Measurement of the multi-TeV neutrino cross section with IceCube using Earth absorption

Neutrinos interact only very weakly, so they are extremely penetrating. However, the theoretical neutrino-nucleon interaction cross section rises with energy such that, at energies above 40 TeV, neutrinos are expected to be absorbed as they pass through the Earth. Experimentally, the cross section has been measured only at the relatively low energies (below 400 GeV) available at neutrino beams from accelerators \cite{Agashe:2014kda, Formaggio:2013kya}. Here we report the first measurement of neutrino absorption in the Earth, using a sample of 10,784 energetic upward-going neutrino-induced muons observed with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The flux of high-energy neutrinos transiting long paths through the Earth is attenuated compared to a reference sample that follows shorter trajectories through the Earth. Using a fit to the two-dimensional distribution of muon energy and zenith angle, we determine the cross section for neutrino energies between 6.3 TeV and 980 TeV, more than an order of magnitude higher in energy than previous measurements. The measured cross section is $1.30^{+0.21}_{-0.19}$ (stat.) $^{+0.39}_{-0.43}$ (syst.) times the prediction of the Standard Model \cite{CooperSarkar:2011pa}, consistent with the expectation for charged and neutral current interactions. We do not observe a dramatic increase in the cross section, expected in some speculative models, including those invoking new compact dimensions \cite{AlvarezMuniz:2002ga} or the production of leptoquarks \cite{Romero:2009vu}.Comment: Preprint version of Nature paper 10.1038/nature2445

FBSDEs with time delayed generators:L-P-solutions, differentiability, representation formulas and path regularity

AbstractWe extend the work of Delong and Imkeller (2010) [6,7] concerning backward stochastic differential equations with time delayed generators (delay BSDEs). We give moment and a priori estimates in general Lp-spaces and provide sufficient conditions for the solution of a delay BSDE to exist in Lp. We introduce decoupled systems of SDEs and delay BSDEs (delay FBSDEs) and give sufficient conditions for their variational differentiability. We connect these variational derivatives to the Malliavin derivatives of delay FBSDEs via the usual representation formulas. We conclude with several path regularity results, in particular we extend the classic L2-path regularity to delay FBSDEs

Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA)

Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are an important cause of morbidity and are frequently associated with poor prognosis, particularly in high-risk patients. The cornerstones in the management of complicated IAIs are timely effective source control with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is important in the management of intra-abdominal infections and must be broad enough to cover all likely organisms because inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor patient outcomes and the development of bacterial resistance. The overuse of antimicrobials is widely accepted as a major driver of some emerging infections (such as C. difficile), the selection of resistant pathogens in individual patients, and for the continued development of antimicrobial resistance globally. The growing emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms and the limited development of new agents available to counteract them have caused an impending crisis with alarming implications, especially with regards to Gram-negative bacteria. An international task force from 79 different countries has joined this project by sharing a document on the rational use of antimicrobials for patients with IAIs. The project has been termed AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections). The authors hope that AGORA, involving many of the world's leading experts, can actively raise awareness in health workers and can improve prescribing behavior in treating IAIs

B + B BARCELONA

Tématem projektu je stavba nového gymnázia v Barceloně, v místě, které je typické svými pravidelnými bloky navrženými architektem Cerdou. Stavbu jsem navrhla s respektem k tvaru parcely. Mým cílem bylo, nevytvořit jen vzdělávací budovu pro studenty, ale také kulturní a společenské centrum pro lidi z okolí. Urbanisticky je parcela koncipovaná jako město samo o sobě, které zve kolemjdoucí k návštěvě. Zůstalo příjemné měřítko pro život.The subjekt of the project is the building of a new secondary school in Barcelona, the place, which is typical with his regular piles designed by architekt Cerda. I projected the building with the respect of the shape of site. My tendency was to not only make a educational building for students, but also the cultural and social centre for local inhabitants. The site is conceived as a small city, which invites passers-by to a visit. The pleasant scale factor stayed on.

Quantum Potential and Quantum Gravity

The quantum potential approach makes it possible to construct a complementary picture of quantum mechanical evolution which reminds classical equation of motion. The only difference as compared to equations of motion for the underlying classical system is the presence of an additional potential term being a functional of the real part of the wavefunction. In the present paper this approach is applied to the quantum theory of gravity based on Wheeler -- De Witt equation. We describe the derivation of the `quantum Einstein equation' and discuss the new features of their solutions.Comment: 12 pages LaTeX, to appear in From Field Theory to Quantum Groups. Birthday volume dedicated to Jerzy Lukierski, World Scientifi

Random Network Models and Quantum Phase Transitions in Two Dimensions

An overview of the random network model invented by Chalker and Coddington, and its generalizations, is provided. After a short introduction into the physics of the Integer Quantum Hall Effect, which historically has been the motivation for introducing the network model, the percolation model for electrons in spatial dimension 2 in a strong perpendicular magnetic field and a spatially correlated random potential is described. Based on this, the network model is established, using the concepts of percolating probability amplitude and tunneling. Its localization properties and its behavior at the critical point are discussed including a short survey on the statistics of energy levels and wave function amplitudes. Magneto-transport is reviewed with emphasis on some new results on conductance distributions. Generalizations are performed by establishing equivalent Hamiltonians. In particular, the significance of mappings to the Dirac model and the two dimensional Ising model are discussed. A description of renormalization group treatments is given. The classification of two dimensional random systems according to their symmetries is outlined. This provides access to the complete set of quantum phase transitions like the thermal Hall transition and the spin quantum Hall transition in two dimension. The supersymmetric effective field theory for the critical properties of network models is formulated. The network model is extended to higher dimensions including remarks on the chiral metal phase at the surface of a multi-layer quantum Hall system.Comment: 176 pages, final version, references correcte

Data protection, safeguarding and the protection of children's privacy: exploring local authority guidance on parental photography at school events

Should parents be allowed to take photographs at school events? Media reports suggest that increasingly schools are answering no to this question, either prohibiting or imposing stringent restrictions upon such photography. The legal justifications for such restrictions are, however, unclear. Accordingly, in 2013 freedom of information requests were sent to local education authorities across England, Scotland and Wales, the aim being to determine what advice local education authorities provide to schools in relation to parental photography at school events, and to identify how education authorities’ understandings of the law influence the advice they offer. That research reveals that local education authorities’ understandings of the law vary significantly and that where authorities do not fully appreciate the extent of the legal obligations arising this may have significant repercussions for the children concerned