Heavy Flavour in a Nutshell

Moriond QCD brings together particle physicists of varied interests. This review and introduction to heavy flavour physics is aimed at those not in the heavy-flavour field to describe the motivation and methodology of precision flavour physics, and introduce the most tantalising searches for new physics. The LHC experiments are expected to make great inroads into constraining the new physics parameter space and discover the new physics which I will argue \emph{must} be present to describe our observed universe.Comment: 46th Rencontres de Moriond, QCD and High Energy Interactions, La Thuile, March 20-27, 201

The LHCb pixel hybrid photon detectors

The Ring Imaging Cherenkov counters of the LHCb experiment use an innovative type of photon detector, the pixel Hybrid Photon Detector. The Cherenkov photons are detected by 484 such devices. The production of the photon detectors is now complete, and the devices have all been fully qualified in dedicated laboratory test facilities. The quantum efficiencies far exceed expectations, with peak values in excess of 30%. We also present the measured ion feedback rates, dead/noisy pixel fractions and dark count rates

Convenient, Bismuth Mediated, One-pot, Two Component Synthesis of 2,6-Disubstituted-3,4-Dihydropyrans

The synthesis of cis-2,6-dihydropyrans is successfully accomplished through tandem Intramolecular silyl-Modified Sakurai (ISMS)/silyl-Prins type reaction, mediated by Bi(OTf)3. A variety of epoxides and vinyl silanols prove effective in providing cis-2,6-dihydropyrans in moderate to good yield and excellent diasterioselectivities. Scope, limitations, and mechanistic considerations of the protocol are described herein.Additionally, within the development of this methodology, the catalytic process involving Bi(X)3 salts was investigated

Operational criteria used by professional social workers to assess relationship

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Pricing Stallion Seasons for an Individual Stallion: The Existence of Top Tier Pricing and Market Power

This paper is an academic treatment of the pricing of stallion seasons (a “season ” confers the right to breed a mare to a stallion) The commercial stallion seasons market can be represented schematically as a triangle that normally has a single-digit number of stallions offering high-priced seasons in the narrow apex, a moderate number of stallions composing the middle section, and over 150 in the $5,000-$10,000 range. We argue that it is logical for profit-maximizing stallion managers, most especially those in the apex of the stallion seasons triangle, to charge different prices for different groups of buyers of the same stallion seasons. Some of the reasons are straightforward: seasons are worth less as the breeding season progresses because foals produced later in year from those seasons are worth less. Other reasons have more to do with the somewhat monopolistic nature of the market for stallion seasons as explained in this paper. This market power, in turn, creates multiple demand curves for different market segments. As for artificial insemination (AI), the economics of this analysis suggests that breeders significantly benefit from the introduction of AI because costs tend to fall and the choices of potential stallions available to mares would be expanded as better stallions breed more mares. Though the average breeder would benefit, there would be losers from a change in the status quo. Not surprisingly, those who stand to would lose from a move to AI argue against such a move

Pricing Stallion Seasons for an Individual Stallion: The Existence of Top Tier Pricing and Market Power

This paper is an academic treatment of the pricing of stallion seasons (a “season ” confers the right to breed a mare to a stallion) The commercial stallion seasons market can be represented schematically as a triangle that normally has a single-digit number of stallions offering high-priced seasons in the narrow apex, a moderate number of stallions composing the middle section, and over 150 in the $5,000-$10,000 range. We argue that it is logical for profit-maximizing stallion managers, most especially those in the apex of the stallion seasons triangle, to charge different prices for different groups of buyers of the same stallion seasons. Some of the reasons are straightforward: seasons are worth less as the breeding season progresses because foals produced later in year from those seasons are worth less. Other reasons have more to do with the somewhat monopolistic nature of the market for stallion seasons as explained in this paper. This market power, in turn, creates multiple demand curves for different market segments. As for artificial insemination (AI), the economics of this analysis suggests that breeders significantly benefit from the introduction of AI because costs tend to fall and the choices of potential stallions available to mares would be expanded as better stallions breed more mares. Though the average breeder would benefit, there would be losers from a change in the status quo. Not surprisingly, those who stand to would lose from a move to AI argue against such a move