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

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 figuresMajor 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 figuresThe 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

The prediction of surgical intervention in patients with tubo-ovarian abscess

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) who responded to medical treatment and those who underwent surgical intervention due to medical treatment failure. Electronic medical records were evaluated retrospectively to identify patients who were diagnosed with TOA. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data including white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared between the medical treatment group and the surgical intervention group. Patient age, TOA diameter, WBC count, CRP, and ESR were significantly different between the groups. On multiple regression analysis, significant correlations were identified between age (p = .001), ESR (p = .045), and failure of medical treatment. TOA diameter (p = .065) showed a borderline association with surgical intervention. The risk of needing surgical intervention in TOA patients can be predicted using ESR in addition to age and TOA size as risk factors.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? For patients diagnosed with a tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA), the size of TOA and the patient’s age are helpful for early identification of patients who are likely to need surgical treatment. Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and white blood cell are also associated with the risk of surgical intervention. What do the results of this study add? Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in addition to the size of TOA and the patient’s age is a useful marker in determining whether to undergo surgery in patients with TOA. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? ESR combined with the patient’s age and the size of TOA is clinically useful in predicting the need for early surgical intervention in patients with TOA. Large prospective controlled studies are required to establish relationship between inflammatory markers and the risk of surgical intervention

Functional Profiling and Distribution of the Forest Soil Bacterial Communities Along the Soil Mycorrhizosphere Continuum

An ectomycorrhiza is a multitrophic association between a tree root, an ectomycorrhizal fungus, free-living fungi and the associated bacterial communities. Enzymatic activities of ectomycorrhizal root tips are therefore result of the contribution from different partners of the symbiotic organ. However, the functional potential of the fungus-associated bacterial communities remains unknown. In this study, a collection of 80 bacterial strains randomly selected and isolated from a soil-ectomycorrhiza continuum (oak-Scleroderma citrinum ectomycorrhizas, the ectomycorrhizosphere and the surrounding bulk soil) were characterized. All the bacterial isolates were identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequences as members of the genera Burkholderia, Collimonas, Dyella, Mesorhizobium, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium and Sphingomonas. The bacterial strains were then assayed for beta-xylosidase, beta-glucosidase, N-acetyl-hexosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, cellobiohydrolase, phosphomonoesterase, leucine-aminopeptidase and laccase activities, chitin solubilization and auxin production. Using these bioassays, we demonstrated significant differences in the functional distribution of the bacterial communities living in the different compartments of the soil-ectomycorrhiza continuum. The surrounding bulk soil was significantly enriched in bacterial isolates capable of hydrolysing cellobiose and N-acetylglucosamine. In contrast, the ectomycorrhizosphere appeared significantly enriched in bacterial isolates capable of hydrolysing glucopyranoside and chitin. Notably, chitinase and laccase activities were found only in bacterial isolates belonging to the Collimonas and Pseudomonas genera. Overall, the results suggest that the ectomycorrhizal fungi favour specific bacterial communities with contrasting functional characteristics from the surrounding soil