By use of variational calculations a reasonable hadronic description is obtained of the s-shell hypernuclei, of /sub /ZBe, and of the well depth, with N forces which are consistent with p scattering and which are quite strongly spin-dependent, with reasonable TPE NN forces with strongly repulsive dispersive-type NN forces. For the latter we also consider a spin-dependent version which is somewhat favored by our analysis. /sub /ZBe is treated as a 2ed + system and is significantly overbound, approx. =1 MeV, if only ed ed and ed potentials are used. An ed ed potential obtained from the NN forces nicely accounts for this overbinding. The hypernuclei /sub /WHe and /sub / Be are treated as ed + 2 and 2ed + 2 systems. Use of the /sub / Be event gives approx. =1.5 MeV too little binding for /sub /WHe. The S0 potential obtained from /sub / Be is quite strongly attractive, comparable to the N and also to the NN potential without OPE. 18 refs.

Variational calculations indicate that a reasonable description of .lambda.p scattering and of .lambda. separation energies can be obtained in terms of .lambda. N plus dispersive and TPE .lambda. NN forces. Results for the .lambda lambda. interaction and for 6/sub .lambda./He obtained from an analysis of 1°/sub .lambda lambda./Be are discussed. Coulomb and .lambda. N charge symmetry breaking effects in the A = 4 hypernuclei are discussed.

Variational Monte Carlo calculations have been made for the s-shell hypernuclei and also of /sub .lambda./9Be with a 2.cap alpha. + .lambda. model. The well depth is calculated variationally with the Fermi hypernetted chain method. A satisfactory description of all the relevant experimental .lambda. separation energies and also of the .lambda.p scattering can be obtained with reasonable TPE .lambda. N and .lambda. NN forces and strongly repulsive dispersive .lambda. NN forces which are preferred to be spin dependent. We discuss variational calculations for /sub .lambda lambda./6He and /sub .lambda lambda./1°Be with .cap alpha. + 2.lambda. and 2.cap alpha. + 2.lambda. models, and the results obtained for the .lambda lambda. interaction and for /sub .lambda lambda./6He from analysis of /sub .lambda lambda./1°Be. Coulomb effects and charge symmetry breaking in the A=4 hypernuclei are discussed. 28 refs.

This volume contains the proceedings of the IX International Conference on Hypernuclear and Strange Particle Physics (HYP 2006). This conference series is devoted to the progress of our knowledge about strangeness flavor in hadron and nuclear physics. Besides the traditional topics such as hadron structure, hypernuclear spectroscopy and weak decay of hypernuclei, a particular focus of this conference was on the properties of strange mesons and their binding in nuclear systems.