Preliminary results on resistance to PPV-M in Prunus persica (L.) Batsch

Preliminary results of trials evaluating peach cultivar resistance to Plum pox virus (PPV) and aphid colonization were obtained. Data after one vegetative cycle since an inoculation assay showed that most of the peach cultivars analyzed were susceptible to PPV-M isolate, used as inoculum source. Also, in our experiments two cultivars, Ambra and Cappucci 18, were found to be tolerant while cultivars Fei Cheng, Harrow Blood, Jing Yu and Rosa Dardi were resistant.Moreover, to evaluate the possible epidemiological impact of the peach cultivars NJ WEEPING and S6699 resistant to aphid colonization, experimental transmissions were carried out. This was done by using a clonal culture of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) as vector and PPV-M isolate as inoculum source under controlled acquisition access period. The results showed that in our conditions aphids were not able to transmitted PPV-M isolate to healthy plants of NJ WEEPING and S6699. Under the same conditions PPV-M was transmitted by aphids from infected to healthy GF305 plants.Keywords: sharka, peach, ELISA, aphid transmission, virus toleranc

Prevalence of aster yellows (AY) and elm yellows (EY) group phytoplasmas in symptomatic grapevines in three areas of northern Italy

Flavescence doree (FD) and others important grapevine yellows (GY) diseases are known to occur in northern Italy. In this communication we report the results of an extended survey of naturally yellows diseased grapevines growing in three provinces of northern Italy, Vicenza, Brescia and Pavia. The plants were sampled at the end of June and the beginning of August. Direct PCR assay using group-specific primers for universal phytoplasma 16S rDNA amplification or for amplification of 16S rDNA from 16SrI (aster yellows and related phytoplasmas), 16SrIII (X-disease and related phytoplasmas) and 16SrV (elm yellows and related phytoplasmas) phytoplasma groups, and RFLP analysis of amplified DNA, were conducted. Phytoplasmas belonging to group 16SrV were detected only in grapevines in the Vicenza province; whereas, phytoplasmas belonging to group 16SrI subgoup G were found in grapevines in all three provinces

GRB 970228 Within the EMBH Model

We consider the gamma-ray burst of 1997 February 28 (GRB 970228) within the ElectroMagnetic Black Hole (EMBH) model. We first determine the value of the two free parameters that characterize energetically the GRB phenomenon in the EMBH model, that is to say the dyadosphere energy, $E_{dya}=5.1\times10^{52}$ ergs, and the baryonic remnant mass $M_{B}$ in units of $E_{dya}$, $B=M_{B}c^{2}/E_{dya}=3.0\times10^{-3}$. Having in this way estimated the energy emitted during the beam-target phase, we evaluate the role of the InterStellar Medium (ISM) number density (n$_{ISM}$) and of the ratio ${\cal R}$ between the effective emitting area and the total surface area of the GRB source, in reproducing the observed profiles of the GRB 970228 prompt emission and X-ray (2-10 keV energy band) afterglow. The importance of the ISM distribution three-dimensional treatment around the central black hole is also stressed in this analysis.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the Proceedings of the Los Alamos "Gamma Ray Burst Symposium" in Santa Fe, New Mexico, September 8-12 2003 (AIP Conf. Ser.), CHAPTER: GRB Connection to Supernova

Promoter region methylation does not account for the frequent loss of expression of the Fas gene in colorectal carcinoma

Expression of the apoptosis-promoting Fas gene is frequently reduced or lost during the development of colorectal carcinoma. However, loss of heterozygosity at the Fas locus or Fas gene rearrangements do not account for the loss of expression of Fas, raising the possibility that methylation of the Fas promoter may inhibit gene expression in colorectal carcinomas. We have examined the Fas promoter region CpG island for evidence of hypermethylation in colorectal tumours. Forty-seven specimens of colorectal adenoma and carcinoma, as well as six samples of normal colonic mucosa, were examined by Southern blotting for methylation at Hpa II and Cfo I sites in this region. No methylation was detected in any of the specimens, suggesting that hypermethylation is not primarily responsible for the loss of expression of the Fas gene during colorectal tumorigenesis. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Circulating anti-galectin-1 antibodies are associated with the severity of ocular disease in autoimmune and infectious uveitis

Galectin (Gal)-1, an endogenous lectin found at sites of immune privilege, plays a critical role in the regulation of the immune response. Therapeutic administration of Gal-1 or its genetic delivery suppresses chronic inflammation in experimental models of autoimmunity. The purpose of this work was to investigate the occurrence of circulating anti-Gal-1 antibodies in patients with autoimmune and infectious uveitis as potential determinant factors of disease progression.Fil: Romero, Marta D.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Fundación Ver; Argentina. Laboratorio Inmunopatología Investigación y Docencia LIIDO; ArgentinaFil: Muiño, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina. Fundación Ver; ArgentinaFil: Bianco, German Ariel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Ferrero, Mercedes. Laboratorio Inmunopatología Investigación y Docencia LIIDO; Argentina. Fundación Ver; ArgentinaFil: Juarez, Claudio P.. Fundación Ver; ArgentinaFil: Luna, José Domingo. Fundación Ver; ArgentinaFil: Rabinovich, Gabriel A.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin

Resistance training with single vs. multi-joint exercises at equal total load volume: Effects on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscle strength

The present study aimed to compare the effects of equal-volume resistance training performed with single-joint (SJ) or multi-joint exercises (MJ) on VO2max, muscle strength and body composition in physically active males. Thirty-six participants were divided in two groups: SJ group (n = 18, 182.1 ± 5.2, 80.03 ± 2.78 kg, 23.5 ± 2.7 years) exercised with only SJ exercises (e.g., dumbbell fly, knee extension, etc.) and MJ group (n = 18, 185.3 ± 3.6 cm, 80.69 ± 2.98 kg, 25.5 ± 3.8 years) with only MJ exercises (e.g., bench press, squat, etc.). The total work volume (repetitions × sets × load) was equated between groups. Training was performed three times a week for 8 weeks. Before and after the training period, participants were tested for VO2max, body composition, 1 RM on the bench press, knee extension and squat. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare post training values between groups, using baseline values as covariates. According to the results, both groups decreased body fat and increased fat free mass with no difference between them. Whilst both groups significantly increased cardiorespiratory fitness and maximal strength, the improvements in MJ group were higher than for SJ in VO2max (5.1 and 12.5% for SJ and MJ), bench press 1 RM (8.1 and 10.9% for SJ and MJ), knee extension 1 RM (12.4 and 18.9% for SJ and MJ) and squat 1 RM (8.3 and 13.8% for SJ and MJ). In conclusion, when total work volume was equated, RT programs involving MJ exercises appear to be more efficient for improving muscle strength and maximal oxygen consumption than programs involving SJ exercises, but no differences were found for body composition

Square selenene and tellurene: novel group VI elemental 2D materials with nontrivial topological properties

With first principles calculations, we predict a novel stable 2D layered structure for group VI elements Se and Te that we call square selenene and square tellurene, respectively. They have chair-like buckled structures similar to other layered materials such as silicene and germanene but with a square unit cell rather than a hexagonal one. This special structure gives rise to anisotropic band dispersions near the Fermi level that can be described by a generalized semi-Dirac Hamiltonian. We show that the considerably large band gap (~0.1 eV) opened by spin-orbit coupling makes square selenene and tellurene topological insulators, hosting non-trivial edge states. Therefore, square selenene and tellurene are promising materials for novel electronic and spintronic applications. Finally, we show that this new type of 2D elemental materials can potentially be grown on proper substrates, such as a Au(1 0 0) surface

Bone Marrow Stromal Cells: Characterization and Clinical Application

The bone marrow stroma consists of a heterogeneous population of cells that provide the structural and physiological support for hematopoietic cells. Additionally, the bone marrow stroma contains cells with a stem-cell-like character that allows them to differentiate into bone, cartilage, adipocytes, and hematopoietic supporting tissues. Several experimental approaches have been used to characterize the development and functional nature of these cells in vivo and their differentiating potential in vitro. In vivo, presumptive osteogenic precursors have been identified by morphologic and immunohistochemical methods. In culture, the stromal cells can be separated from hematopoietic cells by their differential adhesion to tissue culture plastic and their prolonged proliferative potential. In cultures generated from single-cell suspensions of marrow, bone marrow stromal cells grow in colonies, each derived from a single precursor cell termed the colony-forming unit-fibroblast. Culture methods have been developed to expand marrow stromal cells derived from human, mouse, and other species. Under appropriate conditions, these cells are capable of forming new bone after in vivo transplantation. Various methods of cultivation and transplantation conditions have been studied and found to have substantial influence on the transplantation outcome The finding that bone marrow stromal cells can be manipulated in vitro and subsequently form bone in vivo provides a powerful new model system for studying the basic biology of bone and for generating models for therapeutic strategies aimed at regenerating skeletal elements.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68070/2/10.1177_10454411990100020401.pd