A Framework for Finding Anomalous Objects at the LHC

Search for new physics events at the LHC mostly rely on the assumption that the events are characterized in terms of standard-reconstructed objects such as isolated photons, leptons, and jets initiated by QCD-partons. While such strategy works for a vast majority of physics beyond the standard model scenarios, there are examples aplenty where new physics give rise to anomalous objects (such as collimated and equally energetic particles, decays due to long lived particles etc.) in the detectors, which can not be classified as any of the standard-objects. Varied methods and search strategies have been proposed, each of which is trained and optimized for specific models, topologies, and model parameters. Further, as LHC keeps excluding all expected candidates for new physics, the need for a generic method/tool that is capable of finding the unexpected can not be understated. In this paper, we propose one such method that relies on the philosophy that all anomalous objects are $\it{not}$ standard-objects. The anomaly finder, we suggest, simply is a collection of vetoes that eliminate all standard-objects up to a pre-determined acceptance rate. Any event containing at least one anomalous object (that passes all these vetoes), can be identified as a candidate for new physics. Subsequent offline analyses can determine the nature of the anomalous object as well as of the event, paving a robust way to search for these new physics scenarios in a model-independent fashion. Further, since the method relies on learning only the standard-objects, for which control samples are readily available from data, one can build the analysis in an entirely data-driven way.Comment: 32 pages, 5 tables and 12 figures; v2: references added; v3: Practical guideline given for implementation at the LHC, comments added on the possibility of inclusion of Muons and b-jets in the framework. Accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics B; v4: Title fixed from v3 to match journal version, funding information update

Measuring the service quality of services : tradonic servqual model

SERVQUAL and e-SERVQUAL have been considered the most effective and powerful approaches in evaluating the quality and gaps in the service delivered in traditional and electronic services, respectively, but neither SERVQUAL nor e-SERVQUAL can measure the overall service quality of the firm. Therefore, this chapter aims to propose and test a new scale that can measure the overall service quality of the firm. © 2018 by IGI Global. All rights reserved

Service research in Asia : research paradigm and productivity

This article traces the journey of service research by analyzing the articles contributed by researchers from Asia based on research productivity and research paradigm. The research analyzes top service journals from 2009 to 2016. The findings suggest high productivity of researchers from Taiwan. Survey research is widely used followed by mathematical modeling, lab experiments, interviews, conceptual modeling, theoretical modeling, and case study. Most researched topics observed such as customer satisfaction and relationship, service quality and performance, service marketing, service delivery, and service operations. The study provides valuable insights and highlights the contributions of Asian researchers to the field. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Impact of Negative Interest Rate Policy on Emerging Asian markets: An Empirical Investigation

In last few years, several central banks have implemented negative interest rate policies (NIRP) to boost domestic economy. However, such policies may have some unintended consequences for the emerging Asian markets (EAMs). The objective of this paper is to provide an assessment of the domestic and global implications of negative interest rate policy. We also present how the implications differ from that of quantitative easing (QE). The analysis shows that the impact NIRP is heterogeneous; with differential impacts for big Asian economies (India and Indonesia) and small trade dependent economies (STDE) (Hong Kong, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand). Nominal GDP and exports are adversely impacted in EMs in response to NIRP, especially in India and Indonesia. The inflation goes significantly high in EMs in response to plausible negative interest rates but the impact is much more severe for India and Indonesia than in STDEs. The local currencies also depreciate in all EAMs in response to negative interest rates. QE, on the other hand, has no significant impact on inflation but nominal GDP growth declines in EAMs. The currency appreciates and exports decline. The impact is much more severe in big emerging economies like India and Indonesia Key words: Negative interest rate policy, Quantitative easing, emerging economies JEL codes: E52, E58

Quality management practices in SMEs : a comparative study between India and Namibia

Purpose: Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have now become an important part of economy for not only developed nations but also for emerging economies. Irrespective of the benefits that can be derived, SMEs in emerging economies still lack the will to implement quality management (QM) practices. Using a comparative study, the purpose of this paper is to understand the status of QM practices in SMEs of emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach: A survey-based approach was adopted to understand the established QM practices in the SMEs. A survey instrument was designed by reviewing the literature on QM initiatives in SMEs. A sample of 270 SMEs across Southern India and 189 SMEs in Namibia was selected through stratified random sampling technique. Findings: The overall response rate was 19.52 percent for India and 26.46 percent for Namibia, respectively. There were similarities and differences in responses from SMEs in both countries. Similarities are in terms of limited implementation of QM practices, and also less use of tools and techniques. Reasons for not implementing include unknown to the authors, and the high cost of training. Differences emerged in the type of market (Indian SMEs catering to one major customer), CSFs and business performance indicators. It was interesting to find that management commitment and involvement do not have a major influence as CSF for SMEs in both the countries. Originality/value: The research is the first attempt in bringing a comparative study about QM practices in SMEs from developing countries. The insights will help emerging economies to develop policies for education and training, and thus facilitate implementation of QM practices in SMEs. © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

Some Bayes methods for biclustering and vector data with binary coordinates

We consider Bayes methods for two problems that share a common need to partition index sets encoding commonalities between observations. The first is a biclustering problem. The second is inference for mixture models for $p$-vectors with binary coordinates. Standard one-way clustering methods form homogeneous groups in a set of objects. Biclustering methods simultaneously cluster rows and columns of a rectangular dataset in such a way that responses are homogeneous for all row-cluster by column-cluster groups. Assuming that data entries follow a normal distribution with a bicluster-specific mean term and a common variance, we propose a Bayes methodology for biclustering and corresponding Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms. Our proposed method not only identifies homogeneous biclusters, but also generates plausible predictions for missing/unobserved entries in the potential rectangular dataset as illustrated through simulation studies and applications to real datasets. In the second problem, we propose a tractable symmetric distribution for modeling multivariate vectors of 0\u27s and 1\u27s on $p$ dimensions that allows for nontrivial amounts of variation around some central value. We then consider Bayesian analysis of mixture models where the component distributions have this above form. Inferences are made from the posterior samples generated by MCMC algorithms. We also extend our proposed Bayesian mixture model analysis to datasets with missing entries. Model performance is illustrated through simulation studies and applications to real datasets

A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FOLIC ACID-INDUCED CELLULAR SENESCENCE

The biological functions of folic acid (FA) including the prevention of neural tube defects in developing embryos and synthesis of DNA and its repair, have been well reported in literature. As a result; the fortification of folic acid into many daily foods in Canada such as wheat and cereals is mandatory. We have shown that over-osage of FA causes blood haemolysis, leading to progressive anaemia. It is reported that 200 – 400 μg/ml of FA increases the size of blood cells within 2h of treatment, also leading to abnormal cell division and necrosis (in vitro concentrations). This observation suggests early cell senescence. We hypothesized that FA may play a vital role in cellular senescence. 5th generation Kidney fibroblast (COS-7) cells were treated with 200 μg of FA in combination with an anti-neoplastic agent, nocodazole- prior to FA treatment. FA increased the expression of fibronectin (protein marker for aging) of nocodazole treated cells. Furthermore, fibronectin expression was higher in FA-treated cells of the 14th generation compared to the 8th generation. 14th generation cells also showed a larger decrease in cell size when exposed to FA. This suggests FA over-dosage has an affect on the cell growth cycle

Modelling calcium signalling and its coupling with mechanics

Calcium (Ca2+) signalling is one of the most important mechanisms of information propagation in the body (M. J. Berridge et al., 2000). Recently, experiments have shown that the coupling between Ca2+ signalling and mechanical forces plays a crucial role in fertilisation, embryogenesis, wound healing, and cancer. However, this mechanochemical coupling is poorly understood and few mechanochemical models exist to date. We first study the Atri et al. (1993) model - a nonlinear, excitable system of two ODEs, neglecting Ca2+ diffusion effects. As the IP3 concentration increases, this model exhibits action potentials and limit cycles (Ca2+ oscillations). Subsequently, we study the Atri model with Ca2+ diffusion, in one spatial dimension. This system consists of a reaction-diffusion PDE for Ca2+ and generates an interesting repertoire of behaviours – solitary waves and periodic wavetrains. To study the mechanochemical coupling of Ca2+, we begin with the mechanochemical model by Kaouri et al. (2019). The Atri model is coupled with a force balance equation for embryonic tissue, which is modelled as a linear, viscoelastic material. The mechanics equation includes a Ca2+-dependent traction term. This has been modelled with a Hill function in Kaouri et al. (2019), reflecting the saturation effect that has been observed in some experiments (Christodoulou & Skourides, 2015). However, in other experiments (Ajduk et al., 2011), there is evidence that the actomyosin network in the cytosol solates at high Ca2+ levels. Hence, we model a traction term that rises and then falls with the Ca2+ level. Upon increasing the width of the traction function, we find that the frequency of contractions decreases whereas the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations remains unaltered. We then incorporate Ca2+ diffusion and study the system’s behaviour in one spatial dimension. Finally, we return to the Atri model and solve it on a disc, obtaining solitary waves and periodic wavetrains.