Borexino calibrations: Hardware, Methods, and Results

Borexino was the first experiment to detect solar neutrinos in real-time in the sub-MeV region. In order to achieve high precision in the determination of neutrino rates, the detector design includes an internal and an external calibration system. This paper describes both calibration systems and the calibration campaigns that were carried out in the period between 2008 and 2011. We discuss some of the results and show that the calibration procedures preserved the radiopurity of the scintillator. The calibrations provided a detailed understanding of the detector response and led to a significant reduction of the systematic uncertainties in the Borexino measurements

The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats. Results: We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species. Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms. Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage. Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation. Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits. Conclusions: These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies. Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation

The Borexino detector at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso

Borexino, a large volume detector for low energy neutrino spectroscopy, is currently running underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy. The main goal of the experiment is the real-time measurement of sub MeV solar neutrinos, and particularly of the mono energetic (862 keV) Be7 electron capture neutrinos, via neutrino-electron scattering in an ultra-pure liquid scintillator. This paper is mostly devoted to the description of the detector structure, the photomultipliers, the electronics, and the trigger and calibration systems. The real performance of the detector, which always meets, and sometimes exceeds, design expectations, is also shown. Some important aspects of the Borexino project, i.e. the fluid handling plants, the purification techniques and the filling procedures, are not covered in this paper and are, or will be, published elsewhere (see Introduction and Bibliography).Comment: 37 pages, 43 figures, to be submitted to NI

Mapping the sound field of a 400 seat theater

To what extent does a receiver's location in a room impact what is heard and can that impact be modeled? For this line of study, acoustic parameters of a 400 seat theater were mapped as a function of position at every-seat resolution to quantify the spatial disparity of a sound field. A 1:20 scale model and a ray-tracing software model were then constructed. This study seeks to (1) relate the sound decay rate and pressure level measured at one theater seat to that measured at others, (2) compare the inter-seat sound field maps measured across the frequency spectrum with an eye toward the Schroeder cut-off frequency, and (3) determine the models' reliability in replicating the measured inter-seat variation.Michael. Ermann, M. R. F. Kidner, D. Mennit

The genome sequence of Inga oerstediana Benth.

We present a genome assembly from an individual of Inga oerstediana (Streptophyta; Magnoliopsida; Fabales; Fabaceae). The genome sequence has a total length of 970.60 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial and plastid genome assemblies have lengths of 1,166.81 and 175.18 kilobases, respectively. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 33,334 protein-coding genes

The genome sequence of Inga leiocalycina Benth.

We present a genome assembly from an individual of Inga leiocalycina (Streptophyta; Magnoliopsida; Fabales; Fabaceae). The genome sequence has a total length of 948.00 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The assembled mitochondrial genome sequences have lengths of 1,019.42 and 98.74 kilobases, and the plastid genome assembly is 175.51 kb long. Gene annotation of the nuclear genome assembly on Ensembl identified 33,457 protein-coding genes

Science and technology of BOREXINO: A Real time detector for low-energy solar neutrinos: A Real Time Detector for Low Energy Solar Neutrinos

BOREXINO, a real-time device for low energy neutrino spectroscopy is nearing completion of construction in the underground laboratories at Gran Sasso, Italy (LNGS). The experiment's goal is the direct measurement of the flux of 7Be solar neutrinos of all flavors via neutrino-electron scattering in an ultra-pure scintillation liquid. Seeded by a series of innovations which were brought to fruition by large scale operation of a 4-ton test detector at LNGS, a new technology has been developed for BOREXINO. It enables sub-MeV solar neutrino spectroscopy for the first time. This paper describes the design of BOREXINO, the various facilities essential to its operation, its spectroscopic and background suppression capabilities and a prognosis of the impact of its results towards resolving the solar neutrino problem. BOREXINO will also address several other frontier questions in particle physics, astrophysics and geophysics

ANALYSIS OF LOW-COST UAV PHOTOGRAMMETRY SOLUTIONS FOR BEACH MODELLING AND MONITORING USING THE OPENSOURCE QUANTUM GIS

Coastlines are fundamentally unique features. Their behavioural patterns are predominantly subjects of numerous environmental and engineering studies. With the magnitude of the effects of coastal flooding and erosion, there is a need for accurate techniques for data capture and data processing. With an emphasis on the zero-cost open source GIS software, there is no existing evaluative procedure for demonstrating the analytical capabilities of large-scale UAV-based outputs for microscale analysis for small changes on the beach such as sediment movement, erosion/accretion of individual features. There were four different drone surveys in the study area to determine microscale change over time. A three-stage analysis procedure helps in determining the overview of the coastline and highlights the region(s) of optimum change requiring further spatial analysis with micro-scale change detection. Results obtained show the analytical capabilities of large-scale UAV-based outputs for relatively small but detailed analysis using the open-source QGIS. Results obtained show that spatial analyses of the zoomed areas at different viewpoints and scales improve the confidence level of the hillshading and contour of that particular section on the coastline. The UAV photogrammetry and the three-stage analysis procedure can detect a 1cm change on the beach using the free and open-source QGIS software. It shows the profile modelling of the coastal inundations for both pre and post-flooding events at sub-centimetre intervals can be obtained from QGIS modelling, data computation, analysis, and visualization

Chemocoding as an identification tool where morphological- and DNA-based methods fall short:Inga as a case study

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this recordThe need for species identification and taxonomic discovery has led to the development of innovative technologies for large‐scale plant identification. DNA barcoding has been useful, but fails to distinguish among many species in species‐rich plant genera, particularly in tropical regions. Here, we show that chemical fingerprinting, or ‘chemocoding’, has great potential for plant identification in challenging tropical biomes. Using untargeted metabolomics in combination with multivariate analysis, we constructed species‐level fingerprints, which we define as chemocoding. We evaluated the utility of chemocoding with species that were defined morphologically and subject to next‐generation DNA sequencing in the diverse and recently radiated neotropical genus Inga (Leguminosae), both at single study sites and across broad geographic scales. Our results show that chemocoding is a robust method for distinguishing morphologically similar species at a single site and for identifying widespread species across continental‐scale ranges. Given that species are the fundamental unit of analysis for conservation and biodiversity research, the development of accurate identification methods is essential. We suggest that chemocoding will be a valuable additional source of data for a quick identification of plants, especially for groups where other methods fall short