By using very general and well established features of soft strong interactions we show, contrary to conventional expectations, that (i) soft final state interactions (FSI) do not disappear for large m B , (ii) inelastic rescattering is expected to be the main source of soft FSI phases, and (iii) flavor off-diagonal FSI are suppressed by a power of m B , but are quite likely to be significant at m B ≃ 5 GeV. We briefly discuss the influence of these interactions on tests of CP-violation and on theoretical calculations of weak decays.Typeset using REVT E X

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We point out the strong correlation between the CP-violating asymmetries in the decays BO-YK, and Bo-n-+a-that is predicted by the Kobayashi-Maskawa model. This results in a very restricted allowed region for the asymmetries, and so their measurement will provide a powerful test of the standard model. To show how new physics may give very different results, we look at the predictions of a simple model where both the standard model and superweak contributions to the KO and B 0 mass matrices coexist. We find that, for possible values of the parameters, practically any values are allowed for the asymmetries. PACS number(s1: 11.30.Er, 12.15.Ff, 13.25.+m The most striking prediction of the standard model of C P violation (the Kobayashi-Maskawa model) is the large asymmetries in B decays [I]. A major goal of proposed B factories is the discovery of these quantities. Here we look at how such experiments could test the standard model, and the ways in which new physics may show up PI. The CP-violating asymmetry in the decay BO-f , where f is a C P eigenstate, is parametrized by where qCP(f) is the C P phase of the final state f , and x = A M / r . In the standard model, this and all other CP-violating quantities originate in the complex nature of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix. In our parametrization [3], to order h3, the only complex matrix elements are Vld and Vub, given by where h=0.22 and A =O. 9irO. 1 (corresponding to

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The branching ratios for the hadronic B-meson weak decays B → J/ψK and B → Dπ are used to extract the size of the "non-factorizable" terms in the decay amplitudes. It is pointed out that the solutions are not uniquely determined. In the B → J/ψK case, a 2-fold ambiguity can be removed by analyzing the contribution of this decay to B → Kl + l − . In the B → Dπ case, a 4-fold ambiguity can only be removed if the "non-factorizable" terms are assumed to be a small correction to the vacuum insertion result.

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Relations between the form factors that parametrize the hadronic matrix elements, in spectator decays of heavy mesons, have been derived by Stech within the constituent quark model. In here, we examine these relations using a slightly modified description of the meson states. We find new and very general relations for some of the form factors. For the other form factors, we obtain small modifications to the relations previously derived by Stech, in the case of heavy-to-light transitions.

Finasteride has been used frequently in the treatment of prostate hyperplasia, but this drug inhibits 5alpha-reductase and for this reason could be useful for the treatment of hirsutism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and hormonal effects of finasteride on hirsute women with idiopathic hirsutism or polycystic ovary syndrome. Twenty-four women were randomly divided into two groups: those given placebo and those given finasteride 5 mg/day. The treatment period was 6 months. All patients were evaluated before the beginning of treatment (baseline) and after 3 and 6 months of treatment using clinical examination through Ferriman-Gallwey score, blood pressure, cardiac frequency and body mass index. Also, we collected blood for hormonal determination of levels of prolactin, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, total and free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione and dihydrotestosterone. Furthermore, all patients were asked about their concerns and satisfaction with the treatment. The results showed that the Ferriman-Gallwey score in the 6th month of finasteride treatment was significantly lower than at baseline and the 3rd month of this drug treatment. The dihydrotestosterone level in the finasteride group was also significantly reduced compared to that in the placebo group. The other hormones did not show any statistical difference during the study. All the patients treated with finasteride perceived a reduction in hirsutism after 6 months. In conclusion, our data suggest that finasteride may be effective for the treatment of the hirsute woman with idiopathic hirsutism or polycystic ovary syndrome.