Abstract: We present a measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element vertical bar V-cb vertical bar and the form-factor slope rho(2) in (B) over bar -> Dl(-) (nu) over bar (l) decays based on 460 X 10(6) B (B) over bar events recorded at the Gamma(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector. (B) over bar -> Dl(-) (nu) over bar (l) decays are selected in events in which a hadronic decay of the second B meson is fully reconstructed. We measure B(B- -> D(0)l(-) (nu) over bar (l))/B(B- -> Xl(-) (nu) over bar (l)) = (0.255 +/- 0.009 +/- 0.009) and B((B) over bar (0) -> D(+)l(-) (nu) over bar (l))/B((B) over bar (0) -> Xl(-) (nu) over bar (l)) = (0.230 +/- 0.011 +/- 0.011), along with the differential decay distribution in (B) over bar -> Dl(-) (nu) over bar (l) decays. We then determine G(1)vertical bar V-cb vertical bar = 42.3 +/- 1.9 +/- 1.4) X 10(-3) and rho(2) = 1.20 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.04, where G(1) is the hadronic form factor at the point of zero recoil.

Abstract: We present a study of the inclusive D*(+/-) production in the decay of Y(1S) using (98.6 +/- 0.9) X 10(6) Y(2S) mesons collected with the BABAR detector at the Y(2S) resonance. Using the decay chain Y(2S) -> pi(+)pi Y-(1S), Y(1S) -> D*X-+/-, where X is unobserved, we measure the branching fraction B[Y(1S) -> D*X-+/-] = (2.52 +/- 0.13(stat) +/- 0.15(syst)% and the D*(+/-) momentum distribution in the rest frame of the Y(1S). We find evidence for an excess of D*+/- production over the expected rate from the virtual photon annihilation process Y(1S) -> gamma* -> c (c) over bar -> D*X-+/-.

Abstract: We make a theoretical study of the charge and forward-backward pion asymmetries in the e(+)e(-) -> pi(+) pi(-) gamma process on and off the phi resonance energy. These observables are rather sensitive to the inner details of the theoretical models to describe the reaction. In addition to the standard implementation of the initial state radiation and the bremsstrahlung contribution to the final state radiation, we use the techniques of the chiral unitary approach to evaluate the contribution from the mechanisms of phi decay into pi(+) pi(-) gamma. This contribution involves the implementation of final state interaction from direct chiral loops, the exchange of vector and axial-vector resonances and the final state interaction through the consideration of the meson-meson unitarized amplitudes, which were found important in a previous work describing the phi -> pi pi gamma. We find a good reproduction of the experimental data from KLOE for the forward-backward asymmetry, both at the phi peak and away from it. We also make predictions for the angular distributions of the charge asymmetry and show that this observable is very sensitive to the chiral loops involved in phi radiative decay.

Abstract: Methods: For Ir-192, I-125, and Pd-103, the authors considered from two to five published spectra. Spherical sources approximating common brachytherapy sources were assessed. Kerma and dose results from GEANT4, MCNP5, and PENELOPE-2008 were compared for water and air. The dosimetric influence of Ir-192, I-125, and Pd-103 spectral choice was determined. Results: For the spectra considered, there were no statistically significant differences between kerma or dose results based on Monte Carlo code choice when using the same spectrum. Water-kerma differences of about 2%, 2%, and 0.7% were observed due to spectrum choice for Ir-192, I-125, and Pd-103, respectively (independent of radial distance), when accounting for photon yield per Bq. Similar differences were observed for air-kerma rate. However, their ratio (as used in the dose-rate constant) did not significantly change when the various photon spectra were selected because the differences compensated each other when dividing dose rate by air-kerma strength. Conclusions: Given the standardization of radionuclide data available from the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) and the rigorous infrastructure for performing and maintaining the data set evaluations, NNDC spectra are suggested for brachytherapy simulations in medical physics applications.

Abstract: It is suggested that the Higgs boson may have a branching ratio into the c (c) over bar c mode suppressed by several orders of magnitude compared with conventional predictions and in addition some small but detectable flavour-violating modes such as b (s) over bar and tau(mu) over bar. The suggestion is based on a scheme proposed and tested earlier for explaining the mixing pattern and mass hierarchy of fermions in terms of a rotating mass matrix. If confirmed, the effects would cast new light on the geometric origin of fermion generations and of the Higgs field itself.