Measurement of the CP-Violating Asymmetry Amplitude sin2β\beta

We present results on time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in neutral B decays to several CP eigenstates. The measurements use a data sample of about 88 million Y(4S) --> B Bbar decays collected between 1999 and 2002 with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC. We study events in which one neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in a final state containing a charmonium meson and the other B meson is determined to be either a B0 or B0bar from its decay products. The amplitude of the CP-violating asymmetry, which in the Standard Model is proportional to sin2beta, is derived from the decay-time distributions in such events. We measure sin2beta = 0.741 +/- 0.067 (stat) +/- 0.033 (syst) and |lambda| = 0.948 +/- 0.051 (stat) +/- 0.017 (syst). The magnitude of lambda is consistent with unity, in agreement with the Standard Model expectation of no direct CP violation in these modes

Novos registros de espécies da subtribo Ecliptinae (Heliantheae - Asteraceae) para a Amazônia brasileira New records of species of the Ecliptinae subtribe (Heliantheae - Asteraceae) to the Brazilian Amazon

Sete espécies da subtribo Ecliptinae encontradas nos estados do Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará e Rondônia, são apresentadas como novos registros para a Amazônia brasileira: Acmella uliginosa, Aspilia camporum, Aspilia ulei, Melanthera latifolia, Melanthera nivea, Spilanthes nervosa e Wedelia calycina. São apresentadas descrições e ilustrações para as espécies, dados sobre a distribuição geográfica, hábitat, época de floração e frutificação. Os novos registros evidenciam a importância de estudos sobre a flora amazônica e demonstram a necessidade de coletas mais intensas na região.<br>The following seven species of the subtribe Ecliptinae found in the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará and Rondônia have been recorded at the Brazilian Amazonia, for the first time: Acmella uliginosa, Aspilia camporum, Aspilia ulei, Melanthera latifolia, Melanthera nivea, Spilanthes nervosa and Wedelia calycina. Species descriptions and illustrations are presented, as well as information about geographic distribution, habitats and phenology. These new records highlight the importance of the floristic studies in Amazonia, and the need to carry out intensive fieldwork to improve the sampling in this region

Chromosomal polymorphism in 12 populations of Mikania micrantha (Compositae)

Mikania micrantha is a climbing perennial weed of the family Asteraceae, with a vast distribution from South America to south of the United States. This species is widely distributed throughout Brazil, where it shows little morphological variation. Mitotic chromosomes of 12 populations of M. micrantha derived from several Brazilian sites were studied using Feulgen staining and C-banding. The populations included eight diploid (2n = 36 and 42) and four tetraploid (2n = 72) cytotypes. Chromosome numbers of 2n = 36 and 2n = 42 are reported for the first time for M. micrantha. These populations had a secondary constriction in the middle of the larger arm of chromosome pair 1, following the same pattern described for all Mikania species analyzed so far. Numerical and structural variation of the chromosomes was quite common among the karyotypes and nearly all cytotypes differed from each other in some aspect. Most of the chromosomal differentiation may be attributed to inversions and addition or deletion of DNA fragments. C-banding, applied to three of the 12 populations, also revealed polymorphism in the distribution of heterochromatin. Additionally, one to 14 supernumerary or B-chromosomes were observed. The Bs were detected in six of the 12 populations and varied in size, number, and structure among karyotypes and also among cells of the same root meristem. The B chromosomes were also heterochromatic, showing a C-banding pattern similar to the A chromosomes, and suggesting that they may be derived from the chromosomes of the A complement.<br>Mikania micrantha é uma planta herbácea perene, da família Asteraceae, amplamente distribuída através de todo o continente americano. No Brasil, M. micrantha tem distribuição irrestrita, ocupando os mais variados ambientes, sem no entanto apresentar variação morfológica. Neste trabalho, usando o método de coloração de Feulgen e bandamento C, foram analisados os cromossomos mitóticos de 12 populações de M. micrantha, obtidos de diferentes localidades do Brasil. Citótipos numéricos e estruturais foram identificados, incluindo oito diplóides (2n = 36 e 42) e quatro tetraplóides (2n = 72). Os números cromossômicos de 2n = 36 e 2n = 42 são mostrados pela primeira vez para M. micrantha. Todos os cariótipos apresentaram o primeiro par de cromossomos com uma constrição secundária na região mediana do braço maior, seguindo o mesmo padrão observado em todas as espécies de Mikania já estudadas. A análise cromossômica revelou que todos os citótipos variam em algum aspecto. A origem desta variação é atribuída principalmente a ocorrência de inversões e deleção ou adição de fragmentos de DNA. Análise de banda C em três das 12 populações investigadas revelou polimorfismo na distribuição de heterocromatina. Cromossomos extranumerários, variando em número e morfologia, foram também identificados em seis citótipos de M. micrantha. O bandamento C mostrou que os cromossomos Bs apresentaram-se com o mesmo padrão heterocromático dos cromossomos do complemento normal, sugerindo uma possível origem a partir dos cromossomos A

Chromosome studies in the genus Mikania (Asteraceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Penguin Mediated B Decays at BABAR

We report on preliminary results of searches for penguin mediated B decays based on 20.7 fb^{-1} of data collected at the Y(4S) peak with the BABAR detector at PEP-II. The following branching fractions have been measured: BR(B+ --> phi K+) = (7.7^{+1.6}_{-1.4} +- 0.8)*10^{-6}, BR(B0 --> phi K0) = (8.1^{+3.1}_{-2.5} +- 0.8)*10^{-6}, BR(B+ --> phi K*+) = (9.7^{+4.2}_{-3.4} +- 1.7)*10^{-6}, BR(B0 --> phi K*0) = (8.7^{+2.5}_{-2.1} +- 1.1)*10^{-6}, BR(B+--> omega pi+) = (6.6^{+2.1}_{-1.8} +- 0.7)*10^{-6}, BR(B --> eta K^*0) = (19.8^{+6.5}_{-5.6} +-1.7)*10^{-6}, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. For several other modes we report upper limits on their branching fractions; for example for the following flavor-changing neutral current decays, BR(B--> K l+ l-) 0.6*10^{-6}, BR(B--> K* l+ l-) 2.5*10^{-6}, at 90% Confidence Level (C.L.)