Magic Baseline Beta Beam

We study the physics reach of an experiment where neutrinos produced in a beta-beam facility at CERN are observed in a large magnetized iron calorimeter (ICAL) at the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO). The CERN-INO distance is close to the so-called "magic" baseline which helps evade some of the parameter degeneracies and allows for a better measurement of the neutrino mass hierarchy and $\theta_{13}$.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Latex (style files included); Talk presented by S.K.A. at the International workshop on Theoretical High Energy Physics (IWTHEP 2007), Roorkee, India, 15-20 March, 2007, to appear in the proceeding

Masses and decay modes of charmonia using a confinement model

The masses of charmonium s and p-states, pseudoscalar and vector decay constants, leptonic, hadronic as well as radiative decay widths for charmonia have been computed in the framework of extended harmonic confinement model without any additional parameters. The outcome in comparison with other contemporary theoretical and experimental results is presented.Comment: Submitted to AIP for proceedings of International Workshop on Theoretical High Energy Physics held at IIT Roorkee, INDIA during 15-20 March, 200

Supernovae as Probes of Extra Dimensions

Since the dawn of the new millennium, there has been a revived interest in the concept of extra dimensions.In this scenario all the standard model matter and gauge fields are confined to the 4 dimensions and only gravity can escape to higher dimensions of the universe.This idea can be tested using table-top experiments, collider experiments, astrophysical or cosmological observations. The main astrophysical constraints come from the cooling rate of supernovae, neutron stars, red giants and the sun. In this article, we consider the energy loss mechanism of SN1987A and study the constraints it places on the number and size of extra dimensions and the higher dimensional Planck scale.Comment: 5 pages, no figures, new references are adde

Noncommutative N=2 Strings

We analyze open and mixed sector tree-level amplitudes of N=2 strings in a space-time with (2,2) signature, in the presence of constant B field. The expected topological nature of string amplitudes in the open sector is shown to impose nontrivial constraints on the corresponding noncommutative field theory. In the mixed sector, we first compute a 3-point function and show that the corresponding field theory is written in terms of a generalized *-product. We also analyze a 4-point function (A_{oooc}) of the mixed sector in Theta ---> infinity limit.Comment: 1+9 pages, LaTex, 1 ps figure; final version to appear in JHE

Impact of the adjuvant management and risk factors on survival in FIGO stage 3 endometrial cancer patients

ObjectivePatients with FIGO stage III endometrial cancer routinely receive adjuvant therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with stage IIIA to IIIC2 patients by treatment modality received and risk factors.Materials/methodsPatients with stage III endometrial cancer treated from 2000-2010 were identified in the provincial cancer registry. Clinicopathologic characteristics, adjuvant treatments and outcomes were compared using descriptive and multivariable analyses.Results261 patients had stage 3 endometrial cancer, 132 with stage IIIA, 9 with IIIB, 85 with IIIC1 and 35 with IIIC2. 39 had FIGO grade 1 disease; 73, grade 2; 147, grade 3. 160 had endometrioid and 35 had serous carcinoma. 161 patients received sequential adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT); 33 received RT only; 32 received CT only; 35 received neither. 5-year (5Y) DFS and OS were similar among stage IIIA (DFS 46.7%, OS 58.5%), IIIB (DFS 50.8%, OS 58.5%), IIIC1 (DFS 44%, OS 49.9%) and IIIC2 (DFS 42%, OS 41.6%). Use of adjuvant RT was associated with improved median DFS (53.7 vs 14.7m, p<0.00001) and OS (61.9 vs 25.7m, p<0.00001) compared to no RT. Likewise, use of adjuvant CT was also associated with improved DFS (54.8 vs 16.5m, p<0.00001) and OS (62.9 vs 26.5m, p<0.00001) compared to no CT. Those who received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy had better outcomes with 5-year DFS (58.3%) and OS (65.2%), compared with those who received monotherapy. On multivariate analysis, grade 3 disease, deep myometrial invasion >50%, and no adjuvant RT or CT were identified as adversely impacting DFS and OS.ConclusionIn stage III endometrial cancer patients, use of both chemotherapy and radiation therapy was associated with improved DFS and OS and therefore should be recommended in all eligible patients after resection

Efficacy of niraparib by time of surgery and postoperative residual disease status: A post hoc analysis of patients in the PRIMA/ENGOT-OV26/GOG-3012 study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between surgical timing and postoperative residual disease status on the efficacy of niraparib first-line maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer at high risk of recurrence.MethodsPost hoc analysis of the phase 3 PRIMA/ENGOT-OV26/GOG-3012 (NCT02655016) study of niraparib in patients with newly diagnosed primary advanced ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer with a complete/partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed by surgical status (primary debulking surgery [PDS] vs neoadjuvant chemotherapy/interval debulking surgery [NACT/IDS]) and postoperative residual disease status (no visible residual disease [NVRD] vs visible residual disease [VRD]) in the intent-to-treat population.ResultsIn PRIMA (N = 733), 236 (32.2%) patients underwent PDS, and 481 (65.6%) received NACT/IDS before enrollment. Median PFS (niraparib vs placebo) and hazard ratios (95% CI) for progression were similar in PDS (13.7 vs 8.2 months; HR, 0.67 [0.47–0.96]) and NACT/IDS (14.2 vs 8.2 months; HR, 0.57 [0.44–0.73]) subgroups. In patients who received NACT/IDS and had NVRD (n = 304), the hazard ratio (95% CI) for progression was 0.65 (0.46–0.91). In patients with VRD following PDS (n = 183) or NACT/IDS (n = 149), the hazard ratios (95% CI) for progression were 0.58 (0.39–0.86) and 0.41 (0.27–0.62), respectively. PFS was not evaluable for patients with PDS and NVRD because of sample size (n = 37).ConclusionsIn this post hoc analysis, niraparib efficacy was similar across PDS and NACT/IDS subgroups. Patients who had NACT/IDS and VRD had the highest reduction in the risk of progression with niraparib maintenance.</p

Demystifying the Effect of High-Performance Work Systems on Job Involvement Based on Dual-Path Mediation Model

This study investigates the links between high-performance work systems (HPWS) and job involvement (JI) via organizational justice (OJ) and employee well-being (EW) as mediators. The proposed social exchange theory-based research framework is used to demystify the role of HPWS on job involvement. The proposed framework is validated with ten five-star hotels in India through structural equation modelling. The model reliability and robustness of constructs are tested with confirmatory factor analysis. The findings indicate that organizations must pay close attention to the perceptions of organizational justice and employee wellbeing to foster greater job involvement in their workforce. The positive relationship between HPWS and job involvement was found to be partially mediated by organizational justice and employee wellbeing. Further, HPWS showed a positive relationship with job involvement that was both direct and significant. The present research contributes to the existing body of literature by examining organizational justice and employee wellbeing as mediating variables between HPWS and job involvement in the Indian hotel industry

Effects of head posture on intraocular pressure and heart rate of human beings

BACKGROUND: The study analyzed the association of head posture on intraocular pressure (IOP). The study aimed to evaluate and measure the changes in IOP and heart rate (HR) of human beings on head-down posture. The study included 105 patients at the department of ophthalmology of a tertiary care center in India. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients underwent applanation tonometry and HR variability (HRV) analysis before and after 20 min of head-down posture (approximately 20°). The IOP and HRV were measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical methods of Paired t-test and linear regression analysis were applied. P < 0.05 was defined as statistically significant. RESULTS: After 20 min of the 20° head-down position, an increase in IOP was significant from 15.0 ± 2.0 mmHg to 18.0 ± 2.3 mmHg (P < 0.001). A decrease in HR was also significant from 78 ± 10.48 bpm to 72 ± 10.52 bpm after the head-down position for 20 min (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These outcomes presented the first evidence of the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system in the head-down position which might cause decreased HR and the collapse of Schlemm's canal lumen, which in turn leads to the increased IOP