No abstract available

[en] We discuss on the importance of appropriately taking into account the cosmic background in the design of reactor neutrino detectors. In particular, as a practical study case, we describe the Angra Project, a new reactor neutrino oscillation experiment proposed to be built in the coming years at the Brazilian nuclear power complex, located near the Angra dos Reis city. The main goal of the experiment is to measure with high precision θ₁₃, the last unknown of the three neutrino mixing angles. The experiment will in addition explore the possibility of using neutrino detectors for purposes of safeguards and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons

[en] The effect of a new chelating agent was tested for the solubilisation of cadmium in rats, previously intoxicated by the inclusion of Cd in their drinking water for 25 or 32 days. The content of Cd in the hearts, livers and kidneys after treatment with the chelate was compared with treatment with deionised water. The effect of the chelate on Fe, Cu, Zn and other elements was monitored. (orig.)

[en] Using data from the FOCUS (E831) experiment at Fermilab, they present new measurements for the Cabbibo-suppressed decay mode D⁰ → π^-π⁺π^-π⁺. They measure the branching ratio Λ(D⁰ → π⁺π^-π⁺π^-)/Λ(D⁰ → K^- π⁺π^-π⁺) = 0.0914 ± 0.0018 ± 0.0022. An amplitude analysis has been performed, a first for this channel, in order to determine the resonant substructure of this decay mode. The dominant component is the decay D⁰ → a₁(1260)⁺π^-, accounting for 60% of the decay rate. The second most dominant contribution comes from the decay D⁰ → ρ(770)⁰ρ(770)⁰, with a fraction of 25%. They also study the a₁(1260) line shape and resonant substructure. Using the helicity formalism for the angular distribution of the decay D⁰ → ρ(770)⁰ρ(770)⁰, they measure a longitudinal polarization of P_L = (71 ± 4 ± 2)%

[en] Using data collected by the FOCUS experiment at Fermilab, they present a new measurement of the charm semileptonic branching ratio BR(D⁺ → ρ⁰μ⁺ν)/BR(D⁺ → (bar K)*⁰μ⁺ν). From a sample of 320 ± 44 and 11372 ± 161 D⁺ → ρ⁰μ⁺ν and D⁺ → K^-π⁺ν events respectively, they find BR(D⁺ → ρ⁰μ⁺ν)/BR(D⁺ → (bar K)*⁰μ⁺ν) = 0.041 ± 0.006(stat) ± 0.004(syst)

[en] We present an introduction to the Angra Neutrino Project. The goal of the project is to explore the use of neutrino detectors to monitor the reactor activity. The Angra Project, willl employ as neutrino sources the reactors of the nuclear power complex in Brazil, located in Angra dos Reis, some 150 Km south from the city of Rio de Janeiro. The Angra collaboration will develop and operate a low-mass neutrino detector to monitor the nuclear reactor activity, in particular to measure the reactor thermal power and the reactor fuel isotopic composition.

[en] A high statistics measurement of the D_s⁺ lifetime from the Fermilab fixed-target FOCUS photoproduction experiment is presented. We describe the analysis of the two decay modes, D_s⁺→φ(1020)π⁺ and D_s⁺→K^*(892)⁰K⁺, used for the measurement. The measured lifetime is 507.4±5.5(stat)±5.1(syst) fs using 8961±105 D_s⁺→φ(1020)π⁺ and 4680±90 D_s⁺→K^*(892)⁰K⁺ decays. This is a significant improvement over the present world average

[en] We study the decay of D_s⁺ mesons into final states involving a K_S⁰ and report the discovery of Cabibbo suppressed decay modes D_s⁺→K_S⁰π^-π⁺π⁺ (179±36 events) and D_s⁺→K_S⁰π⁺ (113±26 events). The branching fraction ratios for the new modes are (Γ(D_s⁺→K_S⁰π^-π⁺π⁺))/(Γ(D_s⁺→K_S⁰K^-π⁺π⁺)) =0.18±0.04±0.05 and (Γ(D_s⁺→K_S⁰π⁺))/(Γ(D_s⁺→K_S⁰K⁺)) =0.104±0.024±0.014

[en] A high-statistics sample of photoproduced charm from the FOCUS experiment has been used to search for direct CP violation in the decay rates for D⁺→K_Sπ⁺ and D⁺→K_SK⁺ . We have measured the following asymmetry parameters relative to D⁺→K^-π⁺π⁺ : A_CP(K_Sπ⁺) =(-1.6±1.5±0.9)% , A_CP(K_SK⁺)=( +6.9±6.0±1.5)% , and A_CP(K_SK⁺)=( +7.1±6.1±1.2)% relative to D⁺→K_Sπ⁺ . We have also measured the relative branching ratios and found Γ(D⁺→K-bar⁰π⁺)/Γ(D⁺ →K^-π⁺π⁺) =(30.60±0.46±0.32)% , Γ(D⁺→K-bar⁰K⁺)/Γ(D⁺→ K^-π⁺π⁺)(6.04±0.35±0.30)% , and Γ(D⁺→K-bar⁰K⁺)/Γ(D⁺→ K-bar⁰π⁺ )=(19.96±1.19±0.96)%

[en] We present a search for a pentaquark decaying strongly to Ξ^-π^- in γN collisions at a center-of-mass energy up to 25 GeV/c². Finding no evidence for such a state in the mass range of 1480 MeV/c² to 2400 MeV/c², we set limits on the yield and on the cross section times branching ratio relative to Ξ*(1530)⁰