Constraints on models of scalar and vector leptoquarks decaying to a quark and a neutrino at √ s = 13 TeVThe CMS Collaboration * AbstractThe results of a previous search by the CMS Collaboration for squarks and gluinos are reinterpreted to constrain models of leptoquark (LQ) production. The search considers jets in association with a transverse momentum imbalance, using the M T2 variable. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data at √ s = 13 TeV, recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb −1 . Leptoquark pair production is considered with LQ decays to a neutrino and a top, bottom, or light quark. This reinterpretation considers higher mass values than the original CMS search to constrain both scalar and vector LQs. Limits on the cross section for LQ pair production are derived at the 95% confidence level depending on the LQ decay mode. A vector LQ decaying with a 50% branching fraction to tν, and 50% to bτ, has been proposed as part of an explanation of anomalous flavor physics results. In such a model, using only the decays to tν, LQ masses below 1530 GeV are excluded assuming the Yang-Mills case with coupling κ = 1, or 1115 GeV in the minimal coupling case κ = 0, placing the most stringent constraint to date from pair production of vector LQs.Published in Physical Review D as

A search for low mass narrow vector resonances decaying into quark-antiquark pairs is presented. The analysis is based on data collected in 2017 with the CMS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 41.1 fb −1. The results of this analysis are combined with those of an earlier analysis based on data collected at the same collision energy in 2016, corresponding to 35.9 fb −1. Signal candidates will be recoiling against initial state radiation and are identified as energetic, large-radius jets with two pronged substructure. The invariant jet mass spectrum is probed for a potential narrow peaking signal over a smoothly falling background. No evidence for such resonances is observed within the mass range of 50-450 GeV. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level are set on the coupling of narrow resonances to quarks, as a function of the resonance mass. For masses between 50 and 300 GeV these are the most sensitive limits to date. This analysis extends the earlier search to a mass range of 300-450 GeV, which is probed for the first time with jet substructure techniques.

BACKGROUND: Fusarium asiaticum is one of predominant pathogens of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in China. Pydiflumetofen (Pyd) is a novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) which has been commercialized in China for the controlling of wheat FHB since 2019. In the current study, a risk assessment of the pydiflumetofen-resistance selected in Fusarium asiaticum was investigated. RESULTS: One Pyd MR mutant [resistance factor (RF) < 80] and four Pyd HR mutants (RF > 3000) were generated by fungicidetaming from 1000 mycelial discs of the wild-type strain 2021. Nucleotide sequences alignment results of FaSdh from the wild-type strain and resistant mutants showed that all the mutations were categorized into three genotypes, i.e. FaSdhB H248Y from Pyd MR mutant, both FaSdhC 1 A64V and FaSdhC 1 R67K from Pyd HR mutants. All the resistant mutants possessed no fitness penalty based on the data of mycelial linear growth, conidiation and virulence. In addition, the FaSdhC 1 A64V mutants showed positive cross-resistance between pydiflumetofen and boscalid or thifluzamide, but no cross-resistance between pydiflumetofen and Y13149 or Y12196, while the FaSdhC 1 R67K mutants exhibited positive cross-resistance between pydiflumetofen and boscalid, thifluzamide or Y12196, and no cross-resistance between pydiflumetofen and Y13149. Furthermore, positive cross-resistance between the five tested SDHIs was detected in the FaSdhB H248Y mutants. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a moderate to high resistance risk of F. asiaticum to pydiflumetofen, and provide essential data for monitoring the emergence of resistance and resistance management strategies for pydiflumetofen, which will be useful for scientific application of this fungicide in China.

Results are reported for the B 0 s → µ + µ − branching fraction and effective lifetime and from a search for the decay B 0 → µ + µ −. The analysis uses a data sample of proton-proton collisions accumulated by the CMS experiment in 2011, 2012, and 2016, with center-of-mass energies (integrated luminosities) of 7 TeV (5 fb −1), 8 TeV (20 fb −1), and 13 TeV (36 fb −1). The branching fractions are determined by measuring event yields relative to B + → J/ψK + decays (with J/ψ → µ + µ −), which results in the reduction of many of the systematic uncertainties. The decay B 0 s → µ + µ − is observed with a significance of 5.6 standard deviations. The branching fraction is measured to be B(B 0 s → µ + µ −) = [2.9 ± 0.7(exp) ± 0.2(frag)] × 10 −9 , where the first uncertainty combines the experimental statistical and systematic contributions, and the second is due to the uncertainty in the ratio of the B 0 s and the B + fragmentation functions. No significant excess is observed for the decay B 0 → µ + µ − , and an upper limit of B(B 0 → µ + µ −) < 3.6 × 10 −10 is obtained at 95% confidence level. The B 0 s → µ + µ − effective lifetime is measured to be τ µ + µ − = 1.70 +0.61 −0.44 ps. These results are consistent with standard model predictions.

Chili anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. is an annual production concern for growers in China. Sterol C14-demethylation inhibitors (DMIs, such as tebuconazole) have been widely used to control this disease for more than three decades. In the current study, of 48 isolates collected from commercial chili farms in Jiangsu Province of China during 2018 and 2019, 8 single-spore isolates were identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and the rest were identified as C. acutatum. To determine whether the DMI resistance of isolates develops in the field, mycelial growth of the 48 isolates was measured in culture medium with and without tebuconazole. In all, 6 of the 8 C. gloeosporioides isolates were resistant to tebuconazole, but all 40 of the C. acutatum isolates were sensitive to tebuconazole. The fitness cost of resistance was low based on a comparison of fitness parameters between the sensitive and resistant isolates of C. gloeosporioides. Positive cross-resistance was observed between tebuconazole and difenconazole or propiconazole, but not prochloraz. Alignment results of the CgCYP51 amino acid sequences from the sensitive and resistant isolates indicated that mutations can be divided into three genotypes. Genotype I possessed four substitutions (V18F, L58V, S175P, and P341A) at the CgCYP51A gene but no substitutions at CgCYP51B, while genotype II had five substitutions (L58V, S175P, A340S, T379A, and N476T) at CgCYP51A, concomitant with three substitutions (D121N, T132A, and F391Y) at CgCYP51B. In addition, genotype III contained two substitutions (L58V and S175P) at CgCYP51A, concomitant with one substitution (T262A) at CgCYP51B. Molecular docking models illustrated that the affinity of tebuconazole to the binding site of the CgCYP51 protein from the resistant isolates was decreased when compared with binding site affinity of the sensitive isolates. Our findings provide not only novel insights into understanding the resistance mechanism to DMIs, but also some important references for resistance management of C. gloeosporioides on chili.