Observation of the decay B- → D(s)((*)+) K- ℓ- ν(ℓ)

We report the observation of the decay B- → D(s)((*)+) K- ?- ν(?) based on 342 fb(-1) of data collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e+ e- storage rings at SLAC. A simultaneous fit to three D(s)(+) decay chains is performed to extract the signal yield from measurements of the squared missing mass in the B meson decay. We observe the decay B- → D(s)((*)+) K- ?- ν(?) with a significance greater than 5 standard deviations (including systematic uncertainties) and measure its branching fraction to be B(B- → D(s)((*)+) K- ?- ν(?)) = [6.13(-1.03)(+1.04)(stat)±0.43(syst)±0.51(B(D(s)))]×10(-4), where the last error reflects the limited knowledge of the D(s) branching fractions.     

Phosphorus-Nitrogen Compounds as Complex Ligands

Abstract

Amino(imino)phosphanes(σ²-phosphazenes) of the type N[sbnd]P[dbnd]N- are useful complex ligands.     

Measurements of branching fraction, polarization, and charge asymmetry of B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)rho(0) and a search for B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)f(0)(980)

We measure the branching fraction (B), polarization (f(L)), and CP asymmetry (A(CP)) of B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)rho(0) decays and search for the decay B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)f(0)(980) based on a data sample of 231.8 x 10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory. In B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)rho(0) decays we measure B=(16.8+/-2.2+/-2.3) x 10(-), f(L)=0.905+/-0.042(-0.027)(+0.023), and A(CP)=-0.12+/-0.13+/-0.10, and find an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)f(0)(980)(-->pi(+)pi(-)) decays of 1.9 x 10(-6) at 90% confidence level.     

Search for D0-D0 mixing and branching-ratio measurement in the decay D0-->K+ pi- pi0

We analyze 230.4 fb;{-1} of data collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e;{+}e;{-} collider at SLAC to search for evidence of D0-D[over ];{0} mixing using regions of phase space in the decay D;{0}-->K;{+}pi;{-}pi;{0}. We measure the time-integrated mixing rate R_{M}=(0.023_{-0.014};{+0.018}(stat.)+/-0.004(syst.))%, and R_{M}<0.054% at the 95% confidence level, assuming CP invariance. The data are consistent with no mixing at the 4.5% confidence level. We also measure the branching ratio for D;{0}-->K;{+}pi;{-}pi;{0} relative to D;{0}-->K;{-}pi;{+}pi;{0} to be (0.214+/-0.008(stat.)+/-0.008(syst.))%.     

Observation of B+ --> K0K+ and B0 --> K0K0

We report observations of the b --> d penguin-dominated decays B+ --> K0K+ and B0 --> K0K0 in 316 fb(-1) of e+ e- collision data collected with the BABAR detector. We measure the branching fractions B(B+ --> K0K+) = (1.61+/-0.44+/-0.09) x 10(-6) and B(B0 --> K0K0 = (1.08+/-0.28+/-0.11) x 10(-6) and the CP-violating charge asymmetry A(CP)(K0K+) = 0.10+/-0.26+/-0.03. Using a vertexing technique previously employed in several analyses of all-neutral final states containing kaons, we report the first measurement of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in B0 --> K(S)0K(S)0, obtaining S = -1.28(-0.73-0.16)(+0.80+0.11) and C = -0.40+/-0.41+/-0.06. We also report improved measurements of the branching fraction B(B+ --> K0 pi+) = (23.9+/-1.1+/-1.0) x 10(-6) and CP-violating charge asymmetry A(CP)(K0 pi+) = -0.029+/-0.039+/-0.010.     

Interaction of the neurotransmitter, neuropeptide Y, with phospholipid membranes: infrared spectroscopic characterization at the air/water interface

The association of neuropeptide Y (NPY) at the air/water interface and with phospholipid monolayers on water as subphase has been investigated using external infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). Studies of the conformation and orientation of NPY suggest that it adopts an alpha-helical structure and is oriented parallel to the air/water interface in neat peptide monolayers. Both secondary structure and orientation are preserved in mixed lipid/NPY monolayers. Comparison of NPY associated with zwitterionic DPPC and with anionic DMPS suggests that electrostatic attraction plays a major role for peptide binding to the membrane surface.