Differential cross-section measurements of boosted top quarks at s=13\sqrt{s} = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Differential cross-section measurements of highly boosted top quarks are presented. The dataset used has an integrated luminosity of $3.2$ fb$^{-1}$, recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in 2015. Events are selected in the lepton + jets channel, containing one isolated lepton and a large radius jet that is identified as originating from a top quark using substructure tagging techniques. The measured transverse momentum and absolute rapidity distributions are unfolded to remove detector effects and compared to a range of Monte Carlo simulations. The transverse momentum distribution shows that all Monte Carlo generators used predict a harder spectrum than observed in data, while the rapidity distribution agrees well between MC and data.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, Top201

Keynote Speaker: Taking Charge of Our Energy Future

Keynote Address: Taking Charge of Our Energy Future Introductions: George Tyson, General Chairman Speaker: Dr. James M. Fenton, Director Florida Solar Energy Cente

The Pancasila Ideological Direction Bill (RUU‐HIP):A Missed Opportunity?

Indonesia faces a number of acute developmental challenges, hence, there is a need for evidence‐based policies to address a range of socio‐political issues. This article examines the rise and fall of an ill‐fated bill introduced into parliament in 2020 (the “RUU‐HIP”) which sought to reshape the nation’s understanding of the state philosophy, Pancasila, while promoting “policy based on national science and technology.” The article argues that Pancasila, which mandates “Belief in the One and Only God” as its first tenet, has a number of unintended and damaging consequences; it limits freedom of religion and thought; bolsters the position of powerful mainstream religious organisations; contributes to extremist, marginalising religious stances; and acts as a potent and pervasive barrier to innovation at all levels of social and political life. As a lens through which to view Indonesia’s national ideology, the article examines the RUU‐HIP and takes account of the historical roots of the state ideology and the pivotal role of its main progenitor, Soekarno. It examines some of the deleterious effects of Pancasila outlined above and concludes that the first sila, along with a controversial Blasphemy Law, ought to be amended and repealed respectively, to allow for greater freedom of religion and thought. The article concludes that while amending Pancasila may, contrary to prevailing legal thought, be theoretically possible, in the current socio‐political climate this would be unthinkable for most Indonesians

Change and Continuity in Indonesian Islamist Ideology and Terrorist Strategies

The “Islamisation” of Indonesia has exerted a transformative force on every aspect of Indonesian society. That process continues today. It has created streams of change and continuity in thoughts, ideologies and practices, of enormous complexity. Strict doctrinal interpretation of Koranic text is not a new phenomenon, contrary to what some reports in the mass media might suggest. Its roots stretch back at least as far as the 1800s with the outbreak of violent conflicts between those urging a stricter, scripturalist application of Islam, and those adhering to traditionalist and colonialist ideologies --culminating in the Padri war of West Sumatra of 1821-38. Indicating an ostensible continuity of ideology, modern extremist ideologues, such as Abu Bakar Bashir, urge their followers toward violent conflict and terrorist actions based on an ideology of strict “Middle Eastern” interpretation of fundamental Islamic tenets. This paper argues that the strategies of those carrying out radical and violent ideologies are undergoing change, as are the strategies of the authorities tasked with combating them. Radical groups have displayed a shift away from large-scale, attacks on symbolic foreign targets towards low-level violence primarily aimed at law enforcement authorities. Authorities, on the other hand, have shown a greater tendency to shoot dead those suspected of involvement with violent radical groups. This paper will examine the changing strategies of violent radical groups and the continuity, and evolution, of the underlying Islamic ideology that provides religious justification for their violent acts. The paper will argue that engaging Indonesia’s politically active youth in an ideological dialogue on Islamism and democracy provides the best prospect for disengagement from, and breaking the cycle of recruitment for, radical violence and terrorism.[Proses panjang Islamisasi di Indonesia telah menghasilkan kekuatan transformatif di seluruh aspek kehidupan masyarakat Indonesia. Proses ini terus berlangsung hingga sekarang serta menciptakan gelombang perubahan berkesinambungan dalam pemikiran, ideologi, dan praktik-praktik dalam kompleksitas yang rumit. Penafsiran kaku atas ayat-ayat Quran sebenarnya bukanlah sesuatu yang baru, berbeda dengan apa yang selama ini diasumsikan di media. Fenomena seperti ini dapat dirunut kembali pada era 1800an, khususnya pada konflik bersenjata yang terjadi antara penganjur penerapan tekstual ajaran Islam dengan para penganut ideologi tradisional dan penjajah, yang berpuncak pada Perang Padri di Sumatra Barat tahun 1821-38. Dengan ideologi serupa, para ideolog modern dari kelompok garis keras, seperti Abu Bakar Bashir, mendorong pengikutnya untuk melakukan aksi kekerasan dan teror dengan mendasarkan diri pada ideologi ala Timur Tengah dengan penafsiran dasar-dasar Islam secara kaku. Tulisan ini mendalilkan bahwa strategi kelompok yang mengusung ideologi radikal dan kekerasan terus mengalami perubahan seiring perubahan strategi penguasa dalam menghadapi mereka. Strategi kelompok radikal telah berubah dari penyerangan berskala besar terhadap simbol-simbol asing bergeser pada kekerasan berskala kecil terutama pada persoalan penerapan hukum. Pemerintah, di sisi lain, cenderung mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap mereka yang diduga terlibat kekerasan kelompok radikal. Tulisan ini juga melihat perubahan-perubahan dan kesinambungan strategi dari kelompok radikal serta evolusi ideologi Islam yang menjustifikasi aksi-aksi kekerasan. Kesimpulan lainnya adalah bahwa keterlibatan kalangan muda dalam kegiatan dialog mengenai Islam dan demokrasi menjadikan mereka terhindar sekaligus memutus rantai rekrutmen gerakan radikal dan terorisme.

Inflammatory cytokines, endothelial function and cardiac allograft vasculopathy in children: an investigation of the donor and recipient vasculature after heart transplantation

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) limits the life span of paediatric heart transplant recipients. I investigated blood markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and damage to both the native and transplanted vasculature in children after heart transplantation. Serum samples were taken from paediatric heart transplant recipients for markers of inflammation and endothelial activation. The presence of systemic inflammation was assessed using serum markers including interleukin (IL) 1beta, IL 6, IL 8, c reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, an increase signifying the presence of a general inflammatory state. In order to assess endothelial activation measurements of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, P selectin and E selectin were taken. Each of these molecules belongs to a family of cell adhesion molecules present on the surface of endothelial cells. They are responsible for the adhesion of white blood cells and platelets to the endothelial surface and are markers of increased endothelial activation. Investigation into thrombotic mechanisms was determined by measuring Tissue Factor (TF), an important component of the coagulation cascade, von Willebrand Factor(vWF), an important protein involved in binding platelets to the site of endothelial injury and Thrombomodulin (TM), a protein involved in controlling excessive coagulation through natural anticoagulant properties and preventing inflammation. IL 10 is a cytokine with many effects on regulating the immune system and inflammation, acting to down regulate inflammation and moderating the immune response. Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) regulates the migration and adhesion of monocytes and macrophages to atherosclerotic plaques and is present as part of a proinflammatory response. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in regulating angiogenesis, vascular permeability and inflammation and is a candidate protein involved in the development of atherosclerosis amongst other vascualar disorders. The systemic vasculature was investigated using brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation and carotid artery intima-medial hyperplasia. CAV was investigated using intravascular ultrasound. Mean intima-media thickness (mIMT) > 0.5mm was used to define significant CAV. 48 children (25 male) aged 8 to 18 years were enrolled in the study. Patients were a median (IQR) 4.1 (2.2 to 8.7) years after transplant. Patients had increased levels of circulating IL 6 (3.86 (2.84-4.95) vs 1.66 (1.22-2.63), p < 0.0001*), VCAM1 (539(451-621) vs 402(342-487), p<0.001*), ICAM1 305(247-346) vs 256(224- 294), p=0.002* and TM (7.1(5.5-8.1) vs 3.57(3.03-4.71,) p<0.0001*) and decreased levels of TNF alpha, E selectin and P selectin, compared with controls. The systemic vasculature was unaffected. Patients with severe CAV had raised serum von Willebrand factor and decreased serum TM. Post-transplant TM levels are elevated after transplant but significantly lower in those with mIMT > 0.5mm. TM is a protein bound to the endothelium that moderates the deleterious effects of inflammation, coagulopathy and fibrosis. vWF supports platelet to platelet adhesion and is involved in the stabilisation of clots in response to injury. This suggests that subclinical inflammation is present and natural anticoagulant/TM activity is an important area for future transplant research into CAV. This is the first time that the protective role of TM has been identified in a clinical cohort of children after heart transplantation

Examining Indonesian Terror Tactics: Characterizing Attacks on Indonesian Police

Strategies of Indonesian jihadist groups have undergone significant change over the last five years, away from high-cost, planned, and lethal bomb attacks on symbolic foreign targets such as embassies, hotels, and tourist destinations, in favor of domestic targets, notably assassinations of Indonesian police officers. In the past five years, over twenty police officers have been killed in attacks believed to be linked to jihadist groups. This paper explores issues relating to this shift, and whether the assassinations ought to be regarded as “terrorist” in nature This, in turn, raises the question of whether those responsible ought to be prosecuted for terrorism or for other crimes under Indonesia’s Criminal Code. The paper examines the relevant provisions of Indonesia’s anti-terrorism legislation and international law and suggests that, arguably, where an attack fails to cause terror as a matter of fact, logically and legally, it ought not be regarded as terrorism. However, in the wider context of striving to overturn the Indonesian government and establish an Islamic state, violent actions connected to Indonesian and international terrorist cells ought to be regarded as terrorist crimes. Ultimately, the question needs to be considered and settled by a higher Indonesian court, such as the Supreme Court or the Constitutional Court