Bound on the ratio of decay amplitudes for -B0-->J/psiK*0 and B0-->J/psiK*0.

We have measured the time-dependent decay rate for the process B-->J/psiK(*0) (892) in a sample of about 88x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->B(-)B decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at SLAC. In this sample we study flavor-tagged events in which one neutral B meson is reconstructed in the J/psiK(*0) or J/psi(-)K(*0) final state. We measure the coefficients of the cosine and sine terms in the time-dependent asymmetries for J/psiK(*0) and J/psi(-)K(*0), find them to be consistent with the standard model expectations, and set upper limits at 90% confidence level (C.

Search for B0 decays to invisible final states and to nunugamma.

We establish upper limits on branching fractions for B0 decays to final states where the decay products are purely invisible (i.e., no observable final state particles) and for B0 decays to nunugamma.

Measurement of the time-dependent CP asymmetry in the B0-->phiK0 decay.

We present a measurement of the time-dependent CP asymmetry for the neutral B-meson decay B0-->phiK0. We use a sample of approximately 114 x 10(6) B-meson pairs taken at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B-meson factory at SLAC. We reconstruct the CP eigenstates phiK0S and phiK0L, where phi-->K+K-, K0S-->pi+pi-, and K0L is observed via its hadronic interactions.

Measurement of the direct CP asymmetry in b-->s gamma Decays.

We describe a measurement of the direct CP asymmetry between inclusive b-->s gamma and b-->s gamma decays. This asymmetry is expected to be less than 0.01 in the standard model, but could be enhanced up to about 0.

Observation of the decay B-->J/psietaK and search for X(3872)-->J/psieta.

We report the observation of the B meson decay B+/- -->J/psietaK+/- and evidence for the decay B0-->J/psietaK0S, using 90 x 10(6) BB; events collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II e+e- asymmetric-energy storage ring. We obtain branching fractions of B(B+/- -->J/psietaK+/-) = [10.8 +/- 2.

Study of high momentum eta' production in B --> eta'Xs.

We measure the branching fraction for the charmless semi-inclusive process B --> eta'Xs, where the eta' meson has a momentum in the range 2.0 to 2.7 GeV/c in the upsilon4S center-of-mass frame and Xs represents a system comprising a kaon and zero to four pions.

Search for the rare leptonic decay B+-->mu(+)nu(mu).

We have performed a search for the rare leptonic decay B+-->mu(+)nu(mu) with data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II storage ring. In a sample of 88.4 x 10(6) BB pairs, we find no significant evidence for a signal and set an upper limit on the branching fraction B(B+-->my(+)nu(my))< 6.

Study of B+/ --> J/psi pi+/- and B+/ -->J/psi K+/- decays: measurement of the ratio of branching fractions and search for direct CP violation.

We study B+/ --> J/psi pi(+/-) and B+/ --> J/psi K+/- decays in a sample of about 89 x 10(6) BB pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric B factory at SLAC. We observe a signal of 244+/-20 B+/ --> J/psi pi(+/-) events and determine the ratio B(B+/ --> J/psi pi(+/-))/B(B+/ --> J/psi K+/-) to be [5.37+/-0.

Search for lepton-flavor violation in the decay tau- --> l- l+ l-.

A search for the lepton-flavor-violating decay of the tau into three charged leptons has been performed using 91.5 fb(-1) of data collected at an e(+)e(-)center-of-mass energy around 10.58 GeV with the BABAR detector at the SLAC storage ring PEP-II.

Observation of B0-->omega K0, B+-->eta pi+, and B+-->eta K+ and study of related decays.

We present measurements of branching fractions and charge asymmetries for seven B-meson decays with an eta, eta', or omega meson in the final state. The data sample corresponds to 89x10(6) BB pairs produced from e(+)e(-) annihilation at the Upsilon(4S) resonance. We measure the following branching fractions in units of 10(-6): B(B+-->eta pi(+))=5.

Assessment of exposure to a flood disaster in a mental-health study.

The lasting psychological consequences of disasters are an important public health issue, especially for determining the support needed by victims. One important question in evaluating psychological consequences remains the assessment of individual disaster-related experiences or stressors. This article proposes two approaches towards the construction of cumulative exposure indicators (CEIs) for a disaster and discusses their relevance for other disasters.

The performance of laboratories analysing alpha-quartz in the Workplace Analysis Scheme for Proficiency (WASP).

The Workplace Analysis Scheme for Proficiency (WASP) is a proficiency testing (PT) scheme for the analysis of occupational hygiene and environmental air samples and is operated in the United Kingdom by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) on behalf of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). One of the 26 analytes available to laboratories is silica (alpha-quartz) on 25 mm Gelman GLA5000 filters. This paper investigates the performance of laboratories participating in the scheme since the HSL took over the production of the samples in 1998.

[Is compliance to current lead regulations safe enough for infants and toddlers?].

Background: Neurobehavioural and cognitive impairment may arise from children's exposure to lead. To prevent this risk, a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) has been issued by WHO and many regulations addressing lead emission to the environment have been introduced. Taking into account both lead concentrations in soil and the importance of soil in children's exposure, we examined whether compliance to the above current regulations is safe enough for children.

[Radon exposure and risks for public health].

Radon is a radioactive gas of natural origin. Its principal isotope is radon-222, stemming from uranium-238 present at various concentrations in all soils. Radon is found everywhere in the earth's atmosphere but has low reactivity by itself.

Microscopic identification of asbestos fibres associated with African clay crafts manufacture.

The use of asbestos in manufacturing is a world-wide phenomenon, not just confined to the developed world. The activity described below shows that there are similar problems in the third world which need to be tackled. A sample of white fibrous material used in pot making by women in a village of Botswana was provided for analysis.

[Evaluation of the psychological consequences of environmental catastrophes: a feasibility study based on the 1992 floods in the Vaucluse].

Scientific studies of environmental disasters, whether human or natural in origin, have shown that the psychological impact of such events may be considerable and long-lasting. Several natural disasters have occurred in France, but their impact on public psychological health has not been assessed. In September 1992, there was a major flood in southeast France (Vaucluse), which caused 38 deaths.

Agent orange and the risk of gestational trophoblastic disease in Vietnam.

There have been claims of an increased risk for gestational trophoblastic disease (i.e., hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma) in Vietnam since the period of Agent Orange sprayings.

Stability of therapeutic drug measurement in specimens collected in VACUTAINER plastic blood-collection tubes.

Recently Becton-Dickinson marketed a plastic serum-separator tube that uses the same serum-separator gel as the glass tubes. We studied the stability of therapeutic drugs stored in plastic tubes by comparing it with the stability of drugs stored in glass serum-separator tubes and plain red-top glass tubes. We observed no absorption of caffeine, primidone, N-acetylprocainamide, procainamide, theophylline, tobramycin, ethosuximide, acetaminophen, amikacin, valproic acid, methotrexate, salicylate, and cyclosporine in either plastic or glass serum-separator tubes.

An improved imaging agent for malignant melanoma, based on [Nle4,D-Phe7]alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone.

Two compounds have been synthesized based on [Nle4,D-Phe7]alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (NDP-MSH) in which either one or two peptide sequences were covalently linked through their N'-termini to a single molecule of diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA). These two compounds (monoNDP-MSH-DTPA and bisNDP-MSH-DTPA, respectively) bound indium-111 (111In) stably and showed hormonal activity as great or greater than alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). Both compounds were able to target 111In to Cloudman S91 melanomas in DBA2 mice.

[Accidents, disasters and crises: contribution of epidemiology in th nuclear field].

The experience of the Chernobyl accident has shown the necessity of being prepared for epidemiological assessment of the death consequences of a nuclear or a radiological accident. We discuss the contribution of epidemiology in such situations, in addition to the existing tools designed to assess or manage radiological risks. From a decisional point of view, three issues are distinguished: the protection of the different population groups against ionizing radiations, the achievement of health care and the communication with the public and media.