stress-energy tensor leads to necessary presence of torsion. In the Friedman universe that promotes the cosmological constant to a time-dependent function, and gives rise to a geometrical correction with the EOS of dark radiation. The resulting cosmology, compatible with the ΛCDM parameter set, encompasses bounce and bang scenarios with graceful exits into the late dark energy era. Testing those scenarios against low-z observations shows that CCGG is a viable theory.
The cosmological implications of the Covariant Canonical Gauge Theory of Gravity (CCGG) are investigated. CCGG is a Palatini theory derived from first principles using the canonical transformation formalism in the covariant Hamiltonian formulation. The Einstein-Hilbert theory is thereby extended by a quadratic Riemann-Cartan term in the Lagrangian. Moreover, the requirement of covariant conservation of the stress-energy tensor leads to necessary presence of torsion. In the Friedman universe that promotes the cosmological constant to a time-dependent function, and gives rise to a geometrical correction with the EOS of dark radiation. The resulting cosmology, compatible with the ΛCDM parameter set, encompasses bounce and bang scenarios with graceful exits into the late dark energy era. Testing those scenarios against low-z observations shows that CCGG is a viable theory.
Zinsänderungsrisiken und langfristige Zinsbindung vor dem Hintergrund der hessischen Zinsswaps
(2019)
Johannes Kasinger, Lukas Nöh und Alfons Weichenrieder nehmen die derzeitige Niedrigzinsphase und die Debatte um den Einsatz von Zinsswaps in Hessen zum Anlass, um die Fristigkeitsstruktur der Staatsschulden sowie den Einsatz von langfristigen Zinsswaps zu erörtern. Die Autoren betonen, dass im Gegensatz zu einem privaten Bauherrn der Staat nicht für sich wirtschaftet, sondern als Sachwalter der Steuerzahler agieren sollte. Den Zinserhöhungsrisiken des Staates stehen Zinserhöhungschancen der Steuerzahler in deren Funktion als Kreditgeber gegenüber. Letzteres schwächt das Argument für langfristige Verschuldung, sei es durch die Emission langfristiger Anleihen oder durch den Einsatz von Finanzderivaten. Grundsätzlich kann eine Glättung der Zinslast allerdings dabei helfen, die für den Schuldendienst notwendigen Steuern zu glätten und die Zusatzlast der Besteuerung zu mindern.
Muller's ratchet, in its prototype version, models a haploid, asexual population whose size~N is constant over the generations. Slightly deleterious mutations are acquired along the lineages at a constant rate, and individuals carrying less mutations have a selective advantage. The classical variant considers {\it fitness proportional} selection, but other fitness schemes are conceivable as well. Inspired by the work of Etheridge et al. ([EPW09]) we propose a parameter scaling which fits well to the ``near-critical'' regime that was in the focus of [EPW09] (and in which the mutation-selection ratio diverges logarithmically as N→∞). Using a Moran model, we investigate the``rule of thumb'' given in [EPW09] for the click rate of the ``classical ratchet'' by putting it into the context of new results on the long-time evolution of the size of the best class of the ratchet with (binary) tournament selection, which (other than that of the classical ratchet) follows an autonomous dynamics up to the time of its extinction. In [GSW23] it was discovered that the tournament ratchet has a hierarchy of dual processes which can be constructed on top of an Ancestral Selection graph with a Poisson decoration. For a regime in which the mutation/selection-ratio remains bounded away from 1, this was used in [GSW23] to reveal the asymptotics of the click rates as well as that of the type frequency profile between clicks. We will describe how these ideas can be extended to the near-critical regime in which the mutation-selection ratio of the tournament ratchet converges to 1 as N→∞.
We analyze the experimental data on nuclei and hypernuclei yields recently obtained by the STAR collaboration. The hybrid dynamical and statistical approaches which have been developed previously are able to describe the experimental data reasonably. We discuss the intriguing difference between the yields of normal nuclei and hypernuclei which may be related to the properties of hypermatter at subnuclear densities. Most importantly new (hyper-)nuclei could be detected via particle correlations, and such measurements are relevant to pin down the production mechanism.
We analyze the experimental data on nuclei and hypernuclei yields recently obtained by the STAR collaboration. The hybrid dynamical and statistical approaches which have been developed previously are able to describe the experimental data reasonably. We discuss the intriguing difference between the yields of normal nuclei and hypernuclei which may be related to the properties of hypermatter at subnuclear densities. Most importantly new (hyper-)nuclei could be detected via particle correlations, and such measurements are relevant to pin down the production mechanism.
Using 16 energy points of e+e− annihilation data collected in the vicinity of the J/ψ resonance with the BESIII detector and with a total integrated luminosity of around 100 pb−1, we study the relative phase between the strong and electromagnetic amplitudes of J/ψ decays. The relative phase between J/ψ electromagnetic decay and the continuum process (e+e− annihilation without the J/ψ resonance) is confirmed to be zero by studying the cross section lineshape of μ+μ− production. The relative phase between J/ψ strong and electromagnetic decays is then measured to be (84.9 ± 3.6)◦ or (−84.7 ± 3.1)◦ for the 2(π+π−)π0 final state by investigating the interference pattern between the J/ψ decay and the continuum process. This is the first measurement of the relative phase between J/ψ strong and electromagnetic decays into a multihadron final state using the lineshape of the production cross section. We also study the production lineshape of the multihadron final state ηπ+π− with η → π+π−π0, which provides additional information about the phase between the J/ψ electromagnetic decay amplitude and the continuum process. Additionally, the branching fraction of J/ψ → 2(π+π−)π0 is measured to be (4.73 ± 0.44)% or (4.85 ± 0.45)%, and the branching fraction of J/ψ → ηπ+π− is measured to be (3.78 ± 0.68) × 10−4. Both of them are consistent with the world average values. The quoted uncertainties include both statistical and systematic uncertainties, which are mainly caused by the low statistics.
Bounding Dark Energy from the SPARC rotation curves: Data driven probe for galaxy virialization
(2024)
Dark Energy (DE) acts as a repulsive force that opposes gravitational attraction. Assuming galaxies maintain a steady state over extended periods, the estimated upper bound on DE studies its resistance to the attractive gravitational force from dark matter. Using the SPARC dataset, we fit the Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) and Hernquist models to identify the most suitable galaxies for these models. Introducing the presence of DE in these galaxies helps establish the upper limit on its repulsive force. This upper bound on DE sits around ρ(<Λ)∼10−25~kg/m3, only two orders of magnitude higher than the one measured by Planck. We discuss the conditions for detecting DE in different systems and show the consistency of the upper bound from galaxies to other systems. The upper bound is of the same order of magnitude as ρ200=200ρc for both dark matter profiles. We also address the implications for future measurements on that upper bound and the condition for detecting the impact of Λ on galactic scales.
Determining the phase structure of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and its Equation of State (EOS) at densities and temperatures realized inside neutron stars and their mergers is a long-standing open problem. The holographic V-QCD framework provides a model for the EOS of dense and hot QCD, which describes the deconfinement phase transition between a dense baryonic and a quark matter phase. We use this model in fully general relativistic hydrodynamic (GRHD) simulations to study the formation of quark matter and the emitted gravitational wave signal of binary systems that are similar to the first ever observed neutron star merger event GW170817.
The STAR Collaboration presents measurements of the semi-inclusive distribution of charged-particle jets recoiling from energetic direct-photon γdir and neutral-pion (π0) triggers in p+p and central Au+Au collisions at sNN−−−√=200 GeV over a broad kinematic range, for jet resolution parameters R=0.2 and 0.5. Medium-induced jet yield suppression is observed to be larger for R=0.2 than for 0.5, reflecting the angular range of jet energy redistribution due to quenching. The magnitude of suppression is similar for γdir- and π0-triggered data, which constrains the color-charge and path-length dependence of jet quenching. Theoretical model calculations incorporating jet quenching do not fully describe the measurements.
The process e+e−→Σ+Σ¯− is studied from threshold up to 3.04 GeV/c2 via the initial-state radiation technique using data with an integrated luminosity of 12.0 fb−1, collected at center-of-mass energies between 3.773 and 4.258 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The pair production cross sections and the effective form factors of Σ are measured in eleven Σ+Σ¯− invariant mass intervals from threshold to 3.04 GeV/c2. The results are consistent with the previous results from Belle and BESIII. Furthermore, the branching fractions of the decays J/ψ→Σ+Σ¯− and ψ(3686)→Σ+Σ¯− are determined and the obtained results are consistent with the previous results of BESIII.
Measurement of inclusive charged-particle jet production in Au+Au collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV
(2021)
The STAR Collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider reports the first measurement of inclusive jet production in peripheral and central Au+Au collisions at sNN−−−−√=200 GeV. Jets are reconstructed with the anti-kT algorithm using charged tracks with pseudorapidity |η|<1.0 and transverse momentum 0.2<pchT,jet<30 GeV/c, with jet resolution parameter R=0.2, 0.3, and 0.4. The large background yield uncorrelated with the jet signal is observed to be dominated by statistical phase space, consistent with a previous coincidence measurement. This background is suppressed by requiring a high-transverse-momentum (high-pT) leading hadron in accepted jet candidates. The bias imposed by this requirement is assessed, and the pT region in which the bias is small is identified. Inclusive charged-particle jet distributions are reported in peripheral and central Au+Au collisions for 5<pchT,jet<25 GeV/c and 5<pchT,jet<30 GeV/c, respectively. The charged-particle jet inclusive yield is suppressed for central Au+Au collisions, compared to both the peripheral Au+Au yield from this measurement and to the pp yield calculated using the PYTHIA event generator. The magnitude of the suppression is consistent with that of inclusive hadron production at high pT, and that of semi-inclusive recoil jet yield when expressed in terms of energy loss due to medium-induced energy transport. Comparison of inclusive charged-particle jet yields for different values of R exhibits no significant evidence for medium-induced broadening of the transverse jet profile for R<0.4 in central Au+Au collisions. The measured distributions are consistent with theoretical model calculations that incorporate jet quenching.
We report a new measurement of transverse single-spin asymmetries for dijet production in collisions of polarized protons at s√ = 200 GeV. Correlations between the proton spin and the transverse momenta of its partons, each perpendicular to the proton momentum direction, are probed at high Q2 ≈160 GeV2. The associated Sivers observable ⟨kT⟩, the average parton transverse momentum, is extracted using simple kinematics. Nonzero Sivers effects are observed for the first time in dijets from proton-proton collisions, but only when the jets are sorted by their net charge, which enhances the u- or d-quark contributions to separate data samples. This also enables a simple kinematic approach for determination of the individual partonic contributions to the observed asymmetries.
We report a new measurement of transverse single-spin asymmetries for dijet production in collisions of polarized protons at s√ = 200 GeV. Possible correlations between the proton spin and the transverse momenta of its partons, mutually orthogonal, with each perpendicular to the proton momentum direction, are probed at high Q2 ≈160 GeV2. The associated Sivers observable ⟨kT⟩, the average parton transverse momentum, is extracted using simple kinematics. Nonzero Sivers effects are observed for the first time in proton-proton collisions, but only when the jets are sorted by their net charge, which enhances the u- or d-quark contributions to separate data samples. This also enables a determination of the individual partonic contributions to the observed asymmetries.
In response to pathogen infection, gasdermin (GSDM) proteins form membrane pores that induce a host cell death process called pyroptosis1–3. Studies of human and mouse GSDM pores reveal the functions and architectures of 24–33 protomers assemblies4–9, but the mechanism and evolutionary origin of membrane targeting and GSDM pore formation remain unknown. Here we determine a structure of a bacterial GSDM (bGSDM) pore and define a conserved mechanism of pore assembly. Engineering a panel of bGSDMs for site-specific proteolytic activation, we demonstrate that diverse bGSDMs form distinct pore sizes that range from smaller mammalian-like assemblies to exceptionally large pores containing >50 protomers. We determine a 3.3 Å cryo-EM structure of a Vitiosangium bGSDM in an active slinky-like oligomeric conformation and analyze bGSDM pores in a native lipid environment to create an atomic-level model of a full 52-mer bGSDM pore. Combining our structural analysis with molecular dynamics simulations and cellular assays, we define a stepwise model of GSDM pore assembly and demonstrate that pore formation is driven by local unfolding of membrane-spanning β-strand regions and pre-insertion of a covalently bound palmitoyl into the target membrane. These results yield insights into the diversity of GSDM pores found in nature and the function of an ancient post-translational modification in enabling a programmed host cell death process.
Background: Alternative splicing is a key mechanism in eukaryotic cells to increase the effective number of functionally distinct gene products. Using bulk RNA sequencing, splicing variation has been studied both across human tissues and in genetically diverse individuals. This has identified disease-relevant splicing events, as well as associations between splicing and genomic variations, including sequence composition and conservation. However, variability in splicing between single cells from the same tissue and its determinants remain poorly understood.
Results: We applied parallel DNA methylation and transcriptome sequencing to differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells to characterize splicing variation (exon skipping) and its determinants. Our results shows that splicing rates in single cells can be accurately predicted based on sequence composition and other genomic features. We also identified a moderate but significant contribution from DNA methylation to splicing variation across cells. By combining sequence information and DNA methylation, we derived an accurate model (AUC=0.85) for predicting different splicing modes of individual cassette exons. These explain conventional inclusion and exclusion patterns, but also more subtle modes of cell-to-cell variation in splicing. Finally, we identified and characterized associations between DNA methylation and splicing changes during cell differentiation.
Conclusions: Our study yields new insights into alternative splicing at the single-cell level and reveals a previously underappreciated component of DNA methylation variation on splicing.
Background: Alternative splicing is a key regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic cells and increases the effective number of functionally distinct gene products. Using bulk RNA sequencing, splicing variation has been studied across human tissues and in genetically diverse populations. This has identified disease-relevant splicing events, as well as associations between splicing and genomic variations, including sequence composition and conservation. However, variability in splicing between single cells from the same tissue or cell type and its determinants remain poorly understood.
Results: We applied parallel DNA methylation and transcriptome sequencing to differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells to characterize splicing variation (exon skipping) and its determinants. Our results shows that variation in single-cell splicing can be accurately predicted based on local sequence composition and genomic features. We observe moderate but consistent contributions from local DNA methylation profiles to splicing variation across cells. A combined model that is built based on sequence as well as DNA methylation information accurately predicts different splicing modes of individual cassette exons (AUC=0.85). These categories include the conventional inclusion and exclusion patterns, but also more subtle modes of cell-to-cell variation in splicing. Finally, we identified and characterized associations between DNA methylation and splicing changes during cell differentiation.
Conclusions: Our study yields new insights into alternative splicing at the single-cell level and reveals a previously underappreciated link between DNA methylation variation and splicing.
Interacting with the environment to process sensory information, generate perceptions, and shape behavior engages neural networks in brain areas with highly varied representations, ranging from unimodal sensory cortices to higher-order association areas. Recent work suggests a much greater degree of commonality across areas, with distributed and modular networks present in both sensory and non-sensory areas during early development. However, it is currently unknown whether this initially common modular structure undergoes an equally common developmental trajectory, or whether such a modular functional organization persists in some areas—such as primary visual cortex—but not others. Here we examine the development of network organization across diverse cortical regions in ferrets of both sexes using in vivo widefield calcium imaging of spontaneous activity. We find that all regions examined, including both primary sensory cortices (visual, auditory, and somatosensory—V1, A1, and S1, respectively) and higher order association areas (prefrontal and posterior parietal cortices) exhibit a largely similar pattern of changes over an approximately 3 week developmental period spanning eye opening and the transition to predominantly externally-driven sensory activity. We find that both a modular functional organization and millimeter-scale correlated networks remain present across all cortical areas examined. These networks weakened over development in most cortical areas, but strengthened in V1. Overall, the conserved maintenance of modular organization across different cortical areas suggests a common pathway of network refinement, and suggests that a modular organization—known to encode functional representations in visual areas—may be similarly engaged in highly diverse brain areas.
Significance Different areas of the mature brain encode vastly different representations of the world. This study shows that a modular functional organization where nearby neurons participate in similar functional networks is shared across different brain areas not only during early development, but also as the brain matures where it remains a shared feature that shapes neural activity. The largely conserved trajectory of developmental changes across brain areas suggests that similar circuit mechanisms may drive this maturation. This implies that the large literature on developing cortical circuits, which is largely focused on sensory areas, may also apply more broadly, and that perturbations during development that impinge on any such shared mechanisms may produce deficits that extend across multiple brain systems.
A broad range of neuropsychiatric disorders are associated with alterations in macroscale brain circuitry and connectivity. Identifying consistent brain patterns underlying these disorders by means of structural and functional MRI has proven challenging, partly due to the vast number of tests required to examine the entire brain, which can lead to an increase in missed findings. In this study, we propose polyconnectomic score (PCS) as a metric designed to quantify the presence of disease-related brain connectivity signatures in connectomes. PCS summarizes evidence of brain patterns related to a phenotype across the entire landscape of brain connectivity into a subject-level score. We evaluated PCS across four brain disorders (autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease) and 14 studies encompassing ∼35,000 individuals. Our findings consistently show that patients exhibit significantly higher PCS compared to controls, with effect sizes that go beyond other single MRI metrics ([min, max]: Cohen’s d = [0.30, 0.87], AUC = [0.58, 0.73]). We further demonstrate that PCS serves as a valuable tool for stratifying individuals, for example within the psychosis continuum, distinguishing patients with schizophrenia from their first-degree relatives (d = 0.42, p = 4 x 10−3, FDR-corrected), and first-degree relatives from healthy controls (d = 0.34, p = 0.034, FDR-corrected). We also show that PCS is useful to uncover associations between brain connectivity patterns related to neuropsychiatric disorders and mental health, psychosocial factors, and body measurements.
By analyzing e+e− annihilation data with an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1 collected at the center-of-mass energy s√= 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector, we present the first absolute measurements of the branching fractions of twenty Cabibbo-suppressed hadronic D0(+) decays involving multiple pions. The largest four branching fractions obtained are B(D0→π+π−π0) = >(1.343±0.013stat±0.016syst)%, B(D0→π+π−2π0) = (0.998±0.019stat±0.024syst)%, B(D+→2π+π−π0)
(1.174±0.021stat±0.021syst)%, and B(D+→2π+π−2π0) = (1.074±0.040stat±0.030syst)%. The CP asymmetries for the six decays with highest event yields are also determined.
The production cross section of inclusive isolated photons has been measured by the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC in pp collisions at centre-of-momentum energy of s√=13 TeV collected during the LHC Run 2 data-taking period. The measurement is performed by combining the measurements of the electromagnetic calorimeter EMCal and the central tracking detectors ITS and TPC, covering a pseudorapidity range of |ηγ|<0.67 and a transverse momentum range of 7<pγT<200 GeV/c. The result extends to lower pγT and xγT=2pγT/s√ ranges, the lowest xγT of any isolated photon measurements to date, extending significantly those measured by the ATLAS and CMS experiments towards lower pγT at the same collision energy with a small overlap between the measurements. The measurement is compared with next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations and the results from the ATLAS and CMS experiments as well as with measurements at other collision energies. The measurement and theory prediction are in agreement with each other within the experimental and theoretical uncertainties.
Matter-antimatter asymmetry is a research topic of fundamental interest, as it is the basis for the existence of the matter world, which survived annihilation with antimatter in the early Universe. High energy nuclear collisions create conditions similar to the Universe microseconds after the Big Bang, with comparable amounts of matter and antimatter. Much of the antimatter created escapes the rapidly expanding fireball without annihilation, making such collisions an effective experimental tool to create heavy antimatter nuclear objects and study their properties. In this paper, we report the first observation of the antimatter hypernucleus 4Λ¯H¯¯¯¯, composed of an Λ¯, an antiproton and two antineutrons. The discovery was made through its two-body decay after production in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In total, 15.6 candidate 4Λ¯H¯¯¯¯ antimatter hypernuclei are obtained with an estimated background count of 6.4. Lifetimes of the antihypernuclei 3Λ¯H¯¯¯¯ and 4Λ¯H¯¯¯¯ are measured and compared with lifetimes of their corresponding hypernuclei, testing the symmetry between matter and antimatter. Various production yield ratios among (anti)hypernuclei and (anti)nuclei are also measured and compared with theoretical model predictions, shedding light on their production mechanism.
Antimatter is a research topic of fundamental interest. Sufficient matter-antimatter asymmetry in the early Universe created the matter-dominated world today. The origin of this asymmetry is not completely understood to date. High-energy nuclear collisions create conditions similar to the Universe microseconds after the Big Bang, with comparable amounts of matter and antimatter. Much of the antimatter created escapes the rapidly expanding fireball without annihilation, making such collisions an effective experimental tool to create heavy antimatter nuclear objects and study their properties. In this paper, we report the first observation of the antimatter hypernucleus 4Λ¯H¯¯¯¯, composed of an Λ¯, an antiproton and two antineutrons. The discovery was made through its two-body decay after production in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In total, 15.6 candidate 4Λ¯H¯¯¯¯ antimatter hypernuclei are obtained with an estimated background count of 6.4. Lifetimes of the antihypernuclei 3Λ¯H¯¯¯¯ and 4Λ¯H¯¯¯¯ are measured and compared with the lifetimes of their corresponding hypernuclei, testing the symmetry between matter and antimatter. Various production yield ratios among (anti)hypernuclei and (anti)nuclei are also measured and compared with theoretical model predictions, shedding light on their production mechanism.
Observation of ηc(2S) → 3(π⁺π⁻) and measurements of χcJ → 3(π⁺π⁻) in ψ(3686) radiative transitions
(2022)
The hadronic decay ηc(2S)→3(π+π−) is observed with a statistical significance of 9.3 standard deviations using (448.1±2.9)×106 ψ(3686) events collected by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The measured mass and width of ηc(2S) are (3643.4±2.3(stat.)±4.4(syst.)) MeV/c2 and (19.8±3.9(stat.)±3.1(syst.)) MeV, respectively, which are consistent with the world average values within two standard deviations. The product branching fraction B[ψ(3686)→γηc(2S)]×B[ηc(2S)→3(π+π−)] is measured to be (9.2±1.0(stat.)±0.9(syst.))×10−6. Using B[ψ(3686)→γηc(2S)]=(7.0+3.4−2.5)×10−4, we obtain B[ηc(2S)→3(π+π−)]=(1.31±0.15(stat.)±0.13(syst.)(+0.64−0.47)(extr))×10−2, where the third uncertainty is from B[ψ(3686)→γηc(2S)]. We also measure the χcJ→3(π+π−) (J=0,1,2) decays via ψ(3686)→γχcJ transitions. The branching fractions are B[χc0→3(π+π−)]=(2.080±0.006(stat.)±0.068(syst.))×10−2, B[χc1→3(π+π−)]=(1.092±0.004(stat.)±0.035(syst.))×10−2, and B[χc2→3(π+π−)]=(1.565±0.005(stat.)±0.048(syst.))×10−2.
Observation of ηc(2S) → 3(π⁺π⁻) and measurements of χcJ → 3(π⁺π⁻) in ψ(3686) radiative transitions
(2022)
The hadronic decay ηc(2S)→3(π+π−) is observed with a statistical significance of 9.3 standard deviations using (448.1±2.9)×106 ψ(3686) events collected by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The measured mass and width of ηc(2S) are (3643.4±2.3(stat.)±4.4(syst.)) MeV/c2 and (19.8±3.9(stat.)±3.1(syst.)) MeV, respectively, which are consistent with the world average values within two standard deviations. The product branching fraction B[ψ(3686) → γηc(2S)]×B[ηc(2S)→3(π+π−)] is measured to be (9.2±1.0(stat.)±0.9(syst.))×10−6. Using B[ψ(3686)→γηc(2S)]=(7.0+3.4−2.5)×10−4, we obtain B[ηc(2S)→3(π+π−)]=(1.31±0.15(stat.)±0.13(syst.)(+0.64−0.47)(extr))×10−2, where the third uncertainty is from B[ψ(3686)→γηc(2S)]. We also measure the χcJ→3(π+π−) (J=0,1,2) decays via ψ(3686)→γχcJ transitions. The branching fractions are B[χc0→3(π+π−)]=(2.080±0.006(stat.)±0.068(syst.))×10−2, B[χc1→3(π+π−)]=(1.092±0.004(stat.)±0.035(syst.))×10−2, and B[χc2→3(π+π−)]=(1.565±0.005(stat.)±0.048(syst.))×10−2.
The absolute branching fraction of the decay Λc(2625)+→Λ+cπ+π− is measured for the first time to be (50.7±5.0stat.±4.9syst.)% with 368.48 pb−1 of e+e− collision data collected by the BESIII detector at the center-of-mass energies of s√=4.918 and 4.950 GeV. This result is lower than the naive prediction of 67\%, obtained from isospin symmetry, by more than 2σ, thereby indicating that the novel mechanism referred to as the \textit{threshold effect}, proposed for the strong decays of Λc(2595)+, also applies to Λc(2625)+. This measurement is necessary to obtain the coupling constants for the transitions between s-wave and p-wave charmed baryons in heavy hadron chiral perturbation theory. In addition, we search for the decay Λc(2595)+→Λ+cπ+π−. No significant signal is observed, and the upper limit on its branching fraction is determined to be 80.8\% at the 90\% confidence level.
We report a measurement of the cross section for the process e+e−→π+π−J/ψ around the X(3872) mass in search for the direct formation of e+e−→X(3872) through the two-photon fusion process. No enhancement of the cross section is observed at the X(3872) peak and an upper limit on the product of electronic width and branching fraction of X(3872)→π+π−J/ψ is determined to be Γee×B(X(3872)→π+π−J/ψ)<7.5×10−3eV at 90% confidence level under an assumption of total width of 1.19±0.21 MeV. This is an improvement of a factor of about 17 compared to the previous limit. Furthermore, using the latest result of B(X(3872)→π+π−J/ψ), an upper limit on the electronic width Γee of X(3872) is obtained to be <0.32eV at the 90% confidence level.
A measurement of the CP-even fraction of the decay D0→π+π−π+π− is performed with a quantum-correlated ψ(3770)→DD¯ data sample collected by the BESIII experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1. Using a combination of CP eigenstates, D→π+π−π0 and D→K0S,Lπ+π− as tagging modes, the CP-even fraction is measured to be F4π+=0.735±0.015±0.005, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This is the most precise determination of this quantity to date. It provides valuable model-independent input for the measurement of the CKM angle γ with B±→DK± decays, and for time-dependent studies of CP violation and mixing in the D0-D¯0 system.
Using a data sample of (448.1±2.9)×106 𝜓(3686) decays collected at an 𝑒+𝑒− center-of-mass energy of 3.686 GeV by the BESIII detector at Beijing Electron Positron Collider II, we report an observation of the hindered electromagnetic Dalitz decay 𝜓(3686)→𝑒+𝑒−𝜂𝑐 with a significance of 7.9𝜎. The branching fraction is determined to be ℬ(𝜓(3686)→𝑒+𝑒−𝜂𝑐)=(3.77±0.40stat±0.18syst)×10−5, agreeing well with the prediction of the vector meson dominance model. This is the first measurement of the electromagnetic Dalitz transition between the 𝜓(3686) and the 𝜂𝑐, which provides new insight into the electromagnetic properties of this decay, and offers new opportunities to measure the absolute branching fractions of 𝜂𝑐 decays.
Dynamic imaging of landmark organelles, such as nuclei, cell membrane, nuclear envelope, and lipid droplets enables image-based phenotyping of functional states of cells. Multispectral fluorescent imaging of landmark organelles requires labor-intensive labeling, limits throughput, and compromises cell health. Virtual staining of label-free images with deep neural networks is an emerging solution for this problem. Multiplexed imaging of cellular landmarks from scattered light and subsequent demultiplexing with virtual staining saves the light spectrum for imaging additional molecular reporters, photomanipulation, or other tasks. Published approaches for virtual staining of landmark organelles are fragile in the presence of nuisance variations in imaging, culture conditions, and cell types. This paper reports model training protocols for virtual staining of nuclei and membranes robust to label-free imaging parameters, cell states, and cell types. We developed a flexible and scalable convolutional architecture, named UNeXt2, for supervised training and self-supervised pre-training. The strategies we report here enable robust virtual staining of nuclei and cell membranes in multiple cell types, including neuromasts of zebrafish, across a range of imaging conditions. We assess the models by comparing the intensity, segmentations, and application-specific measurements obtained from virtually stained and experimentally stained nuclei and membranes. The models rescue the missing label, non-uniform expression of labels, and photobleaching. We share three pre-trained models, named VSCyto3D, VSCyto2D, and VSNeuromast, as well as VisCy, a PyTorch-based pipeline for training, inference, and deployment that leverages the modern OME-Zarr format.
The Born cross sections for the process e+e−→η′π+π− at different center-of-mass energies between 2.00 and 3.08 GeV are reported with improved precision from an analysis of data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring. An obvious structure is observed in the Born cross section line shape. Fit as a Breit-Wigner resonance, it has a statistical significance of 6.3σ and a mass and width of M=(2111±43±25)~MeV/c2 and Γ=(135±34±30)~MeV, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. These measured resonance parameters agree with the measurements of BABAR in e+e−→η′π+π− and BESIII in e+e−→ωπ0 within two standard deviations.
The Born cross sections for the process e+e−→η′π+π− at different center-of-mass energies between 2.00 and 3.08~GeV are reported with improved precision from an analysis of data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring. An obvious structure is observed in the Born cross section line shape. Fit as a Breit-Wigner resonance, it has a statistical significance of 6.3σ and a mass and width of M=(2108±46±25)~MeV/c2 and Γ=(138±36±30)~MeV, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. These measured resonance parameters agree with the measurements of BABAR in e+e−→η′π+π− and BESIII in e+e−→ωπ0 within two standard deviations.
The Born cross sections for the process e+e−→η′π+π− at different center-of-mass energies between 2.00 and 3.08~GeV are reported with improved precision from an analysis of data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring. An obvious structure is observed in the Born cross section line shape. Fit as a Breit-Wigner resonance, it has a statistical significance of 6.3σ and a mass and width of M=(2108±46±25)~MeV/c2 and Γ=(138±36±30)~MeV, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. These measured resonance parameters agree with the measurements of BABAR in e+e−→η′π+π− and BESIII in e+e−→ωπ0 within two standard deviations.
We report a study of the processes of e+e−→K+(D−sD∗0+D∗−sD0) based on e+e− annihilation samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at BEPCII at five center-of-mass energies ranging from 4.628 to 4.698 GeV with a total integrated luminosity of 3.7 fb−1. An excess over the known contributions of the conventional charmed mesons is observed near the D−sD∗0 and D∗−sD0 mass thresholds in the K+ recoil-mass spectrum for events collected at s√=4.681 GeV. The structure matches a mass-dependent-width Breit-Wigner line shape, whose pole mass and width are determined as (3982.5+1.8−2.6±2.1) MeV/c2 and (12.8+5.3−4.4±3.0) MeV, respectively. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. The significance of the resonance hypothesis is estimated to be 5.3 σ over the contributions only from the conventional charmed mesons. This is the first candidate of the charged hidden-charm tetraquark with strangeness, decaying into D−sD∗0 and D∗−sD0. However, the properties of the excess need further exploration with more statistics.
We report a study of the processes of e+e−→K+(D−sD∗0+D∗−sD0) based on e+e− annihilation samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at BEPCII at five center-of-mass energies ranging from 4.628 to 4.698 GeV with a total integrated luminosity of 3.7 fb−1. An excess over the known contributions of the conventional charmed mesons is observed near the D−sD∗0 and D∗−sD0 mass thresholds in the K+ recoil-mass spectrum for events collected at s√=4.681 GeV. The structure matches a mass-dependent-width Breit-Wigner line shape, whose pole mass and width are determined as (3982.5+1.8−2.6±2.1) MeV/c2 and (12.8+5.3−4.4±3.0) MeV, respectively. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. The significance of the resonance hypothesis is estimated to be 5.3 σ over the pure contributions from the conventional charmed mesons. This is the first candidate of the charged hidden-charm tetraquark with strangeness, decaying into D−sD∗0 and D∗−sD0. However, the genuine properties of the excess need further exploration with more statistics.