Fourth Generation Parity

We present a very simple 4th-generation (4G) model with an Abelian gauge interaction under which only the 4G fermions have nonzero charge. The U(1) gauge symmetry can have a Z_2 residual discrete symmetry (4G-parity), which can stabilize the lightest 4G particle (L4P). When the 4G neutrino is the L4P, it would be a neutral and stable particle and the other 4G fermions would decay into the L4P leaving the trace of missing energy plus the standard model fermions. Because of the new symmetry, the 4G particle creation and decay modes are different from those of the sequential 4G model, and the 4G particles can be appreciably lighter than typical experimental bounds.Comment: Version accepted for publication in PR

Constraining the mixing matrix for Standard Model with four generations: time dependent and semi-leptonic CP asymmetries in Bd0B_d^0, BsB_s and D0D^0

Using existing experimental information from K, B and D decays as well as electroweak precision tests and oblique parameters, we provide constraints and correlations on the parameters of the 4X4 mixing matrix for the Standard Model with four generations (SM4). We emphasize that some correlations amongst the parameters have important repercussions for key observables. We work with a particular representation of this matrix which is highly suited for extracting information from B-decays. Implications of the resulting constraints for time dependent and semileptonic CP asymmetries for $D^0$, $B^0$ and for $B_s$ are also given. While we show that the semi-leptonic asymmetries may be significantly enhanced in SM4 over the SM, there are important constraints and correlations with other observables. In this context we suggest that existing data from B-factories taken on $\Upsilon (4S)$ and $\Upsilon (5S)$, and in the relevant continuum be used to constrain the semi-leptonic asymmetries for $B_d$, $B_s$ as well as their linear combination. Of course, the data from the Tevatron and LHCb experiments can provide non-trivial tests of SM4 as well.Comment: 20 pages, 22 figures, few references and a footnote adde

Parameter Estimates of General Failure Rate Model: A Bayesian Approach

The failure rate function plays an important role in studying the lifetime distributions in reliability theory and life testing models. A study of the general failure rate model $r(t)=a+bt^{\theta-1}$, under squared error loss function taking $a$ and $b$ independent exponential random variables has been analyzed in the literature. In this article, we consider $a$ and $b$ not necessarily independent. The estimates of the parameters $a$ and $b$ under squared error loss, linex loss and entropy loss functions are obtained here

Influence of Mediation on Estate Planning Decisions: Evidence from Indian Survey Data

Background: Intestate death can lead to the distribution of assets against the personal wishes of the deceased and is a problem in India, as 80% of Indians die without making a last will. Following the concepts of decision theory (i.e., the theory of choice), stewardship theory, agency theory, and signaling theory, the purpose of this study is to examine the influence of meditation on estate planning decisions. This study also seeks to extend previous findings on the influence of religious beliefs on the estate planning decisions of Canadians to that of Indians. Methods: Employed and self-employed individuals from India were surveyed regarding their perceptions of meditation and estate planning decisions. Results: The survey indicates that mediation positively influences the estate planning decisions while individuals who practice meditation have greater preferences for estate planning compared with those who do not. The findings suggest that individual assets, family size, and education positively influence the estate planning decisions of Indians. Conclusion: Reported meditation, individual assets, family size, location, education, and gender are positively correlated with the estate planning decisions of Indians

A further remark on dynamic programming for partially observed markov processes

In (Stochastic Process. Appl. 103 (2003) 293), a pair of dynamic programming inequalities were derived for the 'separated'ergodic control problem for partially observed Markov processes, using the 'vanishing discount'argument. In this note, we strengthen these results to derive a single dynamic programming equation for the same

Meeting the Challenges for Relic Neutrino Detection

Inspired by Gounaris-Sakurai and Lee-Zumino, we postulate that the weak vector and axial vector currents are dominated by $J^{PC} = 1^{--}$ and $1^{++}$ resonances respectively in the appropriate channels of $\nu + \bar \nu$ annihilation into quark-antiquark pairs when an ultrahigh-energy incoming $\nu \ (\bar \nu)$ strikes a relic $\bar \nu \ (\nu)$. Despite this and some other ideas, it appears the detection of relic neutrinos with just the Standard Model interactions seems extremely difficult at existing or future neutrino telescopes. Thus any positive signal would be due to some non-standard interactions of neutrinos.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. Contribution to the proceedings of the European Physical Society conference on High Energy Physics (EPS-HEP 2021), 26-30 July 202

Economic Growth and Human Development in South Asia: Experience of Selected Countries

The market fundamentals in a knowledge-driven economic environment are closely associated with the quality of human resources. The differences in the stock of human resources determine the process of convergence or divergence among countries and in turn the overall position and power of the country in the world. The countries that fail to increase their share in global knowledge market face marginalization. South Asia, in general, and countries in the region (especially India), in particular, have experienced unprecedented growth since 1990s. It helped in poverty reduction and raised the human development index. However, though there is hardly any improvement in the relative HDI ranking. Despite the high growth rate, the absolute number of people in poverty has not gone down, and health and education are still areas of serious concern. The region is still grappling with the problems of human development, both in absolute and relative terms. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal ranked between 124 and 152 in terms of Human Development Index (HDI) during all these years. Sri Lanka ranked between 90 and 99. However, in terms of real per capita GDP (US $ PPP) their ranking was between 143 and 179 in 2005. It is, thus, worth noting that South Asia could not attain any note-worthy improvement in its relative ranking. India\u27s rank went up to 124 in 2000 from 139 in 1995 but later went down to 128 in 2005. Similarly, Pakistan\u27s rank went down from 128 in 1992 to 136 in 2005. Bangladesh, however, registered a marginal improvement, from 147 in 1995 to 140 in 2005. Nepal seems to have done better a little better during this period. Also worth noting is the fact that the ranking of these South Asian countries went down in 2007, as compared to 2000. This means some other countries have outperformed South Asian countries in improving their HDI. This paper, organized into nine sections, attempts to provide some insight into few of the factors that are responsible for the above mentioned trends. Section 1 dwells on rationale of human development. Section 2 presents GDP growth rate. Status of human development in South Asia is discussed in section 3. Section 4 and 5 present health and educational parameters in South Asia. Inter-country inequality in human development is discussed in section 6. Human development and priorities of public spending in South Asia are the subject matter of section 7. Section 8 highlights rural-urban gap in human development. The last section summarizes the main findings and the policy implications. South Asia, thus, needs to learn from the history and experience of the present day developed countries and high-performing economies. The region must develop the human capabilities, along with human freedoms, while moving towards a high growth trajectory. With huge amount of human resources they possess seamless possibilities of economic growth