Absorbing systematic effects to obtain a better background model in a search for new physics

This paper presents a novel approach to estimate the Standard Model backgrounds based on modifying Monte Carlo predictions within their systematic uncertainties. The improved background model is obtained by altering the original predictions with successively more complex correction functions in signal-free control selections. Statistical tests indicate when sufficient compatibility with data is reached. In this way, systematic effects are absorbed into the new background model. The same correction is then applied on the Monte Carlo prediction in the signal region. Comparing this method to other background estimation techniques shows improvements with respect to statistical and systematical uncertainties. The proposed method can also be applied in other fields beyond high energy physics

Quantitative study of valence and configuration interaction parameters of the Kondo semiconductors CeM2Al10 (M = Ru, Os and Fe) by means of bulk-sensitive hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The occupancy of the 4f^n contributions in the Kondo semiconductors CeM2Al10(M = Ru, Os and Fe) has been quantitatively determined by means of bulk-sensitive hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) on the Ce 3d core levels. Combining a configuration interaction scheme with full multiplet calculations allowed to accurately describe the HAXPES data despite the presence of strong plasmon excitations in the spectra. The configuration interaction parameters obtained from this analysis -- in particular the hybridization strength V_eff and the effective f binding energy Delta_f -- indicate a slightly stronger exchange interaction in CeOs2Al10 compared to CeRu2Al10, and a significant increase in CeFe2Al10. This verifies the coexistence of a substantial amount of Kondo screening with magnetic order and places the entire CeM2Al10 family in the region of strong exchange interactions.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Physical Review

On how personal values and sustainability conceptions impact students’ sustainability management orientation: evidence from Germany, Indonesia, and the USA

Purpose This study develops and empirically tests a framework on how personal values and sustainability conceptions affect students’ sustainability management orientation (SMO). An understanding of this connection gives insight into the question whether students are likely to engage in sustainable business practices in their future work. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional and comparative research design is employed, using survey data of business students from Germany, Indonesia, and the United States (N=475). The proposed mediation models are tested by bootstrap procedures using Hayes’s (2013) PROCESS macro for SPSS. Findings Self-transcendence values translate into more nuanced sustainability conceptions since individuals with self-transcendence values are more likely to conceptualize sustainability beyond their own (narrow) self-interests. In turn, the stronger individuals’ sustainability conceptions, the higher the likelihood that they prefer sustainable management practices in their future professional working field. Research limitations/implications Implications arise for researchers to investigate the engagement of future managers with different personal value types in sustainability practices and to gain insights into values and sustainability conceptions as a learning outcome. Limitations of this research—for instance, arising from potential common method bias—are discussed. Practical implications The findings point to the need to (re-)design appointment processes for management positions in a way that allows taking into account individuals’ personal values and sustainability conceptions. This research may also help firms and higher education institutions to empower their workforce/students to develop more integrated perspectives on sustainability challenges as well as teaching methods that address students’ effective learning outcomes, e.g. their values. Originality/value The paper offers a new framework and a cross-country perspective on psychological antecedents of individuals’ sustainability management orientation as an important prerequisite for responsible behavior in the business context

CeRu4_4Sn6_6: a strongly correlated material with nontrivial topology

Topological insulators form a novel state of matter that provides new opportunities to create unique quantum phenomena. While the materials used so far are based on semiconductors, recent theoretical studies predict that also strongly correlated systems can show non-trivial topological properties, thereby allowing even the emergence of surface phenomena that are not possible with topological band insulators. From a practical point of view, it is also expected that strong correlations will reduce the disturbing impact of defects or impurities, and at the same increase the Fermi velocities of the topological surface states. The challenge is now to discover such correlated materials. Here, using advanced x-ray spectroscopies in combination with band structure calculations, we infer that CeRu$_4$Sn$_6$ is a strongly correlated material with non-trivial topology.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Scientific Report

Optimal control theory for unitary transformations

The dynamics of a quantum system driven by an external field is well described by a unitary transformation generated by a time dependent Hamiltonian. The inverse problem of finding the field that generates a specific unitary transformation is the subject of study. The unitary transformation which can represent an algorithm in a quantum computation is imposed on a subset of quantum states embedded in a larger Hilbert space. Optimal control theory (OCT) is used to solve the inversion problem irrespective of the initial input state. A unified formalism, based on the Krotov method is developed leading to a new scheme. The schemes are compared for the inversion of a two-qubit Fourier transform using as registers the vibrational levels of the $X^1\Sigma^+_g$ electronic state of Na$_2$. Raman-like transitions through the $A^1\Sigma^+_u$ electronic state induce the transitions. Light fields are found that are able to implement the Fourier transform within a picosecond time scale. Such fields can be obtained by pulse-shaping techniques of a femtosecond pulse. Out of the schemes studied the square modulus scheme converges fastest. A study of the implementation of the $Q$ qubit Fourier transform in the Na$_2$ molecule was carried out for up to 5 qubits. The classical computation effort required to obtain the algorithm with a given fidelity is estimated to scale exponentially with the number of levels. The observed moderate scaling of the pulse intensity with the number of qubits in the transformation is rationalized.Comment: 32 pages, 6 figure

Singlet magnetism in intermetallic UGa2_2 unveiled by inelastic x-ray scattering

Using high resolution tender-x-ray resonant inelastic scattering and hard-x-ray non-resonant inelastic scattering beyond the dipole limit we were able to detect electronic excitations in intermetallic UGa$_2$ that are highly atomic in nature. Analysis of the spectral lineshape reveals that the local $5f^2$ configuration characterizes the correlated nature of this ferromagnet. The orientation and directional dependence of the spectra indicate that the ground state is made of the $\Gamma_1$ singlet and/or $\Gamma_6$ doublet symmetry. With the ordered moment in the $ab$ plane, we infer that the magnetism originates from the higher lying $\Gamma_6$ doublet being mixed with the $\Gamma_1$ singlet due to inter-site exchange, qualifying UGa$_2$ to be a true quantum magnet. The ability to observe atomic excitations is crucial to resolve the on-going debate about the degree of localization versus itineracy in U intermetallics.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Spectroscopic evidence of Kondo-induced quasi-quartet in CeRh2_2As2_2

CeRh$_2$As$_2$ is a new multiphase superconductor with strong suggestions for an additional itinerant multipolar ordered phase. The modeling of the low temperature properties of this heavy fermion compound requires a quartet Ce$^{3+}$ crystal-field ground state. Here we provide the evidence for the formation of such a quartet state using x-ray spectroscopy. Core-level photoelectron and x-ray absorption spectroscopy confirm the presence of Kondo hybridization in CeRh$_2$As$_2$. The temperature dependence of the linear dichroism unambiguously reveils the impact of Kondo physics for coupling the Kramer's doublets into an effective quasi-quartet. Non-resonant inelastic x-ray scattering data find that the $|\Gamma_7^- \rangle$ state with its lobes along the 110 direction of the tetragonal structure ($xy$ orientation) contributes most to the multi-orbital ground state of CeRh$_2$As$_2$.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Novel hepatoselective insulin analog

Cel pracy. Zbadanie, czy tyroksylowy analog insuliny z ograniczonym dostępem do receptora w tkankach obwodowych wykazuje względnie wybiórcze powinowactwo do wątroby u ludzi. MATERIAŁ i metody. Pięć zdrowych osób otrzymywało podskórnie Na B1L-thyroksyl-insulinę (B1-T4-Ins) lub insulinę NPH w przypadkowej kolejności. Posługując się metodą klamry euglikemicznej i rozcieńczania znacznika izotopowego([D-6,6-2H2] glukozy), badano kinetykę insuliny oraz jej względny wpływ na wątrobową produkcję i obwodowy wychwyt glukozy. Pobierano próbki krwi w celu oznaczenia całkowitego stężenia insuliny immunoreaktywnej (bądź jej analogu) oraz w celu określenia stopnia wiązania analogu insuliny z białkami krwi, który badano metodą chromatografii cieczowej. Wyniki. Po podskórnym podaniu B1-T4-Ins była dobrze tolerowana i szybko wchłaniana. Analog cechował się długim czasem półtrwania w surowicy oraz wysokim stopniem wiązania (ok. 86%) z białkami. Jego czas działania, mierzony czasem wlewu glukozy niezbędnym do utrzymania euglikemii, był podobny do czasu działania insuliny NPH. Wpływ analogu na wątrobową produkcję glukozy był podobny do wpływu insuliny NPH, co wskazuje na podobny stopień oddziaływania. Analog w mniejszym stopniu działał na obwodowy wychwyt insuliny w porównaniu z insuliną NPH (p = 0,025), nie wpływał na szybkość przemian metabolicznych glukozy oraz wykazywał zmniejszoną zdolność do hamowania lipolizy (p < 0,05). Wnioski. U osób zdrowych B1-T4-Ins po podaniu podskórnym jest dobrze tolerowana, szybko się wchłania i ma wysoki stopień związania z białkami krwi, co odpowiada za długi czas połowicznego zaniku w surowicy. Analog ten wydaje się bardziej wybiórczy w oddziaływaniu na komórki wątroby, a zatem potencjalnie ma bardziej fizjologiczny profil działania w porównaniu z dotychczas stosowanymi preparatami insuliny.OBJECTIVE. To test whether a thyroxyl-insulin analog with restricted access to receptor sites in peripheral tissues displays relative hepatoselectivity in humans. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS. Five normal human subjects received a subcutaneous bolus injection of either N B1 L-thyroxyl-insulin (B1-T4-Ins) or NPH insulin in random order. Insulin kinetics, relative effects on hepatic glucose production, and peripheral glucose uptake were studied using euglycemic clamp and stable isotope [D-6,6-2H2]glucose) dilution techniques. Blood samples were taken for the determination of total immunoreactive insulin/analog concentrations and for liquid chromatography to assess the protein binding of the analog in the circulation. RESULTS. After subcutaneous administration, B1-T4-Ins was well tolerated and rapidly absorbed. The analog had a long serum half-life and was highly protein bound (~86%). Its duration of action, as judged by the duration of infusion of exogenous glucose to maintain euglycemia, was similar to that of NPH insulin. The effect of the analogs on hepatic glucose production was similar to that of NPH insulin, indicating equivalent hepatic potency. The analog demonstrated less effect on peripheral glucose uptake than NPH insulin (P = 0,025), had no effect on metabolic clearance rate of glucose, and exhibited a reduced capacity to inhibit lipolysis (P < 0,05). CONCLUSIONS. When injected subcutaneously into normal human subjects, B1-T4-Ins is well tolerated, quickly absorbed, and highly protein bound, resulting in a long plasma half-life. This analog appears to have a hepatoselective action, and, therefore, has the potential to provide more physiological insulin action than the insulin preparations currently used

Measurement of the quasi-elastic axial vector mass in neutrino-oxygen interactions

The weak nucleon axial-vector form factor for quasi-elastic interactions is determined using neutrino interaction data from the K2K Scintillating Fiber detector in the neutrino beam at KEK. More than 12,000 events are analyzed, of which half are charged-current quasi-elastic interactions nu-mu n to mu- p occurring primarily in oxygen nuclei. We use a relativistic Fermi gas model for oxygen and assume the form factor is approximately a dipole with one parameter, the axial vector mass M_A, and fit to the shape of the distribution of the square of the momentum transfer from the nucleon to the nucleus. Our best fit result for M_A = 1.20 \pm 0.12 GeV. Furthermore, this analysis includes updated vector form factors from recent electron scattering experiments and a discussion of the effects of the nucleon momentum on the shape of the fitted distributions.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, 6 table

Measurement of Branching Fraction and Dalitz Distribution for B0->D(*)+/- K0 pi-/+ Decays

We present measurements of the branching fractions for the three-body decays B0 -> D(*)-/+ K0 pi^+/-$and their resonant submodes$B0 -> D(*)-/+ K*+/- using a sample of approximately 88 million BBbar pairs collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric energy storage ring. We measure: B(B0->D-/+ K0 pi+/-)=(4.9 +/- 0.7(stat) +/- 0.5 (syst)) 10^{-4} B(B0->D*-/+ K0 pi+/-)=(3.0 +/- 0.7(stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) 10^{-4} B(B0->D-/+ K*+/-)=(4.6 +/- 0.6(stat) +/- 0.5 (syst)) 10^{-4} B(B0->D*-/+ K*+/-)=(3.2 +/- 0.6(stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) 10^{-4} From these measurements we determine the fractions of resonant events to be : f(B0-> D-/+ K*+/-) = 0.63 +/- 0.08(stat) +/- 0.04(syst) f(B0-> D*-/+ K*+/-) = 0.72 +/- 0.14(stat) +/- 0.05(syst)Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures submitted to Phys. Rev. Let