Interactions Among Root Disease Pathogens and Bark Beetles in Coniferous Forests

At least two interactions exist among these important groups of organisms: (1) that of the bark beetles as vectors; and (2) that of root pathogens as predisposers of trees to beetles. Bark beetles might be important vectors of root decay fungi, but there is as yet little supporting evidence. However, some beetles may have primary roles as vectors on non-decay pathogens such as Leptographium wageneri, L. procera, and L. terebrantis. Possible of greater importance is predisposition of trees by the pathogens. Evidence continues to build supporting the relationship, and there is a suggestion that beetles can maintain a relatively high populations level in areas with above average disease activity. A few studies have shown effects on host physiology that may be related to increased susceptibility to bark beetles, and one of two have even suggested effects on primary attraction. A review of the literature in both forest pathology and forest entomology shows a serious deficiency in research on these interactions and their significance in resource management

First observations of separated atmospheric nu_mu and bar{nu-mu} events in the MINOS detector

The complete 5.4 kton MINOS far detector has been taking data since the beginning of August 2003 at a depth of 2070 meters water-equivalent in the Soudan mine, Minnesota. This paper presents the first MINOS observations of nuµ and [overline nu ]µ charged-current atmospheric neutrino interactions based on an exposure of 418 days. The ratio of upward- to downward-going events in the data is compared to the Monte Carlo expectation in the absence of neutrino oscillations, giving Rup/downdata/Rup/downMC=0.62-0.14+0.19(stat.)±0.02(sys.). An extended maximum likelihood analysis of the observed L/E distributions excludes the null hypothesis of no neutrino oscillations at the 98% confidence level. Using the curvature of the observed muons in the 1.3 T MINOS magnetic field nuµ and [overline nu ]µ interactions are separated. The ratio of [overline nu ]µ to nuµ events in the data is compared to the Monte Carlo expectation assuming neutrinos and antineutrinos oscillate in the same manner, giving R[overline nu ][sub mu]/nu[sub mu]data/R[overline nu ][sub mu]/nu[sub mu]MC=0.96-0.27+0.38(stat.)±0.15(sys.), where the errors are the statistical and systematic uncertainties. Although the statistics are limited, this is the first direct observation of atmospheric neutrino interactions separately for nuµ and [overline nu ]µ

ICAR: endoscopic skull‐base surgery

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Charge-separated atmospheric neutrino-induced muons in the MINOS far detector

14 pages, 15 figuresWe found 140 neutrino-induced muons in 854.24 live days in the MINOS far detector. We looked for evidence of neutrino disappearance in this data set by computing the ratio of the number of low momentum muons to the sum of the number of high momentum and unknown momentum muons for both data and Monte Carlo expectation in the absence of neutrino oscillations. The ratio of data and Monte Carlo ratios is consistent with an oscillation signal. A fit to the data for the oscillation parameters excludes the null oscillation hypothesis at the 94% confidence level. We separated the muons by charge sign in both the data and Monte Carlo events and found the ratio of the total number of negative to positive muons in both samples. The ratio of those ratios is a test of CPT conservation. The result is consistent with CPT conservation

Observation of Muon Neutrino Disappearance with the MINOS Detectors in the NuMI Neutrino Beam

This Letter reports results from the MINOS experiment based on its initial exposure to neutrinos from the Fermilab NuMI beam. The rates and energy spectra of charged current νμ interactions are compared in two detectors located along the beam axis at distances of 1 and 735 km. With 1.27×1020 120 GeV protons incident on the NuMI target, 215 events with energies below 30 GeV are observed at the Far Detector, compared to an expectation of 336±14 events. The data are consistent with νμ disappearance via oscillations with |Δm322|=2.74-0.26+0.44×10-3  eV2 and sin⁡2(2θ23)>0.87 (68% C.L.)

Class III Milk in the New York Milkshed: I. Manufacturing Operations

Excerpts from the report Preface: This report is the first of a group dealing with Class III milk pricing in the New York-New Jersey milkshed. Particular emphasis is given to factors affecting the market for Class Ill products, and to the decisions which handlers make about the form in which they will dispose of Class III milk. This report provides in graphic form a summary description of the manufactured dairy products industry in this area. It describes the nature of Class III operations, including types and location of products manufactured. Interregional plant shipments of milk for manufacturing purposes and of manufactured dairy products are analyzed. Regional production patterns for both pool plants and the New York State nonpool plants are developed and estimates are made of the extent to which existing manufacturing capacity is utilized

Biological and Management Implications of Fire-Pathogen Interactions in the Giant Sequoia Ecosystem

An overriding management goal for national parks is the maintenance or, where necessary, the restoration of natural ecological processes. In Sequoia-Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks, there is concern about the effects of fire suppression on the giant sequoia-mixed conifer forest ecosystem. The National Park Service is currently using prescribed fire management and prescribed burning as tools to reintroduce fire as a natural process. However, there are questions about the positive and negative effects of reintroducing fire in the giant sequoia-mixed conifer ecosystem. Reintroducing fire in the Sierra Nevada forests needs critical evaluation with respect to the pathogens that affect giant sequoias. We designed a 3-year study, funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, to: (1) determine the effects of fire scars and their re-burning on the incidence, extent, and survival of fungi in giant sequoia; (2) identify pathogens, insects, location of decay, and other characteristics present in standing old-growth giant sequoia fire scars; (3) evaluate host specialization and cross infectivity of isolates of Heterobasidion annosum from white fir (Abies concolor), red fir (Abies magnipca), and giant sequoia (Sequoia gigantea); and (4) develop criteria and recommendations for monitoring the effects of fire on pathogens in giant sequoia stands. The total circumference of giant sequoia trees affected by fire scars ranged from 3.3% to 69.5%. Cross-sectional area affected by fire scars ranged from 3.2% to 53.7%. The season of year in which prescribed burning takes place could influence the effect fire has on giant sequoia. A survey of 90 fire scars for the presence of resin, MycocaIicium, carpenter ants, other insects, Arachnids, decay above and below groundline, and bird activity (i.e., cavities) yielded a high presence of each factor when all burn groups were combined. Statistically significant differences in bird cavity activity, decay above groundline, and carpenter ant activity were noted among the unburned group, 1-year burn group, and 5-year burn group. The Pilodyn wood tester was effective in determining the presence of decay above and below groundline. A variety of microfungi were found associated with giant sequoia fire scars. The fungi most frequently isolated were: Byssochlamys fulva from 34 out of 90 fire scars (38%), Acrodontium intermissum from 22 out of 90 fire scars (24%), and Tritirachium sp. from 14 out of 90 fire scars (16%). Several other microfungi and Basidiomycetes were also identified. H. annosum acts as both a saprophyte and a pathogen in the giant sequoia-mixed conifer ecosystem. The results of these experiments have demonstrated H. annosum can spread from true fir to giant sequoia and vice versa, given that they are of the same ”S” intersterility group

Observation of muon intensity variations by season with the MINOS far detector

The temperature of the upper atmosphere affects the height of primary cosmic ray interactions and the production of high-energy cosmic ray muons which can be detected deep underground. The MINOS far detector at Soudan MN, USA, has collected over 67 million cosmic ray induced muons. The underground muon rate measured over a period of five years exhibits a 4% peak-to-peak seasonal variation which is highly correlated with the temperature in the upper atmosphere. The coefficient, $\alpha_T$, relating changes in the muon rate to changes in atmospheric temperature was found to be: $\alpha_T = 0.874 \pm 0.009$ (stat.) $\pm 0.010$ (syst.). Pions and kaons in the primary hadronic interactions of cosmic rays in the atmosphere contribute differently to $\alpha_T$ due to the different masses and lifetimes. This allows the measured value of $\alpha_T$ to be interpreted as a measurement of the K/$\pi$ ratio for $E_{p}\gtrsim$\unit[7]{TeV} of $0.13 \pm 0.08$, consistent with the expectation from collider experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.