The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure

Principles of Microeconomics - Scarcity and Social Provisioning

Principles of Microeconomics: Scarcity and Social Provisioning takes a pluralistic approach to the standard topics of an introductory microeconomics course. The text builds on the chiefly neoclassical material of the OpenStax Principles of Economics text, adding extensive content from heterodox economic thought. Emphasizing the importance of pluralism and critical thinking, the text presents the method and theory of neoclassical economics alongside critiques thereof and heterodox alternatives in both method and theory. This approach is taken from the outset of the text, where contrasting definitions of economics are discussed in the context of the various ways in which neoclassical and heterodox economists study the subject. The same approach–of theory and method, critique, and alternative theory theory and method–is taken in the study of consumption, production, and market exchange, as well as in the applied theory chapters. Historical and contemporary examples are given throughout, and both theory and application are presented with a balanced approach.This textbook will be of interest especially to instructors and students who wish to go beyond the traditional approach to the fundamentals of microeconomic theory, and explore the wider spectrum of economic thought

Intracellular sperm egg interactions

Excel file of raw data associated with Southern et al. 2018 Ecology and Evolution on Intracellular sperm-egg interactions in Drosophil

NIMG-38. QUALITY OF SURGICAL DECISION MAKING FOR PATIENTS WITH A GLIOBLASTOMA IS SIMILAR BETWEEN NEURO-ONCOLOGICAL CARE TEAMS FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE NETHERLANDS

INTRODUCTION The extent of resection is important to improve survival in patients with a glioblastoma. The neurosurgeon’s aim is to maximize the extent of resection, while preserving functional integrity. Standards to aid in patient counselling and guide surgical decision making are nevertheless lacking, hence quality of surgical care might differ between neuro-oncological care teams. In this study we present a novel volumetric method to quantify post-resection residual tumors throughout the brain for patient populations. This allows direct comparison of surgical results between care teams. METHODS All adults with first-time glioblastoma surgery in 2012-2013 in each of two Dutch and one United States tertiary referral centres for neuro-oncological care were included in this study. From each of these patient populations preoperative tumors and postoperative residual disease were segmented on MRI and registered to standard space. Brain maps of tumor and residual tumor locations were constructed for each country. Differences between these brain maps were analysed to explore patient selection and treatment variation. RESULTS This study cohort consisted of 403 patients (the Netherlands: 268; the United States: 135). Of these, 111 tumors were biopsied and 292 resected. Tumor localization maps illustrate established preferential sites for glioblastoma distributions for each cohort, indicating similar patient referral patterns, selection or recruitment. Resection probability maps demonstrate no differential residual tumor localization throughout the brain, indicating similar surgical decision making. Brain maps were reviewed by the care teams and arguments for future decision making were discussed. CONCLUSIONS Brain maps of tumor localization convey important information that can be used to compare neuro-oncological care teams in terms of patient selection. In addition, surgical decision making can be made explicit through resection probability maps. This novel volumetric approach can provide objective arguments for discussions between care teams on the quality of neurosurgical care for patients with a glioblastoma