Survival before annihilation in Psi-prime decays

We extend the simple scenario for $\Psi'$ decays suggested a few years ago. The $c\bar c$ pair in the $\Psi'$ does not annihilate directly into three gluons but rather survives before annihilating. An interesting prediction is that a large fraction of all $\Psi'$ decays could originate from the $\Psi' \to \eta_{c} (3\pi)$ channel which we urge experimentalists to identify. Our model solves the problem of the apparent hadronic excess in $\Psi'$ decays as well as the $\rho\pi$ puzzle since, in our view, the two-body decays of the $\Psi'$ are naturally of electromagnetic origin. Further tests of this picture are proposed, e.g. $J/\Psi \to b_{1}\eta$.Comment: 6 pages, no figur

Performance-Based Conditionality: A European Perspective

For several years, the conditionality underpinning budgetary support to developing countries has been the object of severe criticism. This criticism has led to the belief that the “ownership of policies” by the recipient country governments is essential for the effective implementation of economic reform programmes. To this end, it has been suggested that traditional conditionality based on policy measures be replaced by a conditionality in which aid is based on performance outcomes. In this spirit, the European Commission has reformed its adjustment aid. The present article provides an assessment of this experiment based on the experiences in Benin, Burkina Faso, Madagascar and Uganda. It demonstrates the danger of a shift towards intermediate indicators, which are too distant from the final impact of the policies, and suggests several improvements to implement genuine performance-based conditionality.Conditionality, developing countries, fiscal policy, Aid

La conditionnalité de performance : une expérience européenne

For several years, the conditionality underpinning budgetary support to developing countries has been the object of severe criticism. This criticism has led to the belief that the “ownership of policies” by the recipient country governments is essential for the effective implementation of economic reform programmes. To this end, it has been suggested that traditional conditionality based on policy measures be replaced by a conditionality in which aid is based on performance outcomes. In this spirit, the European Commission has reformed its adjustment aid. The present article provides an assessment of this experiment based on the experiences in Benin, Burkina Faso, Madagascar and Uganda. It demonstrates the danger of a shift towards intermediate indicators, which are too distant from the final impact of the policies, and suggests several improvements to implement genuine performance-based conditionality.Conditionality, developing countries, fiscal policy, Aid

A global perspective on the trophic geography of sharks

Carbon isotopic analysis reveals global biogeographic traits in shark trophic interactions, and sheds light on the diverse foraging behaviour of sharks

Final State Interactions and New Physics in B -> pi K Decays

Within the Standard Model, and if one assumes that soft rescattering effects are negligible, the CP asymmetry A^dir_CP (B^\pm -> \pi^\pm K) is predicted to be very small and the ratio R = BR(B_d -> \pi^\mp K^\pm)/BR(B^\pm -> \pi^\pm K) provides a bound on the angle \gamma of the unitarity triangle, sin^2 \gamma \leq R. We estimate the corrections from soft rescattering effects using an approach based on Regge phenomenology, and find effects of order 10% with large uncertainties. In particular, we conclude that A^dir_CP \sim 0.2 and sin^2 \gamma \sim 1.2 R could not be taken unambiguously to signal New Physics. Using SU(3) relations, we suggest experimental tests that could constrain the size of the soft rescattering effects thus reducing the related uncertainty. Finally, we study the effect of various models of New Physics on A^dir_CP and on R.Comment: 20 pages, RevTex, no figures; a few typos corrected, references added, brief additional discussion of uncertanties is adde