Order N photonic band structures for metals and other dispersive materials

We show, for the first time, how to calculate photonic band structures for metals and other dispersive systems using an efficient Order N scheme. The method is applied to two simple periodic metallic systems where it gives results in close agreement with calculations made with other techniques. Further, the approach demonstrates excellent numerical stablity within the limits we give. Our new method opens the way for efficient calculations on complex structures containing a whole new class of material.Comment: Four pages, plus seven postscript figures. Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Forest leaf litter beetles of Taiwan: first DNA barcodes and first insight into the fauna

We report the publication of 953 DNA barcodes of forest leaf litter beetles from central Taiwan, in total representing 334 spe- cies of 36 beetle families. This is the first bulk of data from the Taiwanese Leaf Litter beetles project focused on uncovering the under-explored diversity of leaf litter beetles across Taiwan. Based on these data, we provide the first records of the following taxa for Taiwan: family Sphindidae (genus Aspidiphorus Ziegler, 1821); tribes Trichonychini, Ctenistini, and Bythinoplectini (all Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae); genera Gyrelon Hinton, 1942, Thyroderus Sharp, 1885, Cautomus Sharp, 1885 (all Cerylonidae), Dermatohomoeus Hlisnikovský, 1963 (Leiodidae), Paraploderus Herman, 1970 (Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae), Thinocharis Kraatz, 1859 (Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Cephennodes Reitter, 1884, Napoconnus Franz, 1957 (both Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae), Bicava Belon, 1884 (Latridiidae), Otibazo Morimoto, 1961, Seleuca Pascoe, 1871 and Acallinus Morimoto, 1962 (all Curculioni- dae); species Oodes (Lachnocrepis) japonicus (Bates, 1873) (Carabidae: Licininae), Drusilla obliqua (Bernhauer, 1916) (Staphylin- idae: Aleocharinae) and Coccotrypes advena Blandford, 1894 (Curculionidae: Scolytinae). The records of Anapleus Horn, 1873 (Histeridae) and Batraxis Reitter, 1882 (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) have been confirmed. The male of Sivacrypticus taiwanicus Kaszab, 1964 (Archeocrypticidae) is described for the first time. Gyrelon jenpani Hu, Fikáček & Matsumoto, sp. nov. (Cerylon- idae) is described, illustrated, and compared with related species. DNA barcodes associated larvae of 42 species with adults, we are concisely illustrating some of these: Oodes japonicus, Perigona cf. nigriceps Dejean, 1831 (both Carabidae), Ptilodactyla sp. (Ptilodactylidae), Maltypus ryukyuanus Wittmer, 1970 (Cantharidae), Drusilla obliqua, Myrmecocephalus brevisulcus (Pace, 2008), Diochus sp., Mimopinophilus sp. (all Staphylinidae), Stelidota multiguttata Reitter, 1877, Lasiodites inaequalis (Grouvelle, 1914) (both Nitidulidae), Lagria scutellaris Pic, 1910, and Anaedus spinicornis Kaszab, 1973 (both Tenebrionidae). We also report the first cases of Rickettsia infections in Scydmaeninae and Pselaphinae. All data (sequences, metadata, and voucher photos) are made public in BOLD database and in a Zenodo Archive

Bottom-up construction of complex biomolecular systems with cell-free synthetic biology

Cell-free systems offer a promising approach to engineer biology since their open nature allows for well-controlled and characterized reaction conditions. In this review, we discuss the history and recent developments in engineering recombinant and crude extract systems, as well as breakthroughs in enabling technologies, that have facilitated increased throughput, compartmentalization, and spatial control of cell-free protein synthesis reactions. Combined with a deeper understanding of the cell-free systems themselves, these advances improve our ability to address a range of scientific questions. By mastering control of the cell-free platform, we will be in a position to construct increasingly complex biomolecular systems, and approach natural biological complexity in a bottom-up manner

Innate activation of human primary epithelial cells broadens the host response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the airways

Early events in the human airways determining whether exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) results in acquisition of infection are poorly understood. Epithelial cells are the dominant cell type in the lungs, but little is known about their role in tuberculosis. We hypothesised that human primary airway epithelial cells are part of the first line of defense against Mtb-infection and contribute to the protective host response in the human respiratory tract. We modelled these early airway-interactions with human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) and alveolar macrophages. By combining in vitro infection and transwell co-culture models with a global transcriptomic approach, we identified PBECs to be inert to direct Mtb-infection, yet to be potent responders within an Mtb-activated immune network, mediated by IL1β and type I interferon (IFN). Activation of PBECs by Mtb-infected alveolar macrophages and monocytes increased expression of known and novel antimycobacterial peptides, defensins and S100-family members and epithelial-myeloid interactions further shaped the immunological environment during Mtb-infection by promoting neutrophil influx. This is the first in depth analysis of the primary epithelial response to infection and offers new insights into their emerging role in tuberculosis through complementing and amplifying responses to Mtb

Variation in virulence of Septoria tritici Rob ex Desm isolates on wheat

To identify physiologic races, the variation in virulence of 10 local Septoria tritici Rob ex Desm isolates was evaluated on 10 wheat differentials selected in Israel and 7 previously tested Argentine cultivars (cvs). Pycnidial leaf coverage percentage (PC) and necrotic lesion percentage (NL) were used to determine cvs reaction in order to compare their efficiency in isolate differentiation. Isolates behaved differently on the different wheat cvs. The 2 variables showed which isolates behaved similarly, and which behaved differently; PC was more sensitive in detecting these differences. The ranking of varieties for PC and NL was different for every isolate x cv combination, and few ordering patterns coincided (Bobwhite "S", lassul 20 and Bordenave Puán). In general, local isolates induced more PC than NL on national cvs. Two isolates (I11, I19) behaved in the most virulent manner; 2 others (I21, I25) provoked the highest resistant reaction percentage on the cvs tested. Isolate x cv interaction varied according to the parameter evaluated. The analysis of variance for PC indicated significant interaction between the 2 main factors (P = 0.01) which may be considered as an index of pathogen physiologic specialization. However, a non-significant interaction (P = 0.01) for NL indicated only differences between isolates degree of aggressiveness. Low degree of specificity of the interactions and similar order in the ranking of disease severity on some cvs showed no "true physiologic races". The international set did not supply any major variation range in lesion type and percentage or more consistent cv reactions in differentiating biotypes. Thus, the standardization of research methodologies is necessary to study S tritici-Triticum sp interactions. This would contribute to the reproducibility of results obtained by different authors throughout the world and thus avoid different interpretations of varietal reaction.Variation de la virulence d'isolats de Septoria tritici Rob ex Desm sur blé. La variation de virulence de 10 isolats de Septoria tritici a été évaluée sur 17 variétés de blé sélectionnées : 10 en Israël et en Argentine, pour identifier des races physiologiques (tableau I). La réaction des variétés est déterminée afin d'estimer l'effet de la méthode d'évaluation de la différenciation des souches et montrer les différences de comportement des variétés de blé par l'emploi de 2 variables : - le pourcentage de lésions nécrotiques avec pycnides (NL), - le pourcentage de couverture de la surface foliaire totale par des pycnides (PC). Les 2 variables, PC et PN, permettent de séparer les isolats en fonction de leur comportement, mais avec un net avantage pour PC. La magnitude de la surface nécrosée et la couverture pycnidiale donnent des résultats différents pour chaque combinaison : souche/variété (tableau III). II existe peu de concordance entre les classements (variétés Bobwhite "S", lassul 20 et Bordenave Puán). Les isolats locaux ont, en général, révélé plus de PC que de NL dans les variétés nationales (tableaux IV et V). Deux d'entre eux (I11 et I19) se sont montrés plus virulents alors que 2 autres (I 21 et I25) ont le pourcentage le plus élevé de réactions de résistance sur les 17 variétés testées. L'interaction souche/variété varie selon le paramètre d'évaluation considéré : une valeur significative (P = 0,01) pour PC peut être considérée comme un indice de spécialisation physiologique de l'agent pathogène mais, une interaction non significative (P = 0,01) pour NL n'a montré que des différences dans le degré d'agressivité des isolats. En outre, le faible degré de spécificité des interactions, et l'ordre similaire de l'évaluation de la gravité de la maladie sur certaines variétés montrent qu'ils n'ont pas mis en évidence de «vraies races physiologiques». L'emploi de la gamme internationale d'hôtes différentiels n'a pas fourni plus de variation pour le type et le pourcentage de lésion, ni de réactions des variétés, plus solides et plus claires, dans le but de différencier des biotypes. Enfin, il faut insister sur le besoin de standardiser les conditions d'inoculation et d'évaluation des études d'interactions S tritici/Triticum sp, afin d'assurer la reproductibilité des résultats au niveau mondial et d'éviter les différences d'interprétation de réaction des variétés qui surgissent par l'emploi de méthodologies variables