Observation of Seven Astrophysical Tau Neutrino Candidates with IceCube

We report on a measurement of astrophysical tau neutrinos with 9.7 yr of IceCube data. Using convolutional neural networks trained on images derived from simulated events, seven candidate ν_{τ} events were found with visible energies ranging from roughly 20 TeV to 1 PeV and a median expected parent ν_{τ} energy of about 200 TeV. Considering backgrounds from astrophysical and atmospheric neutrinos, and muons from π^{±}/K^{±} decays in atmospheric air showers, we obtain a total estimated background of about 0.5 events, dominated by non-ν_{τ} astrophysical neutrinos. Thus, we rule out the absence of astrophysical ν_{τ} at the 5σ level. The measured astrophysical ν_{τ} flux is consistent with expectations based on previously published IceCube astrophysical neutrino flux measurements and neutrino oscillations.

Observation of high-energy neutrinos from the Galactic plane

The origin of high-energy cosmic rays, atomic nuclei that continuously impact Earth's atmosphere, is unknown. Because of deflection by interstellar magnetic fields, cosmic rays produced within the Milky Way arrive at Earth from random directions. However, cosmic rays interact with matter near their sources and during propagation, which produces high-energy neutrinos. We searched for neutrino emission using machine learning techniques applied to 10 years of data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. By comparing diffuse emission models to a background-only hypothesis, we identified neutrino emission from the Galactic plane at the 4.5σ level of significance. The signal is consistent with diffuse emission of neutrinos from the Milky Way but could also arise from a population of unresolved point sources.

Evidence for neutrino emission from the nearby active galaxy NGC 1068

A supermassive black hole, obscured by cosmic dust, powers the nearby active galaxy NGC 1068. Neutrinos, which rarely interact with matter, could provide information on the galaxy’s active core. We searched for neutrino emission from astrophysical objects using data recorded with the IceCube neutrino detector between 2011 and 2020. The positions of 110 known gamma-ray sources were individually searched for neutrino detections above atmospheric and cosmic backgrounds. We found that NGC 1068 has an excess of 79 − 20 + 22 neutrinos at tera–electron volt energies, with a global significance of 4.2σ, which we interpret as associated with the active galaxy. The flux of high-energy neutrinos that we measured from NGC 1068 is more than an order of magnitude higher than the upper limit on emissions of tera–electron volt gamma rays from this source.

Search for Unstable Sterile Neutrinos with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory

We present a search for an unstable sterile neutrino by looking for a resonant signal in eight years of atmospheric ν_{μ} data collected from 2011 to 2019 at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Both the (stable) three-neutrino and the 3+1 sterile neutrino models are disfavored relative to the unstable sterile neutrino model, though with p values of 2.8% and 0.81%, respectively, we do not observe evidence for 3+1 neutrinos with neutrino decay. The best-fit parameters for the sterile neutrino with decay model from this study are Δm_{41}^{2}=6.7_{-2.5}^{+3.9}  eV^{2}, sin^{2}2θ_{24}=0.33_{-0.17}^{+0.20}, and g^{2}=2.5π±1.5π, where g is the decay-mediating coupling. The preferred regions of the 3+1+decay model from short-baseline oscillation searches are excluded at 90% C.L.

Strong Constraints on Neutrino Nonstandard Interactions from TeV-Scale ν_{μ} Disappearance at IceCube

We report a search for nonstandard neutrino interactions (NSI) using eight years of TeV-scale atmospheric muon neutrino data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. By reconstructing incident energies and zenith angles for atmospheric neutrino events, this analysis presents unified confidence intervals for the NSI parameter ε_{μτ}. The best-fit value is consistent with no NSI at a p value of 25.2%. With a 90% confidence interval of -0.0041≤ε_{μτ}≤0.0031 along the real axis and similar strength in the complex plane, this result is the strongest constraint on any NSI parameter from any oscillation channel to date.

Search for Relativistic Magnetic Monopoles with Eight Years of IceCube Data

We present an all-sky 90% confidence level upper limit on the cosmic flux of relativistic magnetic monopoles using 2886 days of IceCube data. The analysis was optimized for monopole speeds between 0.750c and 0.995c, without any explicit restriction on the monopole mass. We constrain the flux of relativistic cosmic magnetic monopoles to a level below 2.0×10^{-19}  cm^{-2} s^{-1} sr^{-1} over the majority of the targeted speed range. This result constitutes the most strict upper limit to date for magnetic monopoles with β≳0.8 and up to β∼0.995 and fills the gap between existing limits on the cosmic flux of nonrelativistic and ultrarelativistic magnetic monopoles.

Two-Body Metastable Dissociation of n-Pentane and n-Hexane Triplet Dications in Intense Femtosecond-Laser Fields

Mass spectra of n-pentane and n-hexane ionized through femtosecond-laser pulses were measured using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Fragment ions ejected with large kinetic energies were identified as side peaks in which a two-body dissociation pathway, C₅H₁₂⁺⁺ → C₂H₅⁺ + C₃H₇⁺, was identified for n-pentane, and two for n-hexane, C₆H₁₄⁺⁺ → C₂H₅⁺ + C₄H₉⁺ and C₃H₇⁺ + C₃H₇⁺, based on momentum matching of the fragments. The two-body dissociation pathways were observed when the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser light was perpendicular to the molecular axis. However, when the polarization direction was parallel to the molecular axis or the laser light was circularly polarized, these signals were weak or difficult to identify. These results suggest that the two-body dissociation pathways are caused by nonsequential double ionization (NSDI), which begins with ionization from the π-type second highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO-1) via the laser electric field perpendicular to the molecular axis rather than bonding the σ-type HOMO. Quantum chemical calculations show that the dication has a triplet metastable state with the same formula as the neutral state (i.e., ³[CH₃-(CH₂)_n-CH₃]⁺⁺). Therefore, the relevant two-body dissociation channels open through transition states with the (HOMO)¹(HOMO-1)¹ electron configuration and the estimated kinetic energy release values correlate with those observed.

eV-Scale Sterile Neutrino Search Using Eight Years of Atmospheric Muon Neutrino Data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory

The results of a 3+1 sterile neutrino search using eight years of data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory are presented. A total of 305 735 muon neutrino events are analyzed in reconstructed energy-zenith space to test for signatures of a matter-enhanced oscillation that would occur given a sterile neutrino state with a mass-squared differences between 0.01 and 100  eV^{2}. The best-fit point is found to be at sin^{2}(2θ_{24})=0.10 and Δm_{41}^{2}=4.5  eV^{2}, which is consistent with the no sterile neutrino hypothesis with a p value of 8.0%.

Characteristics of the Diffuse Astrophysical Electron and Tau Neutrino Flux with Six Years of IceCube High Energy Cascade Data

We report on the first measurement of the astrophysical neutrino flux using particle showers (cascades) in IceCube data from 2010-2015. Assuming standard oscillations, the astrophysical neutrinos in this dedicated cascade sample are dominated (∼90%) by electron and tau flavors. The flux, observed in the sensitive energy range from 16 TeV to 2.6 PeV, is consistent with a single power-law model as expected from Fermi-type acceleration of high energy particles at astrophysical sources. We find the flux spectral index to be γ=2.53±0.07 and a flux normalization for each neutrino flavor of ϕ_{astro}=1.66_{-0.27}^{+0.25} at E_{0}=100  TeV, in agreement with IceCube's complementary muon neutrino results and with all-neutrino flavor fit results. In the measured energy range we reject spectral indices γ≤2.28 at ≥3σ significance level. Because of high neutrino energy resolution and low atmospheric neutrino backgrounds, this analysis provides the most detailed characterization of the neutrino flux at energies below ∼100  TeV compared to previous IceCube results. Results from fits assuming more complex neutrino flux models suggest a flux softening at high energies and a flux hardening at low energies (p value ≥0.06). The sizable and smooth flux measured below ∼100  TeV remains a puzzle. In order to not violate the isotropic diffuse gamma-ray background as measured by the Fermi Large Area Telescope, it suggests the existence of astrophysical neutrino sources characterized by dense environments which are opaque to gamma rays.

Time-Integrated Neutrino Source Searches with 10 Years of IceCube Data

This Letter presents the results from pointlike neutrino source searches using ten years of IceCube data collected between April 6, 2008 and July 10, 2018. We evaluate the significance of an astrophysical signal from a pointlike source looking for an excess of clustered neutrino events with energies typically above ∼1  TeV among the background of atmospheric muons and neutrinos. We perform a full-sky scan, a search within a selected source catalog, a catalog population study, and three stacked Galactic catalog searches. The most significant point in the northern hemisphere from scanning the sky is coincident with the Seyfert II galaxy NGC 1068, which was included in the source catalog search. The excess at the coordinates of NGC 1068 is inconsistent with background expectations at the level of 2.9σ after accounting for statistical trials from the entire catalog. The combination of this result along with excesses observed at the coordinates of three other sources, including TXS 0506+056, suggests that, collectively, correlations with sources in the northern catalog are inconsistent with background at 3.3σ significance. The southern catalog is consistent with background. These results, all based on searches for a cumulative neutrino signal integrated over the 10 years of available data, motivate further study of these and similar sources, including time-dependent analyses, multimessenger correlations, and the possibility of stronger evidence with coming upgrades to the detector.

Constraints on Minute-Scale Transient Astrophysical Neutrino Sources

High-energy neutrino emission has been predicted for several short-lived astrophysical transients including gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), core-collapse supernovae with choked jets, and neutron star mergers. IceCube's optical and x-ray follow-up program searches for such transient sources by looking for two or more muon neutrino candidates in directional coincidence and arriving within 100 s. The measured rate of neutrino alerts is consistent with the expected rate of chance coincidences of atmospheric background events and no likely electromagnetic counterparts have been identified in Swift follow-up observations. Here, we calculate generic bounds on the neutrino flux of short-lived transient sources. Assuming an E^{-2.5} neutrino spectrum, we find that the neutrino flux of rare sources, like long gamma-ray bursts, is constrained to <5% of the detected astrophysical flux and the energy released in neutrinos (100 GeV to 10 PeV) by a median bright GRB-like source is <10^{52.5}  erg. For a harder E^{-2.13} neutrino spectrum up to 30% of the flux could be produced by GRBs and the allowed median source energy is <10^{52}  erg. A hypothetical population of transient sources has to be more common than 10^{-5}  Mpc^{-3}  yr^{-1} (5×10^{-8}  Mpc^{-3}  yr^{-1} for the E^{-2.13} spectrum) to account for the complete astrophysical neutrino flux.

Generation and Propagation of MALDI Ion Packets Probed by Sheet-Like Nanosecond UV Laser Light

A sheet-like ultraviolet (UV) probe laser is used to investigate the ejection and propagation of ion packets of matrix CHCA, which are produced by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI). Laser irradiation of the expanding MALDI plume induced photodissociation of the CHCA-related ions, which existed in a sheet-like volume, leading to their absence in their MALDI signal profiles. The MALDI spectra were measured under varying conditions: the temporal delay of the lasers and the distance of the sheet-like probe laser from the MALDI sample surface. It was found that the center of the (CHCA)H⁺ packets were ejected at 46±11 ns after MALDI laser irradiation, while the (CHCA)₂H⁺ packets were ejected at 64±12 ns, regardless of the magnitude of acceleration static high-voltage in 3.5–5.5 kV. This suggests that (CHCA)₂H⁺ is formed by a proton transfer reaction from (CHCA)H⁺ to (CHCA)₂ in the heated condensed phase and/or near the surface. This study represents the first experimental determination of ion ejection time in the MALDI process, which is also applicable to other species in the MALDI plume.

Search for neutrinos from decaying dark matter with IceCube: IceCube Collaboration

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 than10 28 s at 90% CL for dark matter masses above 10 TeV .

Measurement of the ν μ energy spectrum with IceCube-79: IceCube Collaboration

IceCube is a neutrino observatory deployed in the glacial ice at the geographic South Pole. The ν μ energy unfolding described in this paper is based on data taken with IceCube in its 79-string configuration. A sample of muon neutrino charged-current interactions with a purity of 99.5% was selected by means of a multivariate classification process based on machine learning. The subsequent unfolding was performed using the software Truee. The resulting spectrum covers an E ν -range of more than four orders of magnitude from 125 GeV to 3.2 PeV. Compared to the Honda atmospheric neutrino flux model, the energy spectrum shows an excess of more than 1.9 σ in four adjacent bins for neutrino energies E ν ≥ 177.8 TeV . The obtained spectrum is fully compatible with previous measurements of the atmospheric neutrino flux and recent IceCube measurements of a flux of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos.

Detection of Neutral Species in the MALDI Plume Using Femtosecond Laser Ionization: Quantitative Analysis of MALDI-MS Signals Based on a Semiequilibrium Proton Transfer Model

We investigated neutral species in the matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) plume using femtosecond laser ionization spectrometry with simultaneous measurement of the standard MALDI spectrum of the identical MALDI event induced by pulsed UV laser irradiation. The ratio of neutral species in the plume [A]_p/[M]_p (A = phenylalanine (Phe) or alanine (Ala), M = 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB)) was confirmed to be the same as that of the sample mixture in the range of [A]₀/[M]₀ = 4 × 10^-4-1, indicating the validity of the widely adopted approximation [A]_p/[M]_p = [A]₀/[M]₀ in the reaction quotient of the proton transfer reaction MH⁺ + A ⇄ M + AH⁺. An effective parameter representing the extent of thermal equilibrium in the thermal proton transfer model is introduced for the first time. Numerical simulation based on this semiequilibrium model successfully reproduced variations of MALDI signal intensities AH⁺ and MH⁺ with two parameters: the fraction of ionized matrix a ≤ 10^-5 and an effective temperature T = 1200 and 1100 K for Phe/DHB and Ala/DHB systems, respectively. These values show good agreement with those determined previously by different experimental approaches. The extent of thermal equilibrium was determined to be 95% and 98% for Phe/DHB and Ala/DHB systems, respectively, suggesting that the proton transfer reactions almost proceed to their thermal equilibrium.

Constraints on Ultrahigh-Energy Cosmic-Ray Sources from a Search for Neutrinos above 10 PeV with IceCube

We report constraints on the sources of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) above 10^{9}  GeV, based on an analysis of seven years of IceCube data. This analysis efficiently selects very high- energy neutrino-induced events which have deposited energies from 5×10^{5}  GeV to above 10^{11}  GeV. Two neutrino-induced events with an estimated deposited energy of (2.6±0.3)×10^{6}  GeV, the highest neutrino energy observed so far, and (7.7±2.0)×10^{5}  GeV were detected. The atmospheric background-only hypothesis of detecting these events is rejected at 3.6σ. The hypothesis that the observed events are of cosmogenic origin is also rejected at >99% CL because of the limited deposited energy and the nonobservation of events at higher energy, while their observation is consistent with an astrophysical origin. Our limits on cosmogenic neutrino fluxes disfavor the UHECR sources having a cosmological evolution stronger than the star formation rate, e.g., active galactic nuclei and γ-ray bursts, assuming proton-dominated UHECRs. Constraints on UHECR sources including mixed and heavy UHECR compositions are obtained for models of neutrino production within UHECR sources. Our limit disfavors a significant part of parameter space for active galactic nuclei and new-born pulsar models. These limits on the ultrahigh-energy neutrino flux models are the most stringent to date.

Searches for Sterile Neutrinos with the IceCube Detector

The IceCube neutrino telescope at the South Pole has measured the atmospheric muon neutrino spectrum as a function of zenith angle and energy in the approximate 320 GeV to 20 TeV range, to search for the oscillation signatures of light sterile neutrinos. No evidence for anomalous ν_{μ} or ν[over ¯]_{μ} disappearance is observed in either of two independently developed analyses, each using one year of atmospheric neutrino data. New exclusion limits are placed on the parameter space of the 3+1 model, in which muon antineutrinos experience a strong Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein-resonant oscillation. The exclusion limits extend to sin^{2}2θ_{24}≤0.02 at Δm^{2}∼0.3  eV^{2} at the 90% confidence level. The allowed region from global analysis of appearance experiments, including LSND and MiniBooNE, is excluded at approximately the 99% confidence level for the global best-fit value of |U_{e4}|^{2}.

Evidence for Astrophysical Muon Neutrinos from the Northern Sky with IceCube

Results from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory have recently provided compelling evidence for the existence of a high energy astrophysical neutrino flux utilizing a dominantly Southern Hemisphere data set consisting primarily of ν(e) and ν(τ) charged-current and neutral-current (cascade) neutrino interactions. In the analysis presented here, a data sample of approximately 35,000 muon neutrinos from the Northern sky is extracted from data taken during 659.5 days of live time recorded between May 2010 and May 2012. While this sample is composed primarily of neutrinos produced by cosmic ray interactions in Earth's atmosphere, the highest energy events are inconsistent with a hypothesis of solely terrestrial origin at 3.7σ significance. These neutrinos can, however, be explained by an astrophysical flux per neutrino flavor at a level of Φ(E(ν))=9.9(-3.4)(+3.9)×10(-19)  GeV(-1) cm(-2) sr(-1) s(-1)(E(ν)/100  TeV(-2), consistent with IceCube's Southern-Hemisphere-dominated result. Additionally, a fit for an astrophysical flux with an arbitrary spectral index is performed. We find a spectral index of 2.2(-0.2)(+0.2), which is also in good agreement with the Southern Hemisphere result.

Flavor Ratio of Astrophysical Neutrinos above 35 TeV in IceCube

A diffuse flux of astrophysical neutrinos above 100 TeV has been observed at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Here we extend this analysis to probe the astrophysical flux down to 35 TeV and analyze its flavor composition by classifying events as showers or tracks. Taking advantage of lower atmospheric backgrounds for showerlike events, we obtain a shower-biased sample containing 129 showers and 8 tracks collected in three years from 2010 to 2013. We demonstrate consistency with the (fe:fμ:fτ)⊕≈(1:1:1)⊕ flavor ratio at Earth commonly expected from the averaged oscillations of neutrinos produced by pion decay in distant astrophysical sources. Limits are placed on nonstandard flavor compositions that cannot be produced by averaged neutrino oscillations but could arise in exotic physics scenarios. A maximally tracklike composition of (0:1:0)⊕ is excluded at 3.3σ, and a purely showerlike composition of (1:0:0)⊕ is excluded at 2.3σ.

Development of a general analysis and unfolding scheme and its application to measure the energy spectrum of atmospheric neutrinos with IceCube: IceCube Collaboration

We present the development and application of a generic analysis scheme for the measurement of neutrino spectra with the IceCube detector. This scheme is based on regularized unfolding, preceded by an event selection which uses a Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance algorithm to select the relevant variables and a random forest for the classification of events. The analysis has been developed using IceCube data from the 59-string configuration of the detector. 27,771 neutrino candidates were detected in 346 days of livetime. A rejection of 99.9999 % of the atmospheric muon background is achieved. The energy spectrum of the atmospheric neutrino flux is obtained using the TRUEE unfolding program. The unfolded spectrum of atmospheric muon neutrinos covers an energy range from 100 GeV to 1 PeV. Compared to the previous measurement using the detector in the 40-string configuration, the analysis presented here, extends the upper end of the atmospheric neutrino spectrum by more than a factor of two, reaching an energy region that has not been previously accessed by spectral measurements.

Prognosis of arterial aneurysm after surgery in patients with Behçet's disease

AIM

Despite improvements in therapeutic modalities, the treatment of arterial aneurysms complicating Behçet's disease (BD) is still challenging. This study examined the long-term prognosis after surgery for arterial aneurysms in BD.

METHODS

This study included 9 patients with BD (8 men and 1 woman) who underwent surgery for arterial aneurysms between 1989 and 2008. The outcomes after the surgical intervention were assessed, including procedure-related complications and survival.

RESULTS

The initial surgical procedures were performed for aortic or iliac aneurysms in 5 patients and for lower-extremity aneurysms in 4 patients. There was no operative mortality. The mean follow-up period was 135±69 months, ranging from 53 to 259 months. Patients with aortic or iliac aneurysms underwent graft interposition with Dacron prostheses. Their postoperative courses were uneventful, and all patients were alive during the follow-up with no procedure-related complications. Those treated for lower-extremity aneurysms tended to show perioperative and postoperative complications, including aneurysmal degeneration of the autogenous vein graft in 2 patients. One patient who initially underwent surgery for a popliteal artery aneurysm died due to the rupture of a dissecting aortic aneurysm after serial surgical interventions for multiple aneurysms. Concomitant aortic or iliac aneurysms in 2 patients were followed up without any change in size under medical treatment using colchicine and corticosteroids.

CONCLUSION

Although we cannot draw a firm conclusion because of the small number of cases in the present series, graft interposition can lead to a favorable prognosis in BD patients with aortic or iliac aneurysms, whereas surgical treatment of BD-related lower-extremity aneurysms is frequently associated with short- and long-term postoperative complications. Immunosuppressive therapy might possibly improve treatment outcomes.

Observation of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos in three years of IceCube data

A search for high-energy neutrinos interacting within the IceCube detector between 2010 and 2012 provided the first evidence for a high-energy neutrino flux of extraterrestrial origin. Results from an analysis using the same methods with a third year (2012-2013) of data from the complete IceCube detector are consistent with the previously reported astrophysical flux in the 100 TeV-PeV range at the level of 10(-8)  GeV cm-2 s-1 sr-1 per flavor and reject a purely atmospheric explanation for the combined three-year data at 5.7σ. The data are consistent with expectations for equal fluxes of all three neutrino flavors and with isotropic arrival directions, suggesting either numerous or spatially extended sources. The three-year data set, with a live time of 988 days, contains a total of 37 neutrino candidate events with deposited energies ranging from 30 to 2000 TeV. The 2000-TeV event is the highest-energy neutrino interaction ever observed.

Evidence for high-energy extraterrestrial neutrinos at the IceCube detector

We report on results of an all-sky search for high-energy neutrino events interacting within the IceCube neutrino detector conducted between May 2010 and May 2012. The search follows up on the previous detection of two PeV neutrino events, with improved sensitivity and extended energy coverage down to about 30 TeV. Twenty-six additional events were observed, substantially more than expected from atmospheric backgrounds. Combined, both searches reject a purely atmospheric origin for the 28 events at the 4σ level. These 28 events, which include the highest energy neutrinos ever observed, have flavors, directions, and energies inconsistent with those expected from the atmospheric muon and neutrino backgrounds. These properties are, however, consistent with generic predictions for an additional component of extraterrestrial origin.

Fate of the asymptomatic contralateral limb after initial intervention for ipsilateral critical limb ischemia

AIM

In Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Concensus (TASC) II, patients at risk for critical limb ischemia (CLI) without symptoms are termed "chronic subclinical ische mia," but research are still lacking. The objective was to find out whether clinically asymptomatic contralateral limbs at the time of treatment for ipsilateral CLI could be regarded as "chronic subclinical ischemia".

METHODS

Ninety-six patients with CLI who had no symptoms in the contralateral limb were retrospectively reviewed. The symptoms of the contralateral limb after initial intervention for the ipsilateral limb were surveyed. Risk factors for developing CLI and tissue loss were then analyzed.

RESULTS

Five patients (5.2%) became claudicants, 37 patients (38.5%) had symptoms of CLI, and 14 (14.6%) experienced tissue loss during the follow-up period. The overall CLI-free rates at 12, 36, and 60 months were 79.2%, 55.2%, and 45.8%, respectively, while the tissue loss-free rates at 12, 36, and 60 months were 91.3%, 78.8%, and 78.8%, respectively. Risk factor for developing CLI on the contralateral limb was having skin perfusion pressure (SPP) <40 mmHg at the surgery for ipsilateral limb. The presence of SPP <40 mmHg and end stage renal failure with hemodialysis resulted in a significantly high probability of tissue loss.

CONCLUSION

Patients with CLI with an asymptomatic contralateral limb with an SPP value <40 mmHg are at a high risk of developing CLI and tissue loss during the follow-up period. Information on the contralateral limb at initial surgery may help to speculate the fate of the asymptomatic contralateral limb.

Measurement of atmospheric neutrino oscillations with IceCube

We present the first statistically significant detection of neutrino oscillations in the high-energy regime (>20 GeV) from an analysis of IceCube Neutrino Observatory data collected in 2010 and 2011. This measurement is made possible by the low-energy threshold of the DeepCore detector (~20 GeV) and benefits from the use of the IceCube detector as a veto against cosmic-ray-induced muon background. The oscillation signal was detected within a low-energy muon neutrino sample (20-100 GeV) extracted from data collected by DeepCore. A high-energy muon neutrino sample (100 GeV-10 TeV) was extracted from IceCube data to constrain systematic uncertainties. The disappearance of low-energy upward-going muon neutrinos was observed, and the nonoscillation hypothesis is rejected with more than 5σ significance. In a two-neutrino flavor formalism, our data are best described by the atmospheric neutrino oscillation parameters |Δm(32)(2)|=(2.3(-0.5)(+0.6))×10(-3) eV(2) and sin(2)(2θ(23))>0.93, and maximum mixing is favored.

First observation of PeV-energy neutrinos with IceCube

We report on the observation of two neutrino-induced events which have an estimated deposited energy in the IceCube detector of 1.04±0.16 and 1.14±0.17 PeV, respectively, the highest neutrino energies observed so far. These events are consistent with fully contained particle showers induced by neutral-current ν(e,μ,τ) (ν(e,μ,τ)) or charged-current ν(e) (ν(e)) interactions within the IceCube detector. The events were discovered in a search for ultrahigh energy neutrinos using data corresponding to 615.9 days effective live time. The expected number of atmospheric background is 0.082±0.004(stat)(-0.057)(+0.041)(syst). The probability of observing two or more candidate events under the atmospheric background-only hypothesis is 2.9×10(-3) (2.8σ) taking into account the uncertainty on the expected number of background events. These two events could be a first indication of an astrophysical neutrino flux; the moderate significance, however, does not permit a definitive conclusion at this time.

Electronic spectroscopy of the HCCN radical

The Ã(3)A"-X̃(3)Σ(-) electronic transition of the HCCN∕DCCN radical was observed by laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. Rotationally resolved excitation spectra were observed for HCCN and DCCN, and effective molecular constants of the upper state were determined. The observed intensities of the rotational lines were anomalous, probably due to a level-dependent non-radiative decay process in the excited state. Fluorescence depletion spectroscopy was applied in order to observe non-fluorescent vibronic levels. A dispersed fluorescence spectrum was also observed to determine the vibrational level structure in the ground electronic state. The observed vibrational structures in the fluorescence depletion and dispersed fluorescence spectra were tentatively assigned based on the results of ab initio calculations.

Measurement of the atmospheric νe flux in IceCube

We report the first measurement of the atmospheric electron neutrino flux in the energy range between approximately 80 GeV and 6 TeV, using data recorded during the first year of operation of IceCube's DeepCore low-energy extension. Techniques to identify neutrinos interacting within the DeepCore volume and veto muons originating outside the detector are demonstrated. A sample of 1029 events is observed in 281 days of data, of which 496±66(stat)±88(syst) are estimated to be cascade events, including both electron neutrino and neutral current events. The rest of the sample includes residual backgrounds due to atmospheric muons and charged current interactions of atmospheric muon neutrinos. The flux of the atmospheric electron neutrinos is consistent with models of atmospheric neutrinos in this energy range. This constitutes the first observation of electron neutrinos and neutral current interactions in a very large volume neutrino telescope optimized for the TeV energy range.

Search for dark matter annihilations in the sun with the 79-string IceCube detector

We have performed a search for muon neutrinos from dark matter annihilation in the center of the Sun with the 79-string configuration of the IceCube neutrino telescope. For the first time, the DeepCore subarray is included in the analysis, lowering the energy threshold and extending the search to the austral summer. The 317 days of data collected between June 2010 and May 2011 are consistent with the expected background from atmospheric muons and neutrinos. Upper limits are set on the dark matter annihilation rate, with conversions to limits on spin-dependent and spin-independent scattering cross sections of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) on protons, for WIMP masses in the range 20-5000  GeV/c2. These are the most stringent spin-dependent WIMP-proton cross section limits to date above 35  GeV/c2 for most WIMP models.

Middle-term results of endovascular aneurysm repair in Japan: does intraoperative endovascular management against the hostile aneurysmal neck prevent the proximal type I endoleak?

AIM

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) was first approved in Japan in 2007. In order to avoid the learning curve generally seen in the initial stages of implementation, we have aimed for procedural perfection. As the proximal type I endoleak (EL) is associated with a higher risk of late conversion and rupture, so we have treated the intraoperative type I EL scrupulously. The hostile neck, which is known to be a risk for perigraft leakage, is the focus of this study. We showed both the middle-term results of EVAR in our country and the possible necessity of intraoperative management for the hostile neck.

METHODS

From a consecutive series of 134 patients who underwent EVAR of abdominal aortic aneurysms, 129 cases in which contrast agent was used intraoperatively were selected. All cases had at least 12-month follow-up postoperatively (12-40 months). Of the 129 selected cases, 49 cases (37%) that did not fulfill the commercially recommended criteria of the aneurysmal neck (length <15 mm and angle >60° of the aneurysm or >45° of the suprarenal aorta) were assigned to the off-label group. The other 80 cases were assigned to the on-label group. We carefully observed the completion angiography and when we found or suspected a type I EL, we performed a re-touch up, changed to a non-compliant balloon, and used a supportive device, such as a PalmazTM stent or aortic cuffs, in sequence.

RESULTS

No postoperative type I ELs were detected within the follow-up period. Intraoperative type I ELs were detected more frequently in the off-label group (51%) than the on-label group (20%) (P<0.01). The rate of type I EL in the off-label group in terms of the neck length criteria (11/14 cases) was higher than that in the on-label group (30/115 cases) (P<0.01). In terms of the neck angle, patients in the off-label group had a greater tendency to develop the type I EL than those in the on-label group (18/42 vs. 23/87 cases) (P=0.06).

CONCLUSION

Off-label usage regarding aneurysmal neck length and angle tends to be incomplete without additional procedures. Conversely, various techniques, including non-compliant balloon usage and aortic stenting or cuffs, produce good results for the intraoperative type I EL. We found a relationship between the neck condition and the intraoperative type I EL, and showed the importance of strictly obeying our simple algorithm against the proximal type I EL.

Surgical treatment of patients with congenital vascular malformation-associated aneurysms

OBJECTIVES

Aneurysms associated with congenital vascular malformation (CVM) comprise critical complication. We review our experience with extracranial CVM-associated aneurysms and attempt to clarify their clinical features.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The prevalence, site, size and morphology of the accompanying aneurysms of 48 consecutive CVM patients, who were managed at our hospital from 1999 to 2008, were evaluated. After diagnosis or treatment, the patients were followed up, and the recurrence of aneurysms and patient survival were assessed.

RESULTS

CVM-associated aneurysms were found in 14 patients (29%). CVMs were classified according to the Hamburg classification. The patients were classified into groups as follows: four (31%), in the 'predominantly arteriovenous (AV) shunting defect type'; eight (47%), 'combined vascular defects + predominantly AV shunting defects type'; and two (11%), 'combined vascular defects type'. All aneurysms except one situated at the CVM were saccular, whereas nine were fusiform aneurysms; all the ruptured aneurysms and seven out of the nine enlarging aneurysms were saccular. Surgical treatment was performed 8 times in six patients. During the postoperative follow-up period, recurrence and an aneurysm rupture were encountered in one patient each.

CONCLUSION

Aneurysm is not a rare complication of CVM. It is important to treat CVM before the emergency presents. In addition to the treatment for malformation, regular screening for and proper management of the aneurysms in CVM patients are indispensable.

Limits on neutrino emission from gamma-ray bursts with the 40 string IceCube detector

IceCube has become the first neutrino telescope with a sensitivity below the TeV neutrino flux predicted from gamma-ray bursts if gamma-ray bursts are responsible for the observed cosmic-ray flux above 10(18)  eV. Two separate analyses using the half-complete IceCube detector, one a dedicated search for neutrinos from pγ interactions in the prompt phase of the gamma-ray burst fireball and the other a generic search for any neutrino emission from these sources over a wide range of energies and emission times, produced no evidence for neutrino emission, excluding prevailing models at 90% confidence.