Phylogenomic analysis of a 55.1 kb 19-gene dataset resolves a monophyletic Fusarium that includes the Fusarium solani Species Complex

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user¿s needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of Fusarium that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important Fusarium species, including the F. solani species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus Fusarium into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus Neocosmospora, with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of Fusarium is polyphyletic. Here, we test this claim and provide a phylogeny based on exonic nucleotide sequences of 19 orthologous protein-coding genes that strongly support the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC. We reassert the practical and scientific argument in support of a genus Fusarium that includes the FSSC and several other basal lineages, consistent with the longstanding use of this name among plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, students, and researchers with a stake in its taxonomy. In recognition of this monophyly, 40 species described as genus Neocosmospora were recombined in genus Fusarium, and nine others were renamed Fusarium. Here the global Fusarium community voices strong support for the inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium, as it remains the best scientific, nomenclatural, and practical taxonomic option availabl

Polarized Emission from Interstellar Dust


Observations of far-infrared (FIR) and submillimeter (SMM) polarized emission are used to study magnetic fields and dust grains in dense regions on the interstellar medium (ISM). These observations place constraints on models of molecular clouds, star-formation, grain alignment mechanisms, and grain size, shape, and composition.
 The FIR/SMM polarization is strongly dependent on wavelength. We have attributed this wavelength dependence to sampling different grain populations at different temperatures. To date, most observations of polarized emission have been in the densest regions of the ISM. Extending these observations to regions of the diffuse ISM, and to microwave frequencies, will provide additional tests of grain and alignment models.
An understanding of polarized microwave emission from dust is key to an accurate measurement of the polarization of the cosmic microwave background. The microwave polarization spectrum will put limits on the contributions to polarized emission from spinning dust and vibrating magnetic dust.

Large area bismuth absorbers for X-ray microcalorimeters

Two challenges facing the use of large area (2mm×2mm) bismuth absorbers for microcalorimetry are uncertainties in the heat capacity of bismuth and the effects of lateral heat conduction and position dependence due to the absorber's large size. We have measured the heat capacity of three Bi samples to be 0.3−0.6JK−1m−3 at 100mK. These absorbers also exhibit response variations as phonons created by an X-ray event at an absorber edge will take longer to propagate to the thermometer attachment point than those at the absorber center. This effect may degrade the detector's energy resolution if the propagation time is not very short compared to the thermometer time constant. We show that the response of the largest absorber varies by ∼4% across its area

Design of the second generation XRS detector

Microcalorimeter performance is limited by non-ideal effects that were not included in the standard theory of bolometers and microcalorimeters developed 20 years ago by Mather (Appl. Opt. 21 (1982) 1125). These include the hot-electron effect, absorber decoupling, thermometer non-ohmic behavior, and all related extra noise sources. Models that include these effects have been developed and can be used to optimize the design of microcalorimeters for best performance. The design of the array for the XRS detector on the Astro-E2 satellite was completely optimized based on the required performance and on the characteristics of the materials used. The characteristic heat capacity and thermal conductivity of all the detector components have been measured and the values have been used as input to the models to design the detector geometry for best performance. Mechanical modeling has also been carried out in parallel to ensure the mechanical integrity of the microcalorimeter. We report here the analysis involved in the optimization of the detectors, and the comparison between modeled and measured performance

Far-Infrared Polarimetry of the Interstellar Medium

Polarimetry at far-infrared wavelengths is a key tool for studying physical processes on size scales ranging from interstellar dust grains to entire galaxies. A multi-wavelength continuum polarimeter at these wavelengths will allow studies of thermal dust polarization in an effort to constrain the grains’ physical properties and test grain alignment theory. High spatial resolution (5–30 arcsec) and sensitive observations will measure the influence of magnetic fields on infrared cirrus clouds, the envelopes and disks of YSOs, outflows from both low- and high-mass star forming regions, and the relative strength of magnetic, gravitational, and turbulent effects in star- and cloud-formation

The next-generation microcalorimeter array of XRS on Astro-E2

The square-format 32-pixel microcalorimeter array at the focal plane of the high-resolution X-ray spectrometer on the Astro-E2 X-ray Observatory is the first of a new generation of silicon-based microcalorimeters. This array has numerous advantages over its predecessor, the bilinear array that was launched on Astro-E. Foremost among its benefits are: (1) the energy resolution is improved by a factor of two at 6keV (now 6eV FWHM), (2) the thermal time constant is a factor of two faster, and (3) each pixel has a Gaussian line response. We will discuss the design changes that have led to these and other advantages