Identification of viral and non-viral reverse transcribing elements in pineapple ( Ananas comosus ), including members of two new badnavirus species

A previously published partial sequence of pineapple bacilliform virus was shown to be from a retrotransposon (family Metaviridae) and not from a badnavirus as previously thought. Two newly discovered sequence groups isolated from pineapple were associated with bacilliform virions and were transmitted by mealybugs. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that they were members of new badnavirus species. A third caulimovirid sequence was also amplified from pineapple, but available evidence suggests that this DNA is not encapsidated, but more likely derived from an endogenous virus.

Identification of QTL for sugar-related traits in a sweet x grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) recombinant inbred population

QTL for stem sugar-related and other agronomic traits were identified in a converted sweet (R9188) × grain (R9403463-2-1) sorghum population. QTL analyses were conducted using phenotypic data for 11 traits measured in two field experiments and a genetic map comprising 228 SSR and AFLP markers grouped into 16 linkage groups, of which 11 could be assigned to the 10 sorghum chromosomes (SBI-01 to SBI-10). QTL were identified for all traits and were generally co-located to five locations (SBI-01, SBI-03, SBI-05, SBI-06 and SBI-10). QTL alleles from R9188 were detected for increased sucrose content and sugar content on SBI-01, SBI-05 and SBI-06. R9188 also contributed QTL alleles for increased Brix on SBI-05 and SBI-06, and increased sugar content on SBI-03. QTL alleles from R9403463-2-1 were found for increased sucrose content and sucrose yield on SBI-10, and increased glucose content on SBI-07. QTL alleles for increased height, later flowering and greater total dry matter yield were located on SBI-01 of R9403463-2-1, and SBI-06 of R9188. QTL alleles for increased grain yield from both R9403463-2-1 and R9188 were found on SBI-03. As an increase in stem sugars is an important objective in sweet sorghum breeding, the QTL identified in this study could be further investigated for use in marker-assisted selection of sweet sorghum.

Identification of small juvenile scombrids from northwest tropical Australia using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequences

Small juveniles of the nine species of scombrids in Australian waters are morphologically similar to one another and, consequently, difficult to identify to species level. We show that the sequence of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene region is a powerful tool for identification of these young fish. Using this method, we identified 50 juvenile scombrids collected from Exmouth Bay, Western Australia. Six species of scombrids were apparent in this sample of fish: narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson), Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta), frigate tuna (Auxis thazard), bullet tuna (Auxis rochei), leaping bonito (Cybiosarda elegans), and kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis). The presence of Indian mackerel, frigate tuna, leaping bonito, and kawakawa is the first indication that coastal waters may be an important spawning habitat for these species, although offshore spawning may also occur. The occurrence of small juvenile S. commerson was predicted from the known spawning patterns of that species, but other mackerel species (Scomberomorus munroi, Scomberomorus queenslandicus, Scomberomorus semifasiciatus) likely to be spawning during the sampling period were not detected among the 50 small juveniles analyzed here.

Identification of dynamical systems with fractional derivative damping models using inverse sensitivity analysis

The problem of identifying parameters of time invariant linear dynamical systems with fractional derivative damping models, based on a spatially incomplete set of measured frequency response functions and experimentally determined eigensolutions, is considered. Methods based on inverse sensitivity analysis of damped eigensolutions and frequency response functions are developed. It is shown that the eigensensitivity method requires the development of derivatives of solutions of an asymmetric generalized eigenvalue problem. Both the first and second order inverse sensitivity analyses are considered. The study demonstrates the successful performance of the identification algorithms developed based on synthetic data on one, two and a 33 degrees of freedom vibrating systems with fractional dampers. Limited studies have also been conducted by combining finite element modeling with experimental data on accelerances measured in laboratory conditions on a system consisting of two steel beams rigidly joined together by a rubber hose. The method based on sensitivity of frequency response functions is shown to be more efficient than the eigensensitivity based method in identifying system parameters, especially for large scale systems.

An infrared spectroscopic study of the incommensurate transitions and related phase changes in K2Pb[Cu(NO2)6] and [N(CH3)4]2MX4 (M = Mn, Co, Cu or Zn and X = Cl or Br)

K2Pb[Cu(NO2)6] and [N(CH3)4]2MX4 (M = Mn, Co, Cu or Zn and X = Cl or Br) undergo phase transitions which involve incommensurate phases. The transitions have been investigated by examining the changes in the NO2 and CH3 vibration bands in the i.r. spectra. Splitting and broadening of some of the bands across the incommensurate transitions are discussed in the context of geometrical restrictions in the incommensurate phases. The phase transitions have also been characterized using differential scanning calorimetry.

The environmental fate of diuron under a conventional production regime in a sugarcane farm during the plant cane phase

BACKGROUND: Field studies of diuron and its metabolites 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea (DCPMU), 3,4-dichlorophenylurea (DCPU) and 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) were conducted in a farm soil and in stream sediments in coastal Queensland, Australia. RESULTS: During a 38 week period after a 1.6 kg ha^-1 diuron application, 70-100% of detected compounds were within 0-15 cm of the farm soil, and 3-10% reached the 30-45 cm depth. First-order t1/2 degradation averaged 49 ± 0.9 days for the 0-15, 0-30 and 0-45 cm soil depths. Farm runoff was collected in the first 13-50 min of episodes lasting 55-90 min. Average concentrations of diuron, DCPU and DCPMU in runoff were 93, 30 and 83-825 µg L^-1 respectively. Their total loading in all runoff was >0.6% of applied diuron. Diuron and DCPMU concentrations in stream sediments were between 3-22 and 4-31 µg kg^-1 soil respectively. The DCPMU/diuron sediment ratio was >1. CONCLUSION: Retention of diuron and its metabolites in farm topsoil indicated their negligible potential for groundwater contamination. Minimal amounts of diuron and DCMPU escaped in farm runoff. This may entail a significant loading into the wider environment at annual amounts of application. The concentrations and ratio of diuron and DCPMU in stream sediments indicated that they had prolonged residence times and potential for accumulation in sediments. The higher ecotoxicity of DCPMU compared with diuron and the combined presence of both compounds in stream sediments suggest that together they would have a greater impact on sensitive aquatic species than as currently apportioned by assessments that are based upon diuron alone.

Natural Frequencies And Transient Responses Of 3-Phase Rotating Machine Windings

The analysis of transient electrical stresses in the insulation of high voltage rotating machines is rendered difficult because of the existence of capacitive and inductive couplings between phases. The Published theories ignore many of the couplings between phases to obtain the solution. A new procedure is proposed here to determine the transient voltage distribution on rotating machine windings. All the significicant capacitive and inductive couplings between different sections in a phase and between different sections in different phases have been considered in this analysis. The experimental results show good correlation with those computed.

Testing approximate theories of first-order phase transitions on the two-dimensional Potts model

The two-dimensional,q-state (q>4) Potts model is used as a testing ground for approximate theories of first-order phase transitions. In particular, the predictions of a theory analogous to the Ramakrishnan-Yussouff theory of freezing are compared with those of ordinary mean-field (Curie-Wiess) theory. It is found that the Curie-Weiss theory is a better approximation than the Ramakrishnan-Yussouff theory, even though the former neglects all fluctuations. It is shown that the Ramakrishnan-Yussouff theory overestimates the effects of fluctuations in this system. The reasons behind the failure of the Ramakrishnan-Yussouff approximation and the suitability of using the two-dimensional Potts model as a testing ground for these theories are discussed.

An infrared spectroscopic study of the phase transitions of crystalline aromatic donor-acceptor complexes involving a pseudoplastic state

Variable temperature i.r. spectroscopic studies of weak pi-donor-pi-acceptor complexes in the crystalline state indicate that the complexes undergo order-disorder transitions, the disorder being caused by molecular motion. Thermodynamic data on the phase transitions along with the spectral data suggest that the high-temperature crystalline forms of the complexes are likely to be pseudoplastic.

Coherence transfer via longitudinal spin order generalized pulse pair filtering for pure phase two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy

A generalized pulse pair has been suggested in which the longitudinal spin order is retained and the transverse components cancelled by random variation of the interval between pulses, in successive applications of the two-dimensional NMR algorithm. This method leads to pure phases and has been exploited to provide a simpler scheme for two-spin filtering and for pure phase spectroscopy in multiple-quantum-filtered two-dimensional NMR experiments.

Phase relations in the system Ta-Rh-O and thermodynamic properties of TaRhO4

Phase relations in the system Ta-Rh-O were determined by analysis of quenched samples corresponding to thirteen compositions inside the ternary triangle after equilibration at 1273 K. All the Ta-Rh alloys were found to be in equilibrium with Ta2O5. Only one ternary oxide TaRhO4 was detected. Based on phase relations in the ternary system, a solid-state electrochemical cell, incorporating calcia-stabilized zirconia as the electrolyte, was designed to measure the standard Gibbs energy of formation (Delta G degrees, J mol(-1)) of TaRhO4 in the temperature range from 900 to 1300 K. For the reaction, 1/2 beta-Ta2O5 + 1/2 Rh2O3(ortho) -> TaRhO4 Delta G degrees = -42993 + 5.676T (+/- 85) The calculated decomposition temperatures of TaRhO4 are 1644 +/- 5K in pure O-2 and 1543 +/- 5K in air at a total pressure p(o) = 0.1 MPa. Thermodynamic properties of TaRhO4 at 298.15K have been evaluated from the results. The limited experimental thermodynamic data for Rh-rich alloys available in the literature are in fair accord with Miedema's model. The Gibbs energies of formation of the different phases in the binary system Ta-Rh were estimated based on these inputs, consistent with the binary phase diagram. Based on the thermodynamic information on the stability of various phases, an oxygen potential diagram for the system Ta-Rh-O at 1273K was constructed. Also presented are temperature-composition diagrams for the ternary system at constant oxygen partial pressures (po(2)/p(o) = 0.212 and 10(-6)) calculated form the basic data.

Identification and immunogenicity of an immunodominant mimotope of Avibacterium paragallinarum from a phage display peptide library

Avibacterium paragallinarum is the causative agent of infectious coryza. The protective antigens of this important pathogen have not yet been clearly identified. In this paper, we applied phage display technique to screen the immunodominant mimotopes of a serovar A strain of A. paragallinarum by using a random 12-peptide library, and evaluated the immunogenicity in chickens of the selected mimotope. Polyclonal antibody directed against A. paragallinarum strain 0083 (serovar A) was used as the target antibody and phage clones binding to this target were screened from the 12-mer random peptide library. More than 50% of the phage clones selected in the third round carried the consensus peptide motif sequence A-DP(M)L. The phage clones containing the peptide motif reacted with the target antibody and this interaction could be blocked, in a dose-dependent manner, by A. paragallinarum. One of the peptide sequences, YGLLAVDPLFKP, was selected and the corresponding oligonucleotide sequence was synthesized and then inserted into the expression vector pFliTrx. The recombinant plasmid was transferred into an expression host Escherichia coli GI826 by electroporation, resulting in a recombinant E. coli expressing the peptide on the bacterial surface. Intramuscular injection of the epitope-expressing recombinant bacteria into chickens induced a specific serological response to serovar A. A. paragallinarum. The chickens given the recombinant E. coli showed significant protection against challenge with A. paragallinarum 0083. These results indicated a potential for the use of the mimotope in the development of molecular vaccines for infectious coryza.

Phase relations between Al2O3---Cr2O3 and FeAl2O4---FeCr2O4 solid solutions at 1823 K

Tie-lines between the corundum and spinel solid solutions have been determined experimentally at 1823 K. Next, activities of FeCr2O4 and FeAl2O4 in the spinel solid solution were determined by combining the tie-line data with literature values for the activities of Cr2O3 and Al2O3 in the corundum phase. Activities and the Gibbs energy of mixing for the spinel solid solution were also obtained from a model based on cation distribution between nonequivalent crystallographic sites in the oxide lattice. The difference between the Gibbs energy of mixing obtained experimentally and from the model has been attributed to a strain enthalpy term which is relatively unchanged in magnitude from the reported at 1373 K. The integral enthalpy of mixing obtained from experimental data at 1373 and 1823 K using the second law is compared with the model result.

A New PWM Control Method for Three-Phase Autosequentially Commutated Current Source Inverters

A new current pulsewidth modulation (PWM) method is presented which uses the principle of creating zero three-phase currents at selected instants of time, through which the load current harmonic content can be controlled along with the magnitude of its fundamental content. This gives rise to reduction of motor torque ripples through the selection of suitable PWM patterns and a fast current control in the inverter by varying the pulsewidths of the PWM pattern. Under this new PWM mode of operation, the autosequentially commutated inverter (ASCI) circuit can be modified easily so that a higher number of pulses can be accomodated within a half-cycle, compared to the normal ASCI circuit. The experimental oscillograms verify the effectiveness of the new PWM method.

Hydrothermal phase equilibria in Ln2O3-H2O-CO2 systems : I. The lighter lanthanides

Phase diagrams for Nd2O3-H2O-CO2 and Gd2O3-H2O-CO2 systems at 1500 atm are given along with the results of selected runs in La, Sm and Eu systems. The stable phases in systems of La and Nd, are Ln(OH)CO3-B, Ln2O2CO3-II and LnOOH, in addition to the Ln(OH)3 phase at extremely low partial pressures of CO2 in the system. The systems become more and more complex with decreasing ionic radi and the number of stable carbonate phases increases. Ln2(CO3)3 · 3H2O orthorhombic (tengerate-like phase) is stable from Sm to Gd in addition to the other phases. The Gd(OH)CO3-A (ancylite-like phase) is hydrothermally stable at XCO2 greater-or-equal, slanted 0.5 while its hexagonal polymorph, Gd(OH)CO3-B is stable at low partial pressures of CO2 in the system.