Evaluation of sampling methods to quantify abundance of hardwoods and snags within conifer-dominated riparian zones

• Aims: Six sampling alternatives were examined for their ability to quantify selected attributes of snags and hardwoods in conifer-dominated riparian areas of managed headwater forests in western Oregon. • Methods: Each alternative was simulated 500 times at eight headwater forest locations based on a 0.52-ha square stem map. The alternatives were evaluated based on how well they estimated the number of hardwoods and snags per hectare and their basal area per hectare using root mean square error and percent bias. • Results: In general, 3.6-m wide systematic strips oriented perpendicular to the stream outperformed the other alternatives. However, the variance of all six sampling alternatives was quite high and further research is needed to determine an optimal sampling method for quantifying hardwood and snag attributes in forests dominated by live conifers. • Conclusion: When sampling snag and hardwood as a minor component of the overall forest composition within a riparian area, we suggest using 3.6-m strips perpendicular to the stream.Keywords: Stand structure, Monitoring, Pacific Northwest, Strip samplin

Early protective effect of a (“pan”) coronavirus vaccine (PanCoVac) in Roborovski dwarf hamsters after single-low dose intranasal administration

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has highlighted the danger posed by human coronaviruses. Rapid emergence of immunoevasive variants and waning antiviral immunity decrease the effect of the currently available vaccines, which aim at induction of neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, T cells are marginally affected by antigen evolution although they represent the major mediators of virus control and vaccine protection against virus-induced disease. Materials and methods: We generated a multi-epitope vaccine (PanCoVac) that encodes the conserved T cell epitopes from all structural proteins of coronaviruses. PanCoVac contains elements that facilitate efficient processing and presentation of PanCoVac-encoded T cell epitopes and can be uploaded to any available vaccine platform. For proof of principle, we cloned PanCoVac into a non-integrating lentivirus vector (NILV-PanCoVac). We chose Roborovski dwarf hamsters for a first step in evaluating PanCoVac in vivo. Unlike mice, they are naturally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, Roborovski dwarf hamsters develop COVID-19-like disease after infection with SARS-CoV-2 enabling us to look at pathology and clinical symptoms. Results: Using HLA-A*0201-restricted reporter T cells and U251 cells expressing a tagged version of PanCoVac, we confirmed in vitro that PanCoVac is processed and presented by HLA-A*0201. As mucosal immunity in the respiratory tract is crucial for protection against respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, we tested the protective effect of single-low dose of NILV-PanCoVac administered via the intranasal (i.n.) route in the Roborovski dwarf hamster model of COVID-19. After infection with ancestral SARS-CoV-2, animals immunized with a single-low dose of NILV-PanCoVac i.n. did not show symptoms and had significantly decreased viral loads in the lung tissue. This protective effect was observed in the early phase (2 days post infection) after challenge and was not dependent on neutralizing antibodies. Conclusion: PanCoVac, a multi-epitope vaccine covering conserved T cell epitopes from all structural proteins of coronaviruses, might protect from severe disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 variants and future pathogenic coronaviruses. The use of (HLA-) humanized animal models will allow for further efficacy studies of PanCoVac-based vaccines in vivo

TemesgenHailemariamForestryEvaluationN-treeDistance.pdf

n-Tree distance sampling (NTDS), also known as k-tree sampling and point-to-tree sampling, has been promoted as a practical method for forest inventory. This simulation study evaluated the performance of three NTDS estimators, as compared with fixed plot sampling and horizontal point sampling, for estimating density and basal area in headwater riparian forests of western Oregon. Bias of at least one NTDS estimator was low for both density and basal area when at least six trees were captured at each sample point, but performance of NTDS for density estimation was poor on stem maps exhibiting a clustered pattern. We close with some comments regarding the statistical efficiency of NTDS for riparian area inventory in similar forest conditions

TemesgenHailemariamForestryEvaluationN-treeDistanceFigure1.tiff

n-Tree distance sampling (NTDS), also known as k-tree sampling and point-to-tree sampling, has been promoted as a practical method for forest inventory. This simulation study evaluated the performance of three NTDS estimators, as compared with fixed plot sampling and horizontal point sampling, for estimating density and basal area in headwater riparian forests of western Oregon. Bias of at least one NTDS estimator was low for both density and basal area when at least six trees were captured at each sample point, but performance of NTDS for density estimation was poor on stem maps exhibiting a clustered pattern. We close with some comments regarding the statistical efficiency of NTDS for riparian area inventory in similar forest conditions

Gesellschaftliches Lernen im Reallabor: Transdisziplinäre Suchbewegungen am Beispiel des partizipativen Studierendenprojekts in:takt

Real-world laboratories are receiving increasing public attention and have established themselves as a relevant research format in technology assessment. They appear particularly suited to address current challenges through social learning. However, references to educational implications have remained largely unexplored theoretically to date. Against this background, we consider learning processes in real- world laboratories in terms of their contribution to social learning. To this end, starting from critical education theory, the article reconstructs three dimensions of learning in the real-world laboratory using the Magdeburg student project in:takt as a case study. As a result, learning processes in real-world laboratories prove to be an experimental and spatial appropriation of the world that contributes to overcoming societal challenges.Reallabore erfahren eine wachsende öffentliche Aufmerksamkeit und haben sich als ein bedeutendes Forschungsfor­mat in der Technikfolgenabschätzung etabliert. Sie scheinen in beson­derer Weise in der Lage zu sein, zur Bewältigung aktueller Herausfor­derungen durch gesellschaftliche Lernprozesse beizutragen. Die impli­zierten Bildungsbezüge bleiben bis dato jedoch theoretisch weitgehend unbelichtet. Vor diesem Hintergrund betrachten wir Lernprozesse im Reallabor hinsichtlich ihres Beitrags für gesellschaftliches Lernen. Dazu werden, ausgehend von der kritischen Bildungstheorie, drei Dimensio­nen des Lernens im Reallabor am Fallbeispiel des Magdeburger Studie­rendenprojekts in:takt rekonstruiert. Im Ergebnis zeigen sich Lernpro­zesse im Reallabor als eine experimentelle und raumbezogene Welt­aneignung, die zur Bewältigung gesellschaftlicher Herausforderungen beiträgt

Deconvoluting Cr states in Cr-doped UO2 nuclear fuels via bulk and single crystal spectroscopic studies

Abstract Cr-doped UO2 is a leading accident tolerant nuclear fuel where the complexity of Cr chemical states in the bulk material has prevented acquisition of an unequivocal understanding of the redox chemistry and mechanism for incorporation of Cr in the UO2 matrix. To resolve this, we have used electron paramagnetic resonance, high energy resolution fluorescence detection X-ray absorption near energy structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopic measurements to examine Cr-doped UO2 single crystal grains and bulk material. Ambient condition measurements of the single crystal grains, which have been mechanically extracted from bulk material, indicated Cr is incorporated substitutionally for U+4 in the fluorite lattice as Cr+3 with formation of additional oxygen vacancies. Bulk material measurements reveal the complexity of Cr states, where metallic Cr (Cr0) and oxide related Cr+2 and Cr+3 2O3 were identified and attributed to grain boundary species and precipitates, with concurrent (Cr+3 xU+4 1-x)O2-0.5x lattice matrix incorporation. The deconvolution of chemical states via crystal vs. powder measurements enables the understanding of discrepancies in literature whilst providing valuable direction for safe continued use of Cr-doped UO2 fuels for nuclear energy generation

Early protective effect of a ("pan") coronavirus vaccine (PanCoVac) in Roborovski dwarf hamsters after single-low dose intranasal administration

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has highlighted the danger posed by human coronaviruses. Rapid emergence of immunoevasive variants and waning antiviral immunity decrease the effect of the currently available vaccines, which aim at induction of neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, T cells are marginally affected by antigen evolution although they represent the major mediators of virus control and vaccine protection against virus-induced disease.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We generated a multi-epitope vaccine (PanCoVac) that encodes the conserved T cell epitopes from all structural proteins of coronaviruses. PanCoVac contains elements that facilitate efficient processing and presentation of PanCoVac-encoded T cell epitopes and can be uploaded to any available vaccine platform. For proof of principle, we cloned PanCoVac into a non-integrating lentivirus vector (NILV-PanCoVac). We chose Roborovski dwarf hamsters for a first step in evaluating PanCoVac in vivo. Unlike mice, they are naturally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, Roborovski dwarf hamsters develop COVID-19-like disease after infection with SARS-CoV-2 enabling us to look at pathology and clinical symptoms.RESULTS: Using HLA-A*0201-restricted reporter T cells and U251 cells expressing a tagged version of PanCoVac, we confirmed in vitro that PanCoVac is processed and presented by HLA-A*0201. As mucosal immunity in the respiratory tract is crucial for protection against respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, we tested the protective effect of single-low dose of NILV-PanCoVac administered via the intranasal (i.n.) route in the Roborovski dwarf hamster model of COVID-19. After infection with ancestral SARS-CoV-2, animals immunized with a single-low dose of NILV-PanCoVac i.n. did not show symptoms and had significantly decreased viral loads in the lung tissue. This protective effect was observed in the early phase (2 days post infection) after challenge and was not dependent on neutralizing antibodies.CONCLUSION: PanCoVac, a multi-epitope vaccine covering conserved T cell epitopes from all structural proteins of coronaviruses, might protect from severe disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 variants and future pathogenic coronaviruses. The use of (HLA-) humanized animal models will allow for further efficacy studies of PanCoVac-based vaccines in vivo.</p

Bi-allelic variants in SPATA5L1 lead to intellectual disability, spastic-dystonic cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and hearing loss

Spermatogenesis-associated 5 like 1 (SPATA5L1) represents an orphan gene encoding a protein of unknown function. We report 28 bi-allelic variants in SPATA5L1 associated with sensorineural hearing loss in 47 individuals from 28 (26 unrelated) families. In addition, 25/47 affected individuals (53%) presented with microcephaly, developmental delay/intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, and/or epilepsy. Modeling indicated damaging effect of variants on the protein, largely via destabilizing effects on protein domains. Brain imaging revealed diminished cerebral volume, thin corpus callosum, and periventricular leukomalacia, and quantitative volumetry demonstrated significantly diminished white matter volumes in several individuals. Immunofluorescent imaging in rat hippocampal neurons revealed localization of Spata511 in neuronal and glial cell nuclei and more prominent expression in neurons. In the rodent inner ear, Spata511 is expressed in the neurosensory hair cells and inner ear supporting cells. Transcriptomic analysis performed with fibroblasts from affected individuals was able to distinguish affected from controls by principal components. Analysis of differentially expressed genes and networks suggested a role for SPATA5L1 in cell surface adhesion receptor function, intracellular focal adhesions, and DNA replication and mitosis. Collectively, our results indicate that bi-allelic SPATA5L1 variants lead to a human disease characterized by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with or without a nonprogressive mixed neurodevelopmental phenotype