Abstract: The value of the tensor-to-scalar ratio r in the region allowed by the latest Planck 2015 measurements can be associated to a large variety of inflationary models. We discuss here the potential of future Cosmic Microwave Background cosmological observations in disentangling among the possible theoretical scenarios allowed by our analyses of current Planck temperature and polarization data. Rather than focusing only on r, we focus as well on the running of the primordial power spectrum, alpha(s) and the running thereof, beta(s). If future cosmological measurements, as those from the COrE mission, confirm the current best-fit value for beta(s) greater than or similar to 10(-2) as the preferred one, it will be possible to rule-out the most favoured inflationary models.

Abstract: Using the eight time dependences e(-Gamma t)(1+C(i)cos Delta mt+S(i)sin Delta mt) for the decays Upsilon (4S) -> B-0(B) over bar (0) -> f(j)f(k), with the decay into a flavor-specific state f(j) = l(+/-)X before or after the decay into a CP eigenstate f(k) = c (c) over barK(S,L), as measured by the BABAR experiment, we determine the three CPT-sensitive parameters Re(z) and Im(z) in B-0-(B) over bar (0) mixing and vertical bar(A) over bar /A vertical bar in B-0 -> c (c) over barK(0) decays. We find Im(z) = 0.010 +/- 0.030 +/- 0.013, Re(z) = -0.065 +/- 0.028 +/- 0.014, and vertical bar(A) over bar /A vertical bar = 0.999 +/- 0.023 +/- 0.017, in agreement with CPT symmetry.

Abstract: Recent cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature and polarization anisotropy measurements from the Planck mission have significantly improved previous constraints on the neutrino masses as well as the bounds on extended models with massless or massive sterile neutrino states. However, due to parameter degeneracies, additional low redshift priors are mandatory in order to sharpen the CMB neutrino bounds. We explore here the role of different priors on low redshift quantities, such as the Hubble constant, the cluster mass bias, and the reionization optical depth tau. Concerning current priors on the Hubble constant and the cluster mass bias, the bounds on the neutrino parameters may differ appreciably depending on the choices adopted in the analyses. With regard to future improvements in the priors on the reionization optical depth, a value of tau = 0.05 +/- 0.01, motivated by astrophysical estimates of the reionization redshift, would lead to Sigma m(nu) < 0.0926 eV at 90% C.L., when combining the full Planck measurements, baryon acoustic oscillation, and Planck clusters data, thereby opening the window to unravel the neutrino mass hierarchy with existing cosmological probes.

Abstract: For the first time, the gamma decay of excited states has been observed in a nucleus situated in the quadrant south-east of doubly magic Sn-132, a region in which experimental information so far is limited to ground-state properties. Six gamma rays with energies of 50, 86, 103, 227, 357, and 602 keV were observed following the beta-delayed neutron emission from Cd-133(85), populated in the projectile fission of a U-238 beam at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory at RIKEN within the EURICA project. The new experimental information is compared to the results of a modern realistic shell-model calculation, the first one in this region very far from stability, focusing in particular on the pi 0g(9/2)(-1) circle times nu 1f(7/2) particle-hole multiplet in In-132(83). In addition, theoretical estimates based on a scaling of the two-body matrix elements for the pi h(11/2)(-1) circle times nu g(9/2) analog multiplet in Tl-208(127), one major proton and one major neutron shell above, are presented.

Abstract: Amplitude models are applied to studies of resonance structure in D-0 -> (KSK-)-K-0 pi(+) and D-0 -> (KSK+)-K-0 pi(-) decays using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) collected by the LHCb experiment. Relative magnitude and phase information is determined, and coherence factors and related observables are computed for both the whole phase space and a restricted region of 100 MeV/c(2) around the K*(892)(+/-) resonance. Two formulations for the K pi S-wave are used, both of which give a good description of the data. The ratio of branching fractions B(D-0 -> (KSK+)-K-0 pi(-))/B(D-0 -> (KSK-)-K-0 pi(+)) is measured to be 0.655 +/- 0.004(stat) +/- 0.006(syst) over the full phase space and 0.370 +/- 0.003(stat) +/- 0.012(syst) in the restricted region. A search for CP violation is performed using the amplitude models and no significant effect is found. Predictions from SU(3) flavor symmetry for K*(892)K amplitudes of different charges are compared with the amplitude model results.