Improved measurement of CP asymmetries in B0 --> (cc)K(0(*)) decays

We present results on time-dependent CP asymmetries in neutral B decays to several CP eigenstates. The measurements use a data sample of about 227 x 10(6) upsilon(4S) --> BB decays collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC. The amplitude of the CPasymmetry, sin2beta in the standard model, is derived from decay-time distributions from events in which one neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in a final state containing a charmonium meson and the other B meson is determined to be either a B0 or B0 from its decay products. We measure sin2beta = 0.722 +/- 0.040(stat) +/- 0.023(syst) in agreement with the standard model expectation.     

An integrated process for partial oxidation of alkanes

The partial oxidation of alkanes via bromination followed by the reaction with solid metal oxide mixtures (MO) is shown to give an array of products that can be tuned by varying the MO and the reaction conditions.     

Observation of a significant excess of pi0pi0 events in B meson decays

We present a study of the decay B0-->pi(0)pi(0) based on a sample of 124 x 10(6) BB pairs recorded by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC. We observe 46+/-13+/-3 events, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic, corresponding to a significance of 4.2 standard deviations including systematic uncertainties. We measure the branching fraction B(B0-->pi(0)pi(0))=(2.1+/-0.6+/-0.3)x10(-6), averaged over B0 and B(0) decays.     

Limits on D0-macro D0 mixing and CP violation from the ratio of lifetimes for decay to K-pi+, K-K+, and pi- pi+

We present a measurement of D0-macro D0 mixing parameters using the ratios of lifetimes extracted from samples of D0 mesons decaying to K-pi(+), K-K+, and pi(-)pi(+). Using 91 fb(-1) of data collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory, we obtain a value Y=[0.8+/-0.4(stat.)(+0.5)(-0.4)(syst.)]%, which, in the limit of CP conservation, corresponds to the mixing parameter y=Delta Gamma/2 Gamma. Using the difference in lifetimes of D0 and macro D0 mesons, we obtain the CP-violation parameter Delta Y=[-0.8+/-0.6(stat.)+/-0.2(syst.)]%.     

One hundred prisoners and a lightbulb

This column is a place for those bits of contagious mathematics that travel from person to person in the community, because they are so elegant, suprising, or appealing that one has an urge to pass them on. Contributions are most welcome.     

Measurement of the branching ratio and form factor of K(L)-->mu(+)mu(-)gamma

We report on the analysis of the rare decay K(L)-->mu(+)mu(-)gamma the 1997 data from the KTeV experiment at Fermilab. A total of 9327 candidate events are observed with 2.4% background, representing a factor of 40 increase in statistics over the current world sample. We find that B(K(L)-->mu(+)mu(-)gamma) = (3.62 +/- 0.04(stat) +/- 0.08(syst)) x 10(-7). The form factor parameter alpha(K*) is measured to be alpha(K*) = -0.160(+0.026)(-0.028). In addition, we make the first measurement of the parameter alpha from the D'Ambrosio-Isidori-Portolés form factor, finding alpha = -1.54 +/- 0.10. In that model, this alpha measurement limits the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa parameter rho>-0.2.     

Exact representation of meson-meson scattering amplitudes consistent with current-algebra constraints

All four-point Green functions connected to the vector and axial-vector currents by Ward identities are constructed, consistent with the constraints of an arbitrary current algebra. The structure of the four-point functions is separated into one-particle reducible and irreducible parts, without approximations. That is, no single-particle approximation is made, nor is it assumed that the strangeness-changing vector currents are conserved. The result is a representation of the meson-meson scattering amplitude that explicitly satisfies all the constraints of the current algebra. In particular, it satisfies: (i) threshold theorems, (ii) crossing symmetry and (iii) reduction to the usual tree-approximation in the single-particle approximation. Application is made to kaon-pion scattering, obtaining a representation of the scattering amplitude that is suitable for the investigation of the constraints of elastic unitarity.     

Botulinum toxin treatment of spasmodic dysphonia: Techniques, indications, efficacy

A group of 58 patients with spasmodic dysphonia (SD) was treated perorally or transcutaneously with botulinum toxin (BT), and followed for at least 6 months. Most were treated by peroral injection using indirect laryngoscopy to facilitate precise placement. An effort was made to disperse the toxin over the entire thyroarytenoid muscle in order to affect the greatest number of motor end-plates using the smallest possible effective dose. Severely symptomatic patients with primarily adductor SD had the best results. A potentiation effect is suggested by analysis of a subpopulation of patients, mostly injected unilaterally, for whom the outcome was more favorable for those who had had prior injections. One-month postinjection studies reflect significant improvement in measured readings of a standard passage, and this is consistent with the subjective and perceptual improvements noted. There were no severe complications. Peroral injection seems inadvisable for patients with mixed or abductor SD as well as for those with an uncontrollable gag reflex.     

Manual circumlaryngeal therapy for functionaldysphonia: An evaluation of short- and long-term treatment outcomes

Manual circumlaryngeal therapy (manual laryngeal musculoskeletal tension reduction) was used to treat 25 consecutive functional dysphonia patients. Pre- and post-treatment audio recordings of connected speech and sustained vowel samples were submitted to auditory-perceptual and acoustical analysis to assess the immediate and long-term effects of a single treatment session. To complement audio recordings, subjects were interviewed in follow-up regarding the stability of treatment effects. Pre- and post-treatment comparisons demonstrated significant voice improvements. No significant differences were observed between post-treatment measures, suggesting that vocal gains were maintained. Interviews revealed 68% of subjects reported occasional partial recurrences, typically less than 4 days in duration, which resolved spontaneously. These results replicate and extend previous research suggesting the utility of manual circumlaryngeal therapy for functional voice disorders.