A naturally occurring recombinant isolate of Lettuce mosaic virus

LMV-Common and LMV-Most are two seed-borne types of Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), genus Potyvirus. LMV-Most, but not LMV-Common, overcomes the resistance afforded to lettuce by two recessive genes, mo1(1) and mo1(2). An RT-PCR-based assay thought to be specific for LMV-Most also amplified LMV-Tn2, previously typified as LMV-Common. The sequence of selected regions along the genome indicated that LMV-Tn2 is a natural recombinant between LMV-Most and LMV-Common isolates, with a putative recombination site located within the P3 coding region. This is the first evidence of a naturally occurring LMV recombinant isolate.

A fuzzy logic system applied in lightning models

This paper describes a novel approach for mapping lightning processes using fuzzy logic. The estimation process is carried out using a fuzzy system based on Sugeno's architecture. Simulation results confirm that proposed approach can be efficiently used in these types of problem.

Adsorption of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes on a silica gel surface chemically modified with 2-mercaptoimidazole

The isotherms of adsorption of MeX2 (Me = Cu2+, Co2+; X = Cl-, Br-, ClO4-) by silica gel chemically modified with 2-mercaptoimidazole (SiMI) were studied in acetone and ethanol solutions, at 25 degrees C. Covalently attached 2-mercaptoimidazole molecule to silica gel surface adsorbs MeX2 from solvent by forming a surface complex. The metal is bonded to the surface through the nitrogen atom of attached 2-mercaptoimidazole. At low loading, the electronic and ESR spectral parameters indicated that the Cu2+ complexes are in a distorted-tetragonal symmetry field. The d-d electronic transition spectra showed that for Cu(ClO4)(2) complex, the peak of absorption did not change for any degree of metal loading and for Cl- and Br- complexes, the peak maxima shifted to higher energy with lower metal loading. The CoX2(X = Cl-, Br-, ClO4-) analogues possess a distorted-tetrahedral field.

An existence theorem for an analytic first order PDE in the framework of Colombeau's theory

We study the existence of a holomorphic generalized solution u of the PDE[GRAPHICS]where f is a given holomorphic generalized function and (alpha (1),...alpha (m)) is an element of C-m\{0}.

EULAR/PRINTO/PRES criteria for Henoch-Schonlein purpura, childhood polyarteritis nodosa, childhood Wegener granulomatosis and childhood Takayasu arteritis: Ankara 2008. Part I: Overall methodology and clinical characterisation

Objectives To report methodology and overall clinical, laboratory and radiographic characteristics for Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP), childhood polyarteritis nodosa (c-PAN), c-Wegener granulomatosis (c-WG) and c-Takayasu arteritis (c-TA) classification criteria.Methods The preliminary Vienna 2005 consensus conference, which proposed preliminary criteria for paediatric vasculitides, was followed by a EULAR/PRINTO/PRES-supported validation project divided into three main steps. Step 1: retrospective/prospective web-data collection for HSP, c-PAN, c-WG and c-TA, with age at diagnosis <= 18 years. Step 2: blinded classification by consensus panel of a subgroup of 280 cases (128 difficult cases, 152 randomly selected) enabling expert diagnostic verification. Step 3: Ankara 2008 Consensus Conference and statistical evaluation (sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve, kappa-agreement) using as 'gold standard' the final consensus classification or original treating physician diagnosis.Results A total of 1183/1398 (85%) samples collected were available for analysis: 827 HSP, 150 c-PAN, 60 c-WG, 87 c-TA and 59 c-other. Prevalence, signs/symptoms, laboratory, biopsy and imaging reports were consistent with the clinical picture of the four c-vasculitides. A representative subgroup of 280 patients was blinded to the treating physician diagnosis and classified by a consensus panel, with kappa-agreement of 0.96 for HSP (95% CI 0.84 to 1), 0.88 for c-WG (95% CI 0.76 to 0.99), 0.84 for c-TA (95% CI 0.73 to 0.96) and 0.73 for c-PAN (95% CI 0.62 to 0.84), with an overall. of 0.79 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.84).Conclusion EULAR/PRINTO/PRES propose validated classification criteria for HSP, c-PAN, c-WG and c-TA, with substantial/almost perfect agreement with the final consensus classification or original treating physician diagnosis.

Floral anatomy of Bromeliaceae, with particular reference to the evolution of epigyny and septal nectaries in commelinid monocots

Floral anatomy is described in ten genera of Bromeliaceae, including three members of subfamily Bromelioideae, three Tillandsioideae, and four genera of the polyphyletic subfamily Pitcairnioideae (including Brocchinia, the putatively basal genus of Bromeliaceae). Bromeliaceae are probably unique in the order Poales in possessing septal nectaries and epigynous or semi-epigynous flowers. Evidence presented here from floral ontogeny, vasculature, and the relative positions of nectary and ovules indicates that there could have been one or more reversals to apparent hypogyny in Bromeliaceae, although this hypothesis requires a better-resolved phylogeny. Such evolutionary reversals probably evolved in response to specialist pollinators, and in conjunction with other aspects of floral morphology of Bromeliaceae, such as the petal appendages of some species. The ovary is initiated in an inferior position even in semi-epigynous or hypogynous species. The ovary of all so-called hypogynous Bromeliaceae is actually semi-inferior, because the septal nectary is infralocular; in these species the nectaries have a labyrinthine surface and many vascular bundles. Brocchinia differs from most other fully epigynous species in that each carpel is secretory at the apex and reproductive, rather than secretory, at the base.

Binding three-particles at the edge of stability

The stability threshold for an Efimov state is determined as a function of the physical scales of the system. Light exotic nuclei and triatomic molecules are investigated. Scaling, universality, and renormalization-group invariance properties are discussed in this context.

The pion electromagnetic form factor in a QCD-inspired model

We present detailed numerical results for the pion space-like electromagnetic form factor obtained within a recently proposed model of the pion electromagnetic current in a confining light-front QCD-inspired model. The model incorporates the vector meson dominance mechanism at the quark level, where the dressed photon with q(+) > 0 decays in an interacting quark-antiquark pair, which absorbs the initial pion and produces the pion in the final state.

Exchange terms in the quark-meson coupling model

In this talk we report on recent progress in implementing exchange terms in the quark-meson coupling model. Exchange effects are related to the Pauli exclusion principle. We discuss exchange effects at the nucleon level and at the quark level. We also address the incorporation of chiral symmetry and Delta degrees of freedom in the model.

Three helium atoms and the scaling limit

We show that a scaling limit approach, previously applied in three-body low-energy nuclear physics, is realized for the first excited state of He-4 trimer. The present result suggests that such approach has a wider application.

A few-body treatment of low energy atomic collisions involving exotic particles

Faddeev-type equations are applied to three-charged particle systems. The rather satisfactory results are obtained for low energy e(+)H elastic scattering and muonic transfer reactions. The cross sections for antihydrogen formation from antiproton-positronium collisions are calculated using a six state model (Ps[1s2s2p], (H) over bar[1s2s2p]).

The taxonomy and morphological and anatomical differentiation of populations of Leiothrix crassifolia (Eriocaulaceae)

The morphological and anatomical leaf and scape differentiation of Leiothrix crassifolia is analysed and classified into seven types (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, Vn). The species has a relatively wide distribution in the campo rupestre of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Variation in the isolated populations on different mountain ranges is complex, does not follow a clear geographical pattern, and defies taxonomic classification. L. nubigena and L. obtusifolia are included in L. crassifolia.

Metamorphism and PGE-Au content of chromitite from the Ipanema mafic/ultramafic Complex, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The Santa Cruz massif, which forms part of the Ipanema mafic/ultramafic Complex, Minas Gerais, Brazil, has an exposed upward sequence of metadunite, metaharzburgite (including three separate chromitite layers), metapyroxenite, metagabbro, and metaanorthosite. Primary igneous chromite grains in the main chromitite layer are poikiloblastic and tectonically fragmented, and have a narrow (10-20 mum) margin of chromian spinel. Cataclased chromite fragments are extensively replaced and mantled by chromian spinel; they have a composite margin comprised of an inner zone of more aluminous spinel and an euhedral outer zone of more Cr-rich spinel, representing granulite and amphibolite facies metamorphic events, respectively. The contents of platinum-group elements (PGE) and Au in chromite separates are relatively high (Os 45, Ir 23, Ru 136, Rh 19, Pt 98, Pd 63, and Au 83 ppb), and significantly enriched (similar to 4x) over whole rock values. Platinum-group minerals are not observed and micrometre-sized inclusions of sulfide minerals (chalcopyrite and pentlandite) in relict chromite are rare. However, comparison of mineral proportions in the separated chromite and whole rock shows that the precious metals are hosted predominantly in the relict igneous chromite grains, rather than the secondary chromian spinel and primary and secondary Mg-rich silicates. The major element composition and average chondrite-normalized PGE pattern of the separated chromite correspond to S-poor stratiform chromitite. We suggest that the precious metals accumulated with chromite during crystallization of a S-poor magma, and were not remobilized in the relict chromite during the subsequent high grade metamorphism.

Molecular characterisation and evolutionary relationships of a potyvirus infecting Crotalaria in Brazil - Brief report

The 3' terminal genomic region of a potyvirus causing mosaic disease in several Crotalaria species has been cloned and sequenced. Comparisons of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid (aa) sequences of the cloned cDNA with those from other potyviruses show that the Crotalaria-infecting virus (designated Crotalaria mosaic virus; CrMV) is closely related to Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV). Maximum identity (95.4%) at the coat protein (CP) aa level was observed between CrMV and a Brazilian strain of CABMV. Phylogenetic analyses derived from the sequence alignments of the CP and 3' untranslated region confirmed the identification of CrMV as a strain of CABMV and the name CABMV-Cr is suggested.