Comparing intrarift and border fault structure in the Malawi Rift: Implications for normal fault growth

Early stages of normal fault growth are seldom described using field observations of active normal faults. Here we first estimate the displacements of active border and intrarift faults in the Zomba Graben in the low extension (< 10 %) Malawi Rift, and then quantify micro-to macroscale fault damage and mineralisation associated with their surface exposures. The 22 km long Mlunguzi and 39 km long Chingale Step intrarift faults have fault zones 4–52 m wide. In contrast, we estimate the fault zone of the 51 km long Zomba border fault is 32–118 m wide. Calcite and clay alteration is limited to the fault damage zones and fault cores, and the extent and intensity of fault damage and mineral alteration is greater on the Zomba border fault compared to the intrarift faults. Relative to global compilations, normal faults in the Zomba Graben have lengthened quickly while developing narrow fault zones, given their displacement. The minor damage on these long, low-displacement normal faults may reflect the influence of lithology, negligible fault healing, and/or activation of pre-existing weaknesses

Functional Characterization of N297A, A Murine Surrogate for low-Fc Binding Anti-Human CD3 Antibodies

Several low- or non-FcR binding anti-human CD3 monoclonal antibodies have been under investigation for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. To model the mechanism of action of these anti-human CD3 mAbs in the murine system, an Fc-modified anti-mouse CD3 antibody (N297A) was generated. N297A exhibited similar biological effects as Fc-modified anti-human CD3 antibodies including rapid, reversible reduction in peripheral leukocyte numbers, differential modulation of activated versus resting T cells, and reduced levels of induced cytokine release compared to the non-Fc-modified parent antibody. In an in vivo model of colitis induced by adoptive transfer of IL–10-deficient cells, administration of N297A significantly reduced body weight loss. As N297A shared many functional characteristics of non-FcR binding anti-human CD3 mAbs both in vitro and in vivo, it provides a means to model the mechanisms of action of Fc-modified anti-human CD3 antibodies in mouse

Mirror energy differences in the A=31 mirror nuclei, S31 and P31, and their significance in electromagnetic spin-orbit splitting

Excited states in S31 and P31 were populated in the C12(Ne20,n) and C12(Ne20,p) reactions, respectively, at a beam energy of 32 MeV. High spin states of positive and negative parity have been observed in S31 for the first time, and the yrast scheme of P31 has been extended. Large mirror energy differences between the first 9/2- and 13/2- states were observed, but only small differences for the first 7/2- and 11/2- levels. The significance of these observations is discussed in relation to the electromagnetic spin-orbit effect and the relative binding energy of the levels

Diagnostic applications of molecular and serological assays for bluetongue and African horse sickness

The availability of rapid, highly sensitive and specific molecular and serologic diagnostic assays, such as competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA), has expedited the diagnosis of emerging transboundary animal diseases, including bluetongue (BT) and African horse sickness (AHS), and facilitated more thorough characterisation of their epidemiology. The development of assays based on real-time, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect and identify the numerous serotypes of BT virus (BTV) and AHS virus (AHSV) has aided in-depth studies of the epidemiology of BTV infection in California and AHSV infection in South Africa. The subsequent evaluation of pan-serotype, real-time, RT-PCR-positive samples through the use of serotype-specific RT-PCR assays allows the rapid identification of virus serotypes, reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming conventional methods, such as virus isolation and serotype-specific virus neutralisation assays. These molecular assays and cELISA platforms provide tools that have enhanced epidemiologic surveillance strategies and improved our understanding of potentially altered Culicoides midge behaviour when infected with BTV. They have also supported the detection of subclinical AHSV infection of vaccinated horses in South Africa. Moreover, in conjunction with whole genome sequence analysis, these tests have clarified that the mechanism behind recent outbreaks of AHS in the AHS-controlled area of South Africa was the result of the reversion to virulence and/or genome reassortment of live attenuated vaccine viruses. This review focuses on the use of contemporary molecular diagnostic assays in the context of recent epidemiologic studies and explores their advantages over historic virus isolation and serologic techniques.https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/publications/scientific-and-technical-reviewVeterinary Tropical Disease

Lifetime measurements of triaxial strongly deformed bands in Tm163

With the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method, quadrupole transition moments Qt were determined for the two recently proposed triaxial strongly deformed (TSD) bands in Tm163. The measured Qt values indicate that the deformation of these bands is larger than that of the yrast signature partners. However, the measured values are smaller than those predicted by theory. This observation appears to be valid for TSD bands in several nuclei of the region

Candidate superdeformed band in 28Si

Recent antisymmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD) calculations for 28Si suggest the presence of a superdeformed (SD) band with a dominant 24Mg+α clustering for its configuration, with firm predictions for its location and associated moment of inertia. This motivates a review of the experimental results reported in the literature with a particular focus on 24Mg(α,γ) studies, as well as on α-like heavy-ion transfer reactions such as 12C(20Ne,α)28Si. Combining this information for the first time leads to a set of candidate SD states whose properties point to their α-cluster structure and strong associated deformation. Analysis of data from Gammasphere allows the electromagnetic decay of these candidate states to be probed and reveals further supporting evidence for such a structure. This paper appraises this body of information and finds the evidence for an SD band is strong

Configurations and decay hindrances of high- K states in Hf 180

Multi-quasiparticle high-K states, several of which are isomeric, were observed in Hf180 with the Gammasphere array. Lifetimes in the ns-μs range were determined using centroid-shift and decay measurements within a μs coincidence time window. The configurations of high-K states involve two and four quasiparticles, with states up to Kπ=(18-) established. High-K excitations are found to be progressively more favored with increasing excitation energy. The K quantum number is quite robust up to the highest spins observed, as evidenced by the large values of the reduced hindrance for isomeric decays. Rotational bands built on three high-K states are identified, and the measured branching ratios in these sequences enable the assignment of underlying configurations. Multi-quasiparticle calculations using the Lipkin-Nogami approach for pairing, with blocking included, reproduce the observed high-K energies quite well

Reevaluation of the P30(p,γ)S31 astrophysical reaction rate from a study of the T=1/2 mirror nuclei, S31 and P31

The P30(p,γ)S31 reaction rate is expected to be the principal determinant for the endpoint of nucleosynthesis in classical novae. To date, the reaction rate has only been estimated through Hauser-Feschbach calculations and is unmeasured experimentally. This paper aims to remedy this situation. Excited states in S31 and P31 were populated in the C12(Ne20,n) and C12(Ne20,p) reactions, respectively, at a beam energy of 32 MeV, and their resulting γdecay was detected with the Gammasphere array. Around half the relevant proton unbound states in S31 corresponding to the Gamow window for the P30(p,γ)S31 reaction were identified. The properties of the unobserved states were inferred from mirror symmetry using our extended data on P31. The implications of this new spectroscopic information for the P30(p,γ)S31 reaction rate are considered and recommendations for future work with radioactive beams are discussed

Identification of the g9/2-proton bands in the neutron-rich Ga71,73,75,77 nuclei

Excited states in the odd-AGa71,73,75,77 nuclei have been populated in deep-inelastic reactions of a Ge76 beam at 530 MeV with a thick U238 target. High-spin sequences built upon the 9/2+, 5/2-, and 3/2- states were identified in all four isotopes. A comparison of the observed structures with the yrast positive-parity states in the neighboring even-even Zn cores indicates that the newly identified levels may be regarded as arising from the relatively weak coupling of the odd proton to the core states. However, significant contributions from broken pairs are expected to be present in this region of excitation energy. The present data set also provides clarification of previously reported decay paths of the low-energy levels in Ga71,73,75,77