The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the causative agent of the 2020 worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Antibody testing is useful for diagnosing historic infections of a disease in a population. These tests are also a helpful epidemiological tool for predicting how the virus spreads in a community, relating antibody levels to immunity and for assessing herd immunity. In the present study, SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins were recombinantly produced and used to analyse serum from individuals previously exposed, or not, to SARS-CoV-2. The nucleocapsid (Npro) and spike subunit 2 (S2Frag) proteins were identified as highly immunogenic, although responses to the former were generally greater. These two proteins were used to develop two quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) that when used in combination resulted in a highly reliable diagnostic test. Npro and S2Frag-ELISAs could detect at least 10% more true positive coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases than the commercially available ARCHITECT test (Abbott). Moreover, our quantitative ELISAs also show that specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 proteins tend to wane rapidly even in patients who had developed severe disease. As antibody tests complement COVID-19 diagnosis and determine population-level surveillance during this pandemic, the alternative diagnostic we present in this study could play a role in controlling the spread of the virus.

Radial and longitudinal temperature gradients within cold-seal pressure vessels can contribute significantly to the total temperature unccrtainty in any one experiment and it is important to calibrate such gradients before experiments are undertaken. We have measured temperature gradients in vertically mounted large cold-seal vessels at 1 atm and 1 kbar and in the temperature range 500–800°C Radial gradients were measured with the vessel at various positions within the furnace by recording the temperature difference between a thermocouple in the internal bore of the vessel and one in a well in the top of the vessel. We find that when the vessel is at a certain position in the furnace, the temperatures read by these two thermocouples are equivalent to within 1°C. The contribution of radial gradients to temperature uncertainty can be thus be substantially minimized if experiments are undertaken with the vessel in this position. Longitudinal gradients of 2.8°C/cm at 500°C and 3°C/cm at 800°C were recorded at 1 kbar. These profiles are significantly steeper than those recorded at 1 atm. Not to calibrate temperature gradients at the experimental conditions or failure to calibrate vessels at all could lead to large temperature uncertainties.

Recent federal agricultural programs have accelerated the devolution of enterprise risk management responsibility from the state to individual producers. Using a biophysical simulation model, the risk management benefits of federal crop insurance and supplemental irrigation are derived and compared to uninsured rainfed crop production in an expected utility framework. Federal crop insurance programs are inefficient at reducing producer exposure to weather-related production risk in humid regions, and the risk management benefits from supplemental irrigation are found to be scale and technology dependent. Environmental policies that regulate resource development will increase the investment cost of irrigation alternatives and reduce economic feasibility.

During airway surgery, the anaesthetist may be required to manipulate or withdraw the endotracheal tube. Traditional surgical head drapes often make access to the tube difficult, therefore limiting control of the airway and risking de-sterilisation of the surgical field. We report a new method of draping for major neck operations that permits easy access to the endotracheal tube while maintaining sterility of the operative field.

We have chosen the name of GYES, one of the mythological giants with one hundred arms,offspring of Gaia and Uranus, for our instrument study of a multifibre spectrograph forthe prime focus of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Such an instrument could provide anexcellent ground-based complement for the Gaia mission and a northern complement to theHERMES project on the AAT. The CFHT is well known for providing a stable prime focusenvironment, with a large field of view, which has hosted several imaging instruments, buthas never hosted a multifibre spectrograph. Building upon the experience gained at GÉPIwith FLAMES-Giraffe and X-Shooter, we are investigating the feasibility of a highmultiplex spectrograph (about 500 fibres) over a field of view one degree in diameter. Weare investigating an instrument with resolution in the range 15 000 to 30 000, whichshould provide accurate chemical abundances for stars down to 16th magnitude and radialvelocities, accurate to 1 km s-1 for fainter stars. The study is led byGÉPI-Observatoire de Paris with a contribution from Oxford for the study of thepositioner. The financing for the study comes from INSU CSAA and Observatoire de Paris.The conceptual study will be delivered to CFHT for review by October 1st 2010.

A gelatin-agar bolus, designed and developed for the administration of metacercariae of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica, was evaluated in adult Holstein Friesian cattle. The metacercariae, enclosed within a gelatin capsule, were placed inside the bolus and delivered to each animal using an oesophageal balling gun. At slaughter, 13 weeks after challenge, an average of 25% of the challenge dose was recovered from each liver. This percentage recovery is similar to that obtained with other known methods. The new bolus, however, offers improved handling qualities. In addition, the bolus also has potential for improving a number of other techniques including those for the administration of other parasites, compounds or chemotherapeutic agents.

In November 2002, the first of three outbreaks of Salmonella Montevideo infection in Australia and New Zealand was identified in New South Wales, Australia. Affected persons were interviewed, and epidemiologically linked retail outlets inspected. Imported tahini was rapidly identified as the source of infection. The contaminated tahini was recalled and international alerts posted. A second outbreak was identified in Australia in June–July 2003 and another in New Zealand in August 2003. In a total of 68 S. Montevideo infections, 66 cases were contacted. Fifty-four (82%) reported consumption of sesame seed-based foods. Laboratory analyses demonstrated closely related PFGE patterns in the S. Montevideo isolates from human cases and sesame-based foods imported from two countries. On the basis of our investigations sesame-based products were sampled in other jurisdictions and three products in Canada and one in the United Kingdom were positive for Salmonella spp., demonstrating the value of international alerts when food products have a wide distribution and a long shelf life. A review of the controls for Salmonella spp. during the production of sesame-based products is recommended.

Fasciola hepatica secretes proteolytic enzymes and other molecules that are essential for host penetration and migration. This mixture may include enzymes required for the degradation of supramucosal gels, which defend epithelial surfaces against pathogen entry. These contain hydrated mucins that are heavily glycosylated. Excretory-secretory products (ES) from F. hepatica were examined for a range of glycosidase activities, using synthetic 4-methylumbelliferyl glycosides as substrates. The ES product contained at least 8 different glycosidase activities, the most abundant of which were β-N-acetylhexosaminidase, β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase. Alpha-fucosidase, β-glucuronidase, α-galactosidase, α-mannosidase and neuraminidase were also present. β-N-acetylhexosaminidase and β-galactosidase were present in multiple isoforms (at least 4), whereas β-glucosidase appeared to exist as one isoenzyme with a pI <3·8. All three enzymes had acidic pH optima (4·5–5·0). Ovine small intestinal mucin was degraded by ES at pH 4·5 or 7·0, with or without active cathepsin L, the major protease found in F. hepatica ES. The ability of F. hepatica ES to degrade mucin in the presence or absence of active cathepsin L suggests that cathepsin L is not essential for mucin degradation. The abundance of β-galactosidase and β-hexosaminidase in ES supports a role for these enzymes in mucin degradation.

The excited state properties of C60 thin films have been probed in the temperature range 77–273K using Raman spectroscopy. The change in the Raman, 2Ag mode of C60 (whose position is largely independent of temperature) was monitored as a function of the excitation intensity at 514.5nm. This mode normally positioned at 1469cm-1, was seen to shift reversibly to a lower Raman frequency with increasing laser intensity. Two excited state species have been identified. The first, at 1466cm-1 has been associated with the molecular triplet of C60. The second species at 1463cm-1, has been speculated to be an excited state co-operative involving two or more excited states in the solid and is seen to be intrinsic to solid state C60 below the phase transition.

Reversible actuation strains in excess of 2% in the sheet direction and over 300% in the thickness direction have been produced by single wall carbon nanotube mats when electrochemically charged to +1.5V (vs. SCE) in aqueous sodium chloride solution. The observed strains represent a ten-fold increase over that previously reported for carbon nanotube actuators, and is considerably larger than that achievable with polymer ferroelectric actuators. The enhanced actuator strains result from a new mechanism of electrochemically induced “pnuematic actuation” where high pressure gas forms within the porous structure of the nanotube mat causing partial delamination and swelling. An erasable “memory” effect was also observed for pneumatic actuation driven by hydrogen gas evolution/storage in the nanotube electrodes.

In this study the intermolecular interactions of small diameter (∼0.7nm) carbon nanotubes and γ-cyclodextrin were examined. Four samples of γ cyclodextrin and HiPco carbon nanotubes were prepared. The first, by grinding the tubes and the cyclodextrin (1:30 ratio) together in a dry mixture, the second was prepared in a similar fashion but was ground in the presence of water (1ml). Finally an aqueous solution of γ-cyclodextrin (0.3M) and HiPco carbon nanotubes (5mg) was prepared by refluxing for ∼100 hours, forming a pale yellow solution from which a number of crystals were produced, both the solution and the recrystallised material were analysed. The samples were analysed using UV-Vis-NIR and Raman spectroscopy. The results presented are the first spectroscopic evidence of an intermolecular interaction between γ-cyclodextrin and single wall nanotubes.

Since their discovery, carbon nanotubes have been the focus of much research effort aimed at optimizing growth conditions, elucidating physical structure, and measuring electronic properties. Measurement methods have included high resolution techniques such as AFM, STM, TEM, and EELS, as well as surface and bulk spectroscopic techniques, such as XPS. Most investigations have been quite specific, centering on a small number of nanotubes formed under particular growth conditions and typically employing only one or two modes of analysis. Broader, more systematic studies are relatively rare, and it is the intent of the present work to help fill this gap. We combine results of high-resolution TEM imaging, electron diffraction, low-energy EELS, and carbon K-edge EELS to characterize a variety of nanotube samples, grown and annealed under various conditions.

The Carbon Nanotubes (Cnts) Are Made By The Dual, Pulsed-Laser Vaporization Method, And Purified With A Process That Involves Nitric Acid Reflux, Washing/Centrifugation Cycles, Hollow-Fiber, And Cross-Flow Filtration.

Because enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is not identified by routine stool culture methods, ETEC outbreaks may go unrecognized, and opportunities for treatment and prevention may be missed. To improve recognition of adult ETEC outbreaks, we compared them with reported outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis. During 1975–95, we identified 14 ETEC outbreaks in the United States and 7 on cruise ships, caused by 17 different serotypes and affecting 5683 persons. Median symptom prevalences were: diarrhoea 99%, abdominal cramps 82%, nausea 49%, fever 22%, vomiting 14%. The median incubation period was 42 h, and for 8 of 10 outbreaks, the mean or median duration of illness was >72 h (range 24–264). For 17 (81%) ETEC outbreaks, but for only 2 (8%) viral outbreaks, the prevalence of diarrhoea was [ges ]2·5 times the prevalence of vomiting. ETEC outbreaks may be differentiated from viral gastroenteritis outbreaks by a diarrhoea-to-vomiting prevalence ratio of [ges ]2·5 and a longer duration of illness.