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Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes an economically devastating disease of livestock that is controlled in endemic areas by vaccines containing intact inactivated FMDV particles. In this study, a novel monoclonal antibody named 5B6 has been identified and characterised, that permits the detection of all serotypes of FMDV via a conserved epitope near the N-terminus of the VP4 capsid protein. The antibody recognises intact virus particles known as 146S (the protective antigen) which contain VP4 and not dissociated capsids known as 12S (poorly protective antigen) which lack VP4. This allowed the development of a universal assay to specifically detect the protective antigen in vaccine samples using a simple ELISA. Such a test could be used to assess the quality of formulated vaccine following manufacture or prior to administration, or to assess unformulated vaccine antigen, and would be of great utility to enhance the effectiveness of FMD vaccination programmes.

We used habitat models to forecast the frequency of occurrence of epiphytic lichen species in a forested landscape under two alternative plans: a literal application of standard prescriptions in the Northwest Forest Plan and a plan patterned in part after natural disturbance regimes. The plans were evaluated for the Blue River watershed in the Cascade Range of Oregon, USA. We used two model types: logistic regression and an ecological neighborhood model using a form of nonparametric regression (SpOcc; Species Occurrence Modeler). Both logistic regression and SpOcc successfully estimated the occurrence of the lichen Lobaria oregana in the current landscape, based on elevation and structural classes of forests. Structural classes were defined by combinations of (1) overstory retention of remnant trees, (2) young cohort age, and (3) stream position (upland vs. riparian). Lobaria oregana rapidly diminished in frequency in the landscape at elevations above 900-1000 m. Young, even-aged stands had little or no Lobaria oregana. Most of the other structural classes, however, were very similar in frequency of Lobaria. The differences in lichens between retention levels and between mature and old growth stands were very small compared to the differences with respect to elevation and clearcutting. Similar results, with varying importances of elevation and forest structure, were obtained for most of the 20 species with the strongest models. Many of these species were associated with old growth, and many were forecasted to be more frequent under either management plan than in the current landscape. This is a likely response to the reduction of even-aged management in this landscape. We recommend using SpOcc for flexible nonparametric fitting of species relationships to a multivariate habitat. SpOcc avoids the need to specify response functions and, because it is multiplicative rather than additive, automatically models responses to interactions among predictors.

Neutron-rich isotopes are an important source of new information on nuclear physics. Specifically, the spin-isospin components in the nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction, e.g., the proton-neutron tensor force, are expected to modify shell structure in exotic nuclei. These potential changes in the intrinsic shell structure are of fundamental interest. The study of the excitation energy of states corresponding to specific configurations in even-even isotopes, together with the single-particle character of the first excited states of odd-A, neutron-rich Ni isotopes, probes the evolution of the neutron orbitals around the Fermi surface as a function of the neutron number a step forward in the understanding of the region and the nature of the NN interaction at large N/Z ratios. In an experiment carried out at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory [1], new spectroscopic information was obtained for 68Ni and the distribution of single-particle strengths in 67,69Ni was characterized by means of single-neutron knockout from 68,70Ni secondary beams. The spectroscopic strengths, deduced from the measured partial cross sections to the individual states tagged by their de-exciting gamma rays, is used to identify and quantify configurations that involve neutron excitations across the N = 40 harmonic oscillator shell closure. The de-excitation γ rays were measured with the GRETINA tracking array [2]. The results challenge the validity of the most current shell-model Hamiltonians and effective interactions, highlighting shortcomings that cannot yet be explained. These results suggest that our understanding of the low-energy states in such nuclei is not complete and requires further investigation.

Question/Location: We modelled lichen epiphyte biomass in relation to topography, stand structure, and lichen community composition in the central Cascades of western Oregon. Methods: Sampling was stratified by stand structure. Epiphyte biomass was estimated based on lichen litter for three functional groups: cyanolichens, forage lichens, and matrix lichens. Regression models for estimating lichen biomass (log10kg.ha‐1) were developed based on three pools of predictors, each pool demanding different levels of effort to obtain the data. First, we created models from topographic predictors that are easily extracted from GIS data. We then developed models based on both topographic and stand‐structure variables. Finally, we developed models using topography, stand structure, and lichen community data. Results/Conclusions: Lichen biomass changed with elevation, cyanolichen biomass highest at low elevations (470–950 m) and forage lichen biomass highest at higher elevations (950–1470 m). Lichen biomass was lowest in even‐aged young stands and highest in mature stands with remnant trees and in old‐growth. Stands with remnant trees had more lichen biomass than even‐aged stands. Models with the greatest explanatory power were: cyanolichen biomass predicted as a function of elevation, stand age index, the sum of Lobaria oregana and L. pulmonaria abundance, and cyanolichen species richness (R2= 0.85); forage lichen biomass predicted as a function of stand age index and, Alectoria sarmentosa abundance (R2= 0.55); and matrix lichen biomass predicted as a function of stand age index and matrix lichen abundance (R2= 0.58). These models are useful tools for understanding and predicting the distribution of epiphytic macrolichen biomass at a landscape scale.

Question/Location: We modelled lichen epiphyte biomass in relation to topography, stand structure, and lichen community composition in the central Cascades of western Oregon. Methods: Sampling was stratified by stand structure. Epiphyte biomass was estimated based on lichen litter for three functional groups: cyanolichens, forage lichens, and matrix lichens. Regression models for estimating lichen biomass (log10 kg.ha−1) were developed based on three pools of predictors, each pool demanding different levels of effort to obtain the data. First, we created models from topographic predictors that are easily extracted from GIS data. We then developed models based on both topographic and stand-structure variables. Finally, we developed models using topography, stand structure, and lichen community data. Results/Conclusions: Lichen biomass changed with elevation, cyanolichen biomass highest at low elevations (470–950 m) and forage lichen biomass highest at higher elevations (950–1470 m). Lichen biomass was lowest in even-aged young stands and highest in mature stands with remnant trees and in old-growth. Stands with remnant trees had more lichen biomass than even-aged stands. Models with the greatest explanatory power were: cyanolichen biomass predicted as a function of elevation, stand age index, the sum of Lobaria oregana and L. pulmonaria abundance, and cyanolichen species richness (R2 = 0.85); forage lichen biomass predicted as a function of stand age index and, Alectoria sarmentosa abundance (R2 = 0.55); and matrix lichen biomass predicted as a function of stand age index and matrix lichen abundance (R2 = 0.58). These models are useful tools for understanding and predicting the distribution of epiphytic macrolichen biomass at a landscape scale. Nomenclature: McCune & Geiser (1997). Abbreviations: AI = age index; OG = old growth; PNW = Pacific Northwest.

Electron capture on neutron-rich medium-mass nuclei is a key process where the electrons that impede the collapse of the core of massive stars are captured, thereby producing very neutron-rich nuclei. As the core collapses, the supernova is then initiated. For the electron capture to proceed, however, the allowed Gamow-Teller (GT) transition must be unblocked either by thermal excitations or by mixing of proton configurations from a higher-lying shell into the ground-state configuration of the nucleus. The present paper presents an experiment performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University, in which we study the configuration mixing in the neutron-rich76Zn isotope. The experiment utilised single-proton and single-neutron knockout with detection of reaction-residue γ rays and measurement of the parallel momentum of the residue. Through this we investigate the proton components of the 76Zn ground state, with a particular interest in π-g9/2, which may unblock the GT electron capture even at low temperatures and thereby open a new pathway for the initiation of the collapse of the pre-supernova stellar core.

The availability of high-intensity, heavy-ion beams coupled to sensitive, large solid-angleacceptance spectrometers has enabled a detailed examination of the fission fragments produced in induced-fission reactions. The abrasion-fission process involves the formation of projectile-like prefragments in violent nuclear collisions at relative energies in excess of 100 MeV/u. At intermediate energies below this threshold, experiments suggest a change in the prefragment kinematic qualities. Information regarding the influence of this transitional phase upon the evolution of nuclei approaching the point of scission is scarce. In this article, data are presented for over 200 nuclei from nickel to palladium produced in abrasion-fission reactions of a 80 MeV/u 238U beam. Cross sections were obtained following yield measurements performed for the principal charge states of the identified fission fragments and a detailed analysis of the ion transmission. A full kinematic analysis of the fission fragments has been performed using the LISE++ software package, where the trajectory of an ion passing through a spectrometer can be reconstructed based upon measurements at the focal plane. The results obtained at the S800 spectrograph are compared with predictions obtained with a three-fission progenitor (3EER) model. Systematic studies of fission-fragment properties continue to provide a valuable experimental benchmark for theoretical efforts directed toward describing this complex decay channel, that is important in the context of planning experiments to explore the neutron-rich region of the nuclear chart at rare-isotope beam facilities.

Describes an empirical study of direct care staff involved in behavioural programming. Evaluates second generation behavioural intervention in a naturalistic therapy programme for adults with intellectual disabilities. Compares this approach to traditional behavioural analysis stressing positive reinforcement. Allows support staff to design and conduct all interventions in community-based residential facilities, implemented within a supervision model using psychology consultants to provide direction but not to design specific programmes. Contrasts the improvement in both serious behaviour problems and quality of life using naturalistic intervention and conventional behavioural conditioning. Source: National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.

We studied epiphytic macrolichen communities and occurrences of rare species along the transition from upland to riparian forests on a range of stream sizes (intermittent, non-fish-bearing perennial, fish-bearing but less than 5th order, and streams larger than 5th order), based on 92, 0.38 ha plots in the McKenzie River watershed of the central Cascades of Oregon. The transition from uplands higher in the watershed to riparian areas along large streams is expressed in decreasing elevation and increasing representation of hardwoods. Upland stands were almost 100% conifers, averaging 49 m2/ha in stand basal area, decreasing to 48% conifers along fish-bearing streams of fourth order and below, and finally to 30% along large streams. Stand basal areas of hardwoods averaged near zero in uplands, increasing to an average of 11 m2/ha along large streams. One NMS ordination axis described this gradient in macrolichen communities, expressing 72% of the variation in community composition. Epiphytic lichens along large streams differed from fish-bearing streams smaller than fifth order; both of these stream classes also differed strongly from each of the other stream classes. Epiphytic lichens in uplands, along intermittent streams, and non-fish-bearing streams overlapped broadly in species composition. Macrolichen species richness was highest along large streams, averaging 38 species per plot, versus about 28 species per plot for uplands and non-fish-bearing streams. This difference is attributable to more species of cyanolichens, matrix lichens, and nitrophilous lichens along the large streams. About half of the individual species differed in abundance among stream classes, based on Indicator Species Analysis. Listed species (considered at risk by a government agency) were 57% more frequent in riparian areas along large streams than in uplands or along small streams. Protecting riparian zones from logging and urbanization and other forms of habitat destruction will, therefore, protect many rare species. Uplands and small streams, however, supported distinctive macrolichen communities, including rare species that were infrequent or absent from the riparian zones of large streams.