Theoretical Approach to Alignment Phenomenon

An explanation of the puzzling alignment effect observed in cosmic ray experiments is suggestedComment: 7 pages, LaTEX, 4 figures (available from the author upon request

Can FCNC transition c→ul+l−c\to ul^+l^- be seen in D→Vl+l−D\to Vl^+l^- decays?

The decays $D\to Vl^+l^-$ present in principle the opportunity to observe the short distance FCNC transition $c\to ul^+l^-$, which is sensitive to the physics beyond the Standard Model. We analyze the $D \to V l^+ l^-$ decays within the Standard Model, where in addition to the short distance dynamics also the long distance dynamics is present. The short distance contribution due to $c\to ul^+l^-$ transition, which is present only in the Cabibbo suppressed decays, is found to be three orders of magnitude smaller than the long distance contribution. The branching ratios well above $10^{-7}$ for Cabibbo suppressed decays could signal new physics. The most frequent decays are the Cabibbo allowed decays $D_s^+\to\rho^+\mu^+\mu^-$ and $D^0\to\bar K^{*0}\mu^+\mu^-$, which are expected at the branching ratios of $3\cdot 10^{-5}$ and $1.7\cdot 10^{-6}$, respectively. These rates are not much lower than the present experimental upper limit.Comment: 3 pages, latex, 3 figures, Talk given by S. Prelovsek at the Hyperons, Charm and Beauty Hadrons, Genova, Italy, 30 June -3 July 1998, to appear as proceedings in Nucl. Phys.

Lateral Distribution for Aligned Events in Muon Groups Deep Underground

The paper concerns the so-called aligned events observed in cosmic rays. The phenomenon of the alignment of the most energetic subcores of gamma-ray--hadron ($\gamma-h$) families (particles of the highest energies in the central EAS core) was firstly found in the "Pamir" emulsion chamber experiment and related to a coplanar particle production at $E_0>10^{16}$ eV. Here a separation distribution (distances between pairs of muons) for aligned events has been analyzed throughout muon groups measured by Baksan Underground Scintillation Telescope (BUST) for threshold energies $0.85 \div 3.2$ TeV during a period of 7.7 years. Only muon groups of multiplicity $m\geq 4$ with inclined trajectories for an interval of zenith angles $50^\circ - 60^\circ$ were selected for the analysis. The analysis has revealed that the distribution complies with the exponential law. Meanwhile the distributions become steeper with the increase of threshold energy. There has been no difference between the lateral distribution of all the groups and the distribution of the aligned groups.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Prepared for the ISVHECRI'2006, Weihai, Chin

Regional Features of Attracting Foreign Investments into the Russian Economy

Aspects of investment attractiveness of subjects of Russian Federation, where the mode of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) is applied, are reviewed in this article. Emphasizing the importance of foreign direct investment for overcoming the technological gap from the leading world economies, the authors discuss several SEZs selected for reasons of uniformity of their socio-economic status and purpose of creating SEZ mode in them. One of the main purposes for establishing the SEZ mode is the creation of investment attractiveness for projects, being implemented in these regions. Special Economic Zones of Technical Innovation Type (Tomsk), industrial type (Samara, Ulyanovsk, Elabuga) are analyzed in this article because these are the types of SEZ modes where borrowing is supposed, as well as introduction and development of modern technologies. In large-scale projects planned by the Government in these areas, participation of small businesses is almost ignored, which, from the point of view of the authors, harms the investment attractiveness of the projects. Identification of regional special characteristics of investment attractiveness of studied objects is carried out in comparison with the state of small business in these areas. Importance of small business development in the creation of a favorable investment climate is shown