Heavy Flavor Physics

The main purpose of Heavy Flavor experiments is to discover physics beyond the Standard Model, or characterize it, should it be found elsewhere. Thus, current limits on New Physics (NP) are reviewed. New results are presented, some involving processes that could show NP even with current data. Specific topics include the CKM element |Vub|, the forward-backward asymmetry in B -> K* mu+ mu-, b-hadron fractions at the LHC, B(Bs -> mu+ mu-), first observations of several Bs and Bc decay modes, the X(4140), new b-baryons and their decays, searches for Majorana neutrinos, and Lepton Flavor Violation.Comment: To appear in Proceedings of the DPF-2011 Conference, Providence, RI, August 8-13, 2011, 16 pages, 26 figures; version 2 fixed some typographical error

Clearing the Air on Radon Testing: The Duty of Real Estate Brokers to Protect Prospective Homebuyers

This Note recommends that the federal government create legislation that will impose a duty on real estate brokers to test homes for radon and to disclose the results to prospective purchasers. Based on a common law negligence theory, such a duty would become part of the current obligation of a real estate broker: (1) to conduct a reasonably diligent and competent search of property for sale; and (2) to disclose to prospective homebuyers all material defects affecting the value or desirability of the home. In his investigation, the broker must use the expertise and knowledge that derive from his training and experience as a professional. Initially, the Note addresses the dilemma of the homebuyer who discovers radon only after occupying the home and who has no formally defined cause of action based on common law precedent or statute. Part II traces the development of a real estate broker\u27s liability in negligence to the recently imposed duty to discover and disclose latent defects. Part III analyzes the duty to discover and disclose latent defects with respect to radon and concludes that real estate brokers should have an affirmative duty to test for radon and to disclose the results to prospective purchasers. Finally, part IV recommends legislation to protect the unwary homebuyer who otherwise would take possession of the home and suffer potential economic loss and exposure to a carcinogenic substance

Experimental Status of BB Physics

A short summary is given of the current status of B physics. Reasons for physics beyond the Standard Model are discussed. Constraints on New Physics are given using measurements of B mixing, Bs mixing, and CP violation, along with |Vub. Future goals, and upcoming new experiments are also mentioned.Comment: Invited talk at X Mexican Workshop on Particles and Fields, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, Nov. 7-12, 2005; 16 pages and 12 figures; (added references

Gender Equality and Reproductive Decision Making

In Evans, both the U.K. High Court and Court of Appeal upheld Howard Johnston’s right to refuse Natallie Evans access to the stored embryos which represented her only hope of having a child which was genetically her own. In this note, I focus on claims of gender (in)equality in the resolution of Evans. My argument is that such claims are often made all too easily, without full consideration of the problems of advancing them in the context of procreative decision-making, where men and women are inevitably differently situated. I conclude that although equality arguments are not wholly without value in this context, they need be used with extreme care. And, with due caution, I set out an equality argument of my own which was not made in Evans