Experimental and theoretical evidences for the ice regime in planar artificial spin ices

In this work, we explore a kind of geometrical effect in the thermodynamics of artificial spin ices (ASI). In general, such artificial materials are athermal. Here, We demonstrate that geometrically driven dynamics in ASI can open up the panorama of exploring distinct ground states and thermally magnetic monopole excitations. It is shown that a particular ASI lattice will provide a richer thermodynamics with nanomagnet spins experiencing less restriction to flip precisely in a kind of rhombic lattice. This can be observed by analysis of only three types of rectangular artificial spin ices (RASI). Denoting the horizontal and vertical lattice spacings by a and b, respectively, then, a RASI material can be described by its aspect ratio $\gamma$=a/b. The rhombic lattice emerges when $\gamma$=$\sqrt{3}$. So, by comparing the impact of thermal effects on the spin flips in these three appropriate different RASI arrays, it is possible to find a system very close to the ice regime

Star-forming dwarf galaxies in the Virgo cluster: the link between molecular gas, atomic gas, and dust

We present $^{12}$CO(1-0) and $^{12}$CO(2-1) observations of a sample of 20 star-forming dwarfs selected from the Herschel Virgo Cluster Survey, with oxygen abundances ranging from 12 + log(O/H) ~ 8.1 to 8.8. CO emission is observed in ten galaxies and marginally detected in another one. CO fluxes correlate with the FIR 250 $\mu$m emission, and the dwarfs follow the same linear relation that holds for more massive spiral galaxies extended to a wider dynamical range. We compare different methods to estimate H2 molecular masses, namely a metallicity-dependent CO-to-H2 conversion factor and one dependent on H-band luminosity. The molecular-to-stellar mass ratio remains nearly constant at stellar masses <~ 10$^9$ M$_{\odot}$, contrary to the atomic hydrogen fraction, M$_{HI}$/M$_*$, which increases inversely with M$_*$. The flattening of the M$_{H_2}$/M$_*$ ratio at low stellar masses does not seem to be related to the effects of the cluster environment because it occurs for both HI-deficient and HI-normal dwarfs. The molecular-to-atomic ratio is more tightly correlated with stellar surface density than metallicity, confirming that the interstellar gas pressure plays a key role in determining the balance between the two gaseous components of the interstellar medium. Virgo dwarfs follow the same linear trend between molecular gas mass and star formation rate as more massive spirals, but gas depletion timescales, $\tau_{dep}$, are not constant and range between 100 Myr and 6 Gyr. The interaction with the Virgo cluster environment is removing the atomic gas and dust components of the dwarfs, but the molecular gas appears to be less affected at the current stage of evolution within the cluster. However, the correlation between HI deficiency and the molecular gas depletion time suggests that the lack of gas replenishment from the outer regions of the disc is lowering the star formation activity.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Interactions between Plasmopara viticola infection and stilbene synthesis in leaves and berries of ten 'Cabernet Sauvignon' clones

Combining the knowledge that Plasmopara viticola causes considerable damages to Vitis vinifera L. worldwide production and that stilbenes have a regulatory influence on Plasmopara viticola - grapevine interaction, this study compares infection time course and stilbenes production in leaves and berries of ten different clones of 'Cabernet Sauvignon'. Following increasing infection rates, different stilbenes were produced and accumulated in leaves and berries of the same clone. Higher absolute values were found in leaves, where trans-resveratrol reaches up to 8 μg g-1 fw and ε-viniferin up to 30 μg g-1 fw while in berries, the values accumulated only up to a maximum of 3 μg g-1 fw of trans-piceid and 1,5 μg g-1 fw ε-viniferin

Double diffractive meson production and the BFKL Pomeron at e+e−e^+e^- colliders

In this Letter we study the double diffractive vector meson production in $e^+e^-$ collisions assuming the dominance of the BFKL pomeron exchange. We consider the non-forward solution of the BFKL equation at high energy and large momentum transfer and estimate the total cross section for the process $e^+e^- \to e^+e^- V_1 V_2$ with antitagged $e^+$ and $e^-$, where $V_1$ and $V_2$ can be any two vector mesons ($V_i = \rho, \omega, \phi, J/\Psi, \Upsilon$). The event rates for the future linear colliders are given.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, Version to be published in Physical Review

Johnsongrass mosaic virus infecting sorghum in Brazil.

Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is cultivated in several tropical and subtropical regions in the world. Among the diseases, the mosaic caused by potyvirus is an important constraint for the agricultural production causing reduction in grain and forage sorghum production. In Brazil, only Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) had previously been reported as the potyvirus species causing mosaic in sorghum and maize. A survey was carried out in sorghum plantations of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the 2014/2015 crop season for monitoring mosaic disease. Samples of sorghum plants expressing virus disease symptoms were collected for molecular analyzes. Molecular characterization of coat protein (CP) of the potyviruses naturally infecting sorghum, allowed us to identify the Johnsongrass mosaic virus (JGMV) as a new causal agent of mosaic disease in sorghum in Brazil. The sequences of the Brazilian JGMV sorghum-infecting (JGMV-Sr) isolates were deposited in the GenBank under the accession numbers KY952241, KY952242, and KY952243. Comparisons of the CP gene sequences of these Brazilian JGMV-Sr isolates revealed high nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequence identities, ranging from 97.93 to 98.23%, and 99.12 to 99.20%, respectively, with the U07218.1 (JGMV-MDKS1) isolate. The Brazilian JGMV-Sr isolates were distinct from the Brazilian forage grasses-infecting (JGMV-Fg) isolates (KT833782 and KT289893). Transmission evaluations showed susceptibility of the teosinte, Sorghum verticilliflorum and Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, except line QL3.Maize and sugarcane genotypes were not infected by the Brazilian JGMV-Sr isolate. However, it is important to test more genotypes. This is the first report showing the identification and molecular characterization of the JGMV species naturally infecting sorghum at field conditions, expanding the knowledge about the dynamic and range of the mosaic causal agent for this crop in Brazil

High dillution of Staphysagria and fruit fly biotherapic preparations to manage South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus, in organic peach orchards.

The peach, Prunus persica, is an important economic crop in southern Brazil, where family farms are predominantly small. The South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus is a limiting factor to increased production in orchard crops. Increased organic production in Brazil has stimulated research to find ecological based pest management. This research was carried out in order to evaluate the efficacy of preparations at high dilution in managing A. fraterculus in organic peach orchards. Experiments were conducted under field conditions in randomized blocks during 2003/04 and 2004/05. Treatments consisted of A. fraterculus nosodes and Staphysagria homeopathic preparations, both at two high dilution levels, 3CH and 6CH (centesimal hahnemannian dilution method), applied at two spray intervals, 5 and 10 days, and a control. Fruit losses due to A. fraterculus infestation varied from 40 to 98.3%. Although there were significant differences among treatments in the first harvest of two of the three experiments there were no significant differences in the second harvest of any of the experiments. None of the homeopathic preparations reduced the incidence of infested fruit significantly below that of the water control in any of the three experiments. Further studies must combine other strategies such as bagging fruits and planting of early season cultivars. Variation on high dilution potency, dose, and frequency of application must also be considered

Variabilidade entre linhagens de feijoeiro na eficiência de utilização de nitrogênio.

Foi realizado o presente trabalho com o objetivo de identificar linhagens de feijoeiro eficientes na utilização de nitrogênio

Grafting height does not affect Fusarium wilt control or horticultural performance of Passiflora gibertii N.E.Br. rootstock.

The influence of the grafting height (5, 10, 20 and 30 cm above the root collar) of P. edulis on P. gibertii was evaluated on the incidence of Fusarium wilt and horticultural performance. Plants of P. gibertii grafted on P. edulis and non-grafted plants of both species were also studied. In addition, histopathological studies were also performed on the roots of non-grafted P. edulis collected at three severity stages of Fusarium wilt. In greenhouse, the graft take was inversely related to the grafting height in general. In the field conditions, the plant growth of P. gibertii grafted on P. edulis was superior to its reciprocal grafting, even though the former combination was susceptible to Fop. Plants of P. edulis grafted on P. gibertii at all grafting heights did not present symptoms of Fop, and the number of fruit yield and quality were equivalent, but plant growth was decreased in relation to the non-grafted plants. Starch depletion in the root system of P. edulis was directly related to the severity of the Fusarium wilt. P. gibertii was confirmed as a Fusarium wilt resistant rootstock of P. edulis, with minimal influence of the grafting height for the control of the disease