New MACRO results on atmospheric neutrino oscillations

The final results of the MACRO experiment on atmospheric neutrino oscillations are presented and discussed. The data concern different event topologies with average neutrino energies of ~3 and ~50 GeV. Multiple Coulomb Scattering of the high energy muons in absorbers was used to estimate the neutrino energy of each event. The angular distributions, the L/E_nu distribution, the particle ratios and the absolute fluxes all favour nu_mu --> nu_tau oscillations with maximal mixing and Delta m^2 =0.0023 eV^2. A discussion is made on the Monte Carlos used for the atmospheric neutrino flux. Some results on neutrino astrophysics are also briefly discussed.Comment: Invited Paper at the NANP03 Int. Conf., Dubna, 200

The role of relationships in the professional formation of physicians: case report and illustration of an elicitation technique

OBJECTIVE: Studies of physicians\u27 professional development highlight the important effect that the learning environment has in shaping student attitudes, behaviors, and values. The objective of this study was to better understand the interplay among relationships and experiences in mediating the effects of the learning environment. METHODS: We randomly recruited 2nd- and 4th-year students from among volunteers at each of five medical schools. One interviewer at each school conducted a face-to-face, open-ended, semi-structured interview with each student. The interviewers used a method called \u27life-circle diagramming\u27 to direct the student to draw a picture of all of the relationships in his/her life that had an influence on the sort of doctor that each student saw him/herself becoming. Interviews lasted between 60 and 120 min. Using a narrative framework that focuses on elements of students\u27 stories (e.g., setting, characters, plot), we analyzed transcripts through an iterative process of individual reading and group discussion to derive themes and relationships among themes. RESULTS: Twenty students completed interviews. These students are embedded in complex webs of relationships with colleagues, friends, family, role models, patients, and others. Most students entered medical school with formed notions of what they wanted to \u27be like\u27 as physicians. While students generally gravitated toward relationships with like-minded people, their experiences varied, and some students could sense themselves changing as they moved through school. Such changes were often related to important events or issues. The relationships that students found themselves in during the context of these events had an important effect on students\u27 beliefs about what kinds of behaviors and attitudes were possible and desirable in their future practice. CONCLUSIONS: Students proceed through medical school embedded in complex webs of relationships that exert a powerful influence (both positive and negative) on their formation as physicians. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Educational interventions that foster adoption of professional values need to acknowledge the influence of relationships, and assist students to harness and shape relational effects on their growth and development. The life-circle diagramming activity holds potential to promote reflection and self-knowledge, and to provide a foundation for professional growth

Cosmic Ray composition around the knee from EAS electromagnetic and muon data

We report the analysis of the Nε-Nμ, coincident events collected by the MACRO/EAS-TOP collaboration at the Gran Sasso Laboratories. The result points to a primary composition becoming heavier around the knee of the primary spectrum (in the energy region 1015 - 1016 eV). The result is in very good agreement with the measurements of EAS-TOP alone at the surface, wich detects muons with energy Eμ > 1 GeV and uses the same (QGSJET) interaction mode

MACRO results on atmospheric neutrinos

We discuss the final results of the MACRO experiment on atmospheric neutrino oscillations. The data concern event topologies with average neutrino energies of ∼ 3 and ∼ 50 GeV. Multiple Coulomb Scattering of the high energy muons was used to estimate the neutrino energy event by event. The angular distributions, the L/Eν distribution, the particle ratios and the absolute fluxes all favor νμ → ντ oscillations with maximal mixing and Δm2 ≃ 0.0023 eV2. Emphasis is given to measured ratios which are not affected by Monte Carlo (MC) absolute normalization; a discussion is made on MC uncertainties. A preliminary search for possible Lorentz invariance violation contributions to atmospheric neutrino oscillations is presented and discussed. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved