Measurement of the longitudinal diffusion of ionization electrons in the MicroBooNE detector

Abstract: Accurate knowledge of electron transport properties is vital to understanding the information provided by liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs). Ionization electron drift-lifetime, local electric field distortions caused by positive ion accumulation, and electron diffusion can all significantly impact the measured signal waveforms. This paper presents a measurement of the effective longitudinal electron diffusion coefficient, DL, in MicroBooNE at the nominal electric field strength of 273.9 V/cm. Historically, this measurement has been made in LArTPC prototype detectors. This represents the first measurement in a large-scale (85 tonne active volume) LArTPC operating in a neutrino beam. This is the largest dataset ever used for this measurement. Using a sample of ∼70,000 through-going cosmic ray muon tracks tagged with MicroBooNE's cosmic ray tagger system, we measure DL = 3.74+0.28 -0.29 cm2/s

SARS-CoV-2-specific nasal IgA wanes 9 months after hospitalisation with COVID-19 and is not induced by subsequent vaccination

BACKGROUND: Most studies of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 focus on circulating antibody, giving limited insights into mucosal defences that prevent viral replication and onward transmission. We studied nasal and plasma antibody responses one year after hospitalisation for COVID-19, including a period when SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was introduced. METHODS: In this follow up study, plasma and nasosorption samples were prospectively collected from 446 adults hospitalised for COVID-19 between February 2020 and March 2021 via the ISARIC4C and PHOSP-COVID consortia. IgA and IgG responses to NP and S of ancestral SARS-CoV-2, Delta and Omicron (BA.1) variants were measured by electrochemiluminescence and compared with plasma neutralisation data. FINDINGS: Strong and consistent nasal anti-NP and anti-S IgA responses were demonstrated, which remained elevated for nine months (p < 0.0001). Nasal and plasma anti-S IgG remained elevated for at least 12 months (p < 0.0001) with plasma neutralising titres that were raised against all variants compared to controls (p < 0.0001). Of 323 with complete data, 307 were vaccinated between 6 and 12 months; coinciding with rises in nasal and plasma IgA and IgG anti-S titres for all SARS-CoV-2 variants, although the change in nasal IgA was minimal (1.46-fold change after 10 months, p = 0.011) and the median remained below the positive threshold determined by pre-pandemic controls. Samples 12 months after admission showed no association between nasal IgA and plasma IgG anti-S responses (R = 0.05, p = 0.18), indicating that nasal IgA responses are distinct from those in plasma and minimally boosted by vaccination. INTERPRETATION: The decline in nasal IgA responses 9 months after infection and minimal impact of subsequent vaccination may explain the lack of long-lasting nasal defence against reinfection and the limited effects of vaccination on transmission. These findings highlight the need to develop vaccines that enhance nasal immunity. FUNDING: This study has been supported by ISARIC4C and PHOSP-COVID consortia. ISARIC4C is supported by grants from the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Medical Research Council. Liverpool Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre provided infrastructure support for this research. The PHOSP-COVD study is jointly funded by UK Research and Innovation and National Institute of Health and Care Research. The funders were not involved in the study design, interpretation of data or the writing of this manuscript

Late-Glacial and Post-Glacial sea level movements in North Wales with particular reference to the techniques for the analysis and interpretation of unconsolidated estuarine sediments

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX87923 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Changes in the vegetation composition of hay meadows between 1993 and 2009 in the Picos de Europa and implications for nature conservation

The Picos de Europa are a range of predominantly Carboniferous Limestone and Sandstone mountains mainly in the Cantabrian region of northern Spain. The highest peaks are precipitous and reach 2600 m. There are complex gradients between Lusitanian, Alpine and Mediterranean environmental zones, as well as variable soil types. In combination with the long history of traditional agricultural management, a wide range of diverse habitats and species is present. The herb-rich hay meadows have long been recognised as having a high nature conservation value but, as elsewhere in European mountains, such grasslands are threatened by changing agricultural practices. Accordingly, in 1993, 92 quadrats were recorded using a restricted list of indicator species from stratified random samples. The authors repeated the sample in 2009. Changed land use had only occurred in approximately 3% of meadows, however, farmyard manure was no longer used, probably because of shortage of labour. Statistical analysis of the vegetation data showed a range of significant changes consistent with the increased use of slurry, as well as re-seeding of some fields. The grass swards had not only become denser, with fewer species present, but there was also a loss of sensitive indicators especially of calcareous conditions and open vegetation. By contrast, competitors had increased and the vegetation had become simpler, with the balance of vegetation types shifting to more nutrient rich conditions. These changes have mainly occurred in the more fertile meadows used for silage. The core of about 35% of herb-rich meadows, mainly cut for hay, has remained relatively stable but the results show that they are at risk if the current trend continues. If management practices that form the core of traditional agriculture are not maintained, one of the most important resources of herb-rich meadows in Europe will be lost

Activation, survival and apoptosis of CD45RO+and CD45RO−T cells of human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals: effects of interleukin-15 and comparison with interleukin-2

HIV infection is associated with increased representation of T cells bearing an activated, memory (CD45RO+) phenotype. Although administration of antiretroviral agents and interleukin-2 (IL-2) augment depleted CD4+ T-cell numbers, such therapies have been preferentially beneficial for CD45RO+ T cells. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) exhibits many biological activities in common with IL-2, including promoting T-cell survival and proliferation. The present study found that these two cytokines differed in their ability to induce proliferation, enhance survival, and control apoptosis of CD45RO+ and CD45RO− T-cell populations of human immunodeficiency- (HIV) infected individuals. When used at equivalent concentrations in vitro, IL-15 was more potent than IL-2 in activating and stimulating proliferation of CD4+CD45RO+, CD8+CD45RO+ and CD8+CD45RO− cells, but failed to be more effective than IL-2 in reducing apoptosis. Poor activation of CD4+CD45RO− cells by IL-15 and to IL-2 appeared to be attributable to low expression of the β receptor chain utilized by both cytokines. However, IL-15 was more effective than IL-2 in enhancing survival of the CD4+CD45RO− population, suggesting a greater protective effect of IL-15 for naive CD4+ T cells, which are preferentially lost in HIV-infected individuals

Anomalous fluctuations in the dynamics of complex systems: from DNA and physiology to econophysics

We discuss examples of complex systems composed of many interacting subsystems. We focus on those systems displaying nontrivial long-range correlations. These include the one-dimensional sequence of base pairs in DNA, the sequence of flight times of the large seabird Wandering Albatross, and the annual fluctuations in the growth rate of business firms. We review formal analogies in the models that describe the observed long-range correlations, and conclude by discussing the possibility that behavior of large numbers of humans (as measured, e.g., by economic indices) might conform to analogs of the scaling laws that have proved useful in describing systems composed of large numbers of inanimate objects