Measurement of the Bottom-Strange Meson Mixing Phase in the Full CDF Data Set

We report a measurement of the bottom-strange meson mixing phase \beta_s using the time evolution of B0_s -> J/\psi (->\mu+\mu-) \phi (-> K+ K-) decays in which the quark-flavor content of the bottom-strange meson is identified at production. This measurement uses the full data set of proton-antiproton collisions at sqrt(s)= 1.96 TeV collected by the Collider Detector experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron, corresponding to 9.6 fb-1 of integrated luminosity. We report confidence regions in the two-dimensional space of \beta_s and the B0_s decay-width difference \Delta\Gamma_s, and measure \beta_s in [-\pi/2, -1.51] U [-0.06, 0.30] U [1.26, \pi/2] at the 68% confidence level, in agreement with the standard model expectation. Assuming the standard model value of \beta_s, we also determine \Delta\Gamma_s = 0.068 +- 0.026 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps-1 and the mean B0_s lifetime, \tau_s = 1.528 +- 0.019 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps, which are consistent and competitive with determinations by other experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett 109, 171802 (2012

Desenvolvimento de Adiantopsis radiata, Pteris denticulata (Pteridaceae) e Polypodium latipes (Polypodiaceae) em condições naturais Development of Adiantopsis radiata, Pteris denticulata (Pteridaceae) e Polypodium latipes (Polypodiaceae) in natural conditions

Populações de gametófitos e esporófitos àe Adiantopsis radiata (L.) Fée, Pteris denticulata Sw. e Polypodium latipes Langsd. et Fisch, ocorrentes em mata mesofítica semidecídua do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, foram acompanhadas em campo durante 24 meses e amostras coletadas para estudo em laboratório. A morfologia das diferentes fases de desenvolvimento, desde o gametófito até o esporófito adulto, bem como informações relativas ao comportamento das espécies em função de condições de dessecamento são apresentadas.<br>Populations of gametophytes and sporophytes of Adiantopsis radiata (L.) Fée, Pteris denticulata Sw. and Polypodium latipes Langsd. et Fisch, occurring in a semideciduous mesophytic forest in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, were observed during 24 months and samples were collected for study in the laboratory. The morphology of different phases of development, from gametophytes until the formation of adult sporophytes, as well as informations relative to their behavior in conditions of reduced humidity are presented

A Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Strengths of Black Youths

The strengths of Black youths lie in their abilities to resist the barriers that they encounter in the various environments in which they exist. Yet the media and social science literature have defined the youths in terms of the pathology of their environments rather than focusing on the assets that Black youths use in such environments. Thus, terms such as inner city , urban , and at-risk are used as proxies for the youths' personality attributes and themes, such as violence, substance abuse, school underachievement, and family instability are used to define their life experiences. In doing so, the literature suggests that the negative behaviors that it ascribes to Black youths are normative in actuality. In this article, a new framework for understanding the assets of Black youths is provided. The framework highlights the role of racial socialization in the youths' development of strengths that allow them to cope effectively with barriers

Strategic Public Management for Financial Condition: Focus on Fund Balances of School Districts

Scholars have emphasized the roles of strategic public management and the financial condition but little is known about the link between the two. Finding the missing link is the purpose of this study. By analyzing data from K-12 Texas school districts, this study investigates how top managers’ strategic efforts toward their superiors, subordinates, and external stakeholders affect the financial condition of school districts. The findings suggest that superintendents’ managing upward toward school boards increases fund balances, whereas managing downward toward school principals decreases fund balances. Apparently, the relationships between school boards, superintendents, and school principals contain different priorities and incentives that influence their behaviors in managing school district budgets.Accepted versio