With the observation of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, interest has risen in models of PeV-mass decaying dark matter particles to explain the observed flux. ...We present two dedicated experimental analyses to test this hypothesis. One analysis uses 6 years of IceCube data focusing on muon neutrino ‘track’ events from the Northern Hemisphere, while the second analysis uses 2 years of ‘cascade’ events from the full sky. Known background components and the hypothetical flux from unstable dark matter are fitted to the experimental data. Since no significant excess is observed in either analysis, lower limits on the lifetime of dark matter particles are derived: we obtain the strongest constraint to date, excluding lifetimes shorter than
10
28
s
at 90% CL for dark matter masses above
10
TeV
.
A
bstract
Non-standard interactions of neutrinos arising in many theories beyond the Standard Model can significantly alter matter effects in atmospheric neutrino propagation through the Earth. In ...this paper, a search for deviations from the prediction of the standard 3-flavour atmospheric neutrino oscillations using the data taken by the ANTARES neutrino telescope is presented. Ten years of atmospheric neutrino data collected from 2007 to 2016, with reconstructed energies in the range from ∼16 GeV to 100 GeV, have been analysed. A log-likelihood ratio test of the dimensionless coefficients
ε
μτ
and
ε
ττ
−
ε
μμ
does not provide clear evidence of deviations from standard interactions. For normal neutrino mass ordering, the combined fit of both coefficients yields a value 1.7
σ
away from the null result. However, the 68% and 95% confidence level intervals for
ε
μτ
and
ε
ττ
−
ε
μμ
, respectively, contain the null value. Best fit values, one standard deviation errors and bounds at the 90% confidence level for these coefficients are given for both normal and inverted mass orderings. The constraint on
ε
μτ
is among the most stringent to date and it further restrains the strength of possible non-standard interactions in the
μ − τ
sector.
The Cherenkov Telescope Array and the KM3NeT neutrino telescopes are major upcoming facilities in the fields of
γ
-ray and neutrino astronomy, respectively. Possible simultaneous production of
γ
rays ...and neutrinos in astrophysical accelerators of cosmic-ray nuclei motivates a combination of their data. We assess the potential of a combined analysis of CTA and KM3NeT data to determine the contribution of hadronic emission processes in known Galactic
γ
-ray emitters, comparing this result to the cases of two separate analyses. In doing so, we demonstrate the capability of
Gammapy
, an open-source software package for the analysis of
γ
-ray data, to also process data from neutrino telescopes. For a selection of prototypical
γ
-ray sources within our Galaxy, we obtain models for primary proton and electron spectra in the hadronic and leptonic emission scenario, respectively, by fitting published
γ
-ray spectra. Using these models and instrument response functions for both detectors, we employ the
Gammapy
package to generate pseudo data sets, where we assume 200 h of CTA observations and 10 years of KM3NeT detector operation. We then apply a three-dimensional binned likelihood analysis to these data sets, separately for each instrument and jointly for both. We find that the largest benefit of the combined analysis lies in the possibility of a consistent modelling of the
γ
-ray and neutrino emission. Assuming a purely leptonic scenario as input, we obtain, for the most favourable source, an average expected 68% credible interval that constrains the contribution of hadronic processes to the observed
γ
-ray emission to below 15%.
KM3NeT/ARCA is a Cherenkov neutrino telescope under construction in the Mediterranean sea, optimised for the detection of astrophysical neutrinos with energies above ∼1 TeV. In this work, using Monte ...Carlo simulations including all-flavour neutrinos, the integrated and differential sensitivities for KM3NeT/ARCA are presented considering the case of a diffuse neutrino flux as well as extended and point-like neutrino sources. This analysis is applied to Starburst Galaxies demonstrating that the detector has the capability of tracing TeV neutrinos from these sources. Remarkably, after eight years, a hard power-law spectrum from the nearby Small Magellanic Cloud can be constrained. The sensitivity and discovery potential for NGC 1068 is also evaluated showing that KM3NeT/ARCA will discriminate between different astrophysical components of the measured neutrino flux after 3 years of data taking.
Hand luggage in the train toilet Loth, M; Molenbroek, J F M; van Eijk, D J
Work,
01/2018, Letnik:
59, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The train toilet can form a barrier for those wishing to travel by train as it is perceived as being dirty, and therefore its use as being unpleasant. In addition, Dutch train toilet users have the ...additional issue of storing their hand luggage in the toilet's confined spaceOBJECTIVE:In this article, we examine the issue of Dutch travelers with hand luggage in relation to their use of train toilets. We investigate the type of hand luggage train travelers have with them and lastly, we study what travelers do with their hand luggage when using the toilet.
As part of an overarching study, we asked two specific questions on what travelers do with their hand luggage in a train toilet environment, followed by 22 observations from observational research.
In the questionnaire, train travelers reported that bringing hand luggage into the train toilet is a problem because of the lack of storage space, and their fear of losing their seat. From the observational research, we noted that the participants mainly held their hand luggage on their bodies, and to a lesser extent, they placed it on the floor of the train toilet itself. None of the 22 participants used the hook to hang up their bag and/ or their coat.
Travelers need a facility in the train toilet to store their hand luggage. Women have a stronger need for this than men, as they almost always carry an item with them. In addition, they use the toilet in hovering position or seated, with their backs to the wall, so they have limited space to store hand luggage on their backs or shoulders as men do. Most participants kept their hand luggage at a distance from the bowl, and the majority kept it off the floor (14 of the 22) because they were aware of the hygiene. The positioning of the coat/luggage hook at 1840 mm above the floor was considered to be too high, out of people's comfort area.
•For falls and delirium, work-as-done differed from work-as-imagined (guidelines).•Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) can be used to design CDSSs.•FRAM helped to identify CDSS preferences ...and to present CDSS in the workflow.•CDSS opportunities addressed barriers and facilitators for guideline implementation.
Falls and delirium are common complications in older inpatients. Implementation of fall and delirium guidelines is complex and may be facilitated by Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs). Our study aimed to understand the differences between guidelines (work-as-imagined) and actual care (work-as-done) and how these can impact the design of a CDSS.
We used Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) as structured method to visualize work-as-imagined and work-as-done and to develop an initial CDSS design. As input for work-as-imagined, we used national guidelines. To identify work-as-done and CDSS preferences, we conducted semi-structured interviews in two rounds. We identified differences between guidelines and actual care by creating a FRAM model for work-as-imagined and one for work-as-done. CDSS preferences were coupled to activities in the FRAM models and to the identified barriers and facilitators for following guidelines.
Eighteen clinicians participated in 24 individual and small-group interviews. For both falls and delirium, we found substantial differences between work-as-imagined and work-as-done. Several CDSS opportunities to improve fall and delirium care were identified including reminders for screening, an order set to facilitate risk assessment, automatically-generated advice with personalized preventive interventions and support to facilitate medication reviews. The required CDSSs addressed both barriers and facilitators.
In our study, work-as-done for falls and delirium differed substantially from work-as-imagined and the preferred CDSSs would address both barriers and facilitators. Furthermore, our study showed that FRAM is a suitable tool to identify differences between actual care and guidelines and to design CDSSs from a user-centred approach.
The use of hand tools can lead to accidents, overexertion injuries and discomfort. So, there is certainly room for better-designed hand tools, especially hand tools that contribute to better ...performance. In the literature, the benefits of a participative product design approach are clearly shown. However, the effect of this approach is hardly ever measured at the hand tool performance level.
The goal of this project was to study the effect of a participative product design process on indicators of health, performance and comfort.
Two sets of screwdrivers were tested. One set was developed by a participative product design approach and the control by a traditional approach.
The study indicates positive effects of the participative approach. Some indicators for health and safety (discomfort in the hand and blisters) were significantly better for the test set compared with the control set. The effect on productivity is clearly shown (16% higher productivity) and the positive effects on comfort are also shown.
It is discussed that it is plausible that in the long run some of the effects found in this study would still be seen under real working conditions, but long-term effects on health and safety still need to be studied.
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