Identification of a Linear Neutralization Domain in the Protein VP2 of African Horse Sickness Virus

AbstractOverlapping fragments of the outermost capsid protein VP2 of African horse sickness virus serotype 4 (AHSV-4) have been expressed in Escherichia coli. Horse sera from infected and vaccinated animals, rabbit sera, and mice monoclonal antibodies specific for AHSV were used to screen these fragments for antigenic regions. The screening revealed that the major antigenic domain of the AHSV-4 VP2 is localized in a central region (amino acids 200 to 413) and that both the N-terminal region (aa 1-159) and the half C-terminal region (aa 414-1060) are not immunogenic. All the fragments containing a region between amino acids 253 and 413 (fragment H) were able to elicit consistently high titers of neutralizing antibodies. The ability of several subfragments of this region to evoke neutralizing antibodies indicates the presence of several sites inside this domain. However, neutralizing antibodies in sera of horse infected or vaccinated with attenuated viruses were not absorbed by fragment H, indicating that this domain is not immunodominant in AHSV. This information might be useful in designing a subunit vaccine against AHSV infection

Accuracy and precision of the estimation of the number of missing levels in chaotic spectra using long-range correlations

We study the accuracy and precision for estimating the fraction of observed levels $\varphi$ in quantum chaotic spectra through long-range correlations. We focus on the main statistics where theoretical formulas for the fraction of missing levels have been derived, the $\Delta_3$ of Dyson and Mehta and the power spectrum of the $\delta_n$ statistic. We use Monte Carlo simulations of the spectra from the diagonalization of Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble matrices with a definite number of levels randomly taken out to fit the formulas and calculate the distribution of the estimators for different sizes of the spectrum and values of $\varphi$. A proper averaging of the power spectrum of the $\delta_n$ statistic needs to be performed for avoiding systematic errors in the estimation. Once the proper averaging is made the estimation of the fraction of observed levels has quite good accuracy for the two methods even for the lowest dimensions we consider $d=100$. However, the precision is generally better for the estimation using the power spectrum of the $\delta_n$ as compared to the estimation using the $\Delta_3$ statistic. This difference is clearly bigger for larger dimensions. Our results show that a careful analysis of the value of the fit in view of the ensemble distribution of the estimations is mandatory for understanding its actual significance and give a realistic error interval.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure

Avaliação da dispersão da levedura starter - Zymaflore Vl1 de Laffort Oenologie, em ambiente natural na proximidade de adegas da Região dos Vinhos Verdes

Resumo da comunicação oral apresentada no encontro científico "10as Jornadas de Biologia de Leveduras Professor Nicolau van Uden", em Maio 2002, Faro, Portugal.Nos últimos 20 anos, foi seleccionado um elevado número de estirpes da levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae tendo em vista a sua aplicação em enologia. Hoje em dia, cerca de 50% da produção total de vinho na Europa é obtida através do uso destas leveduras industriais, comercializadas por várias empresas. Do ponto de vista ecológico tratam-se de estirpes não-indígenas de S. cerevisiae, que são introduzidas anualmente no ecossistema na zona da adega. Conhecer a capacidade de adaptação e/ou dispersão destas estirpes no ambiente natural, e em zonas geográficas distintas, constituiu o objectivo do presente trabalho. A duração prevista destes estudos é 3 anos. Seleccionaram-se três vinhas localizadas na proximidade de adegas da região demarcada dos Vinhos Verdes: Quinta de Covela (S. Tomé de Covela/Baião), Quinta do Ameal (Ponte de Lima) e Provam (Monção). O critério de selecção das adegas assentou no facto de estas distanciarem mais de 10 km entre si e de utilizarem continuamente a levedura starter (Zymaflore VL1 de Laffort Oenologie) nos últimos 5 anos. A colheitas das uvas foi realizadas em seis pontos de amostragem em campanhas pré-vindima e pós-vindima. Foram realizadas 36 vinificações à escala laboratorial (0,5 l de mosto proveniente de cerca de 2 Kg de uvas), à temperatura de 20ºC. Em cada microvinificação recolheram-se 30 colónias nos pontos da fermentação alcoólica correspondentes à perda de 30g/l (fase intermédia da fermentação) e de 70g/l (fase final da fermentação). A identificação das estirpes isoladas foi realizada por análise dos padrões de amplificação de sequências ∂ [1, 2] e por análise dos padrões de restrição de DNA mitocondrial [3]. Na Quinta de Covela, e apenas no ponto mais próximo da adega se detectaram colónias com padrões idênticos à VL, tanto na amostra pré-vindima (3%), como na amostra pós-vindima (97%)

Exploring the halo character and dipole response in the dripline nucleus F 31

Background: Lying at the lower edge of the “island of inversion,” neutron-rich fluorine isotopes ( 29 – 31 F ) provide a curious case to study the configuration mixing in this part of the nuclear landscape. Recent studies have suggested that a prospective two-neutron halo in the dripline nucleus 31 F could be linked to the occupancy of the p f intruder configurations. Purpose: Focusing on configuration mixing, matter radii, and neutron-neutron ( n n ) correlations in the ground state of 31 F , we explore various scenarios to analyze its possible halo nature as well as the low-lying electric dipole ( E 1 ) response within a three-body approach. Method: We use an analytical, transformed harmonic oscillator basis under the aegis of a hyperspherical formalism to construct the ground-state three-body wave function of 31 F . The n n interaction is defined by the Gogny-Pires-Tourreil potential that includes the central, spin-orbit, and tensor terms, while the different two-body potentials to describe the core + n subsystems are constrained by the different possible scenarios considered. Results: The 31 F ground-state configuration mixing and its matter radius are computed for different choices of the 30 F structure coupled to the valence neutron. The admixture of p 3 / 2 , d 3 / 2 , and f 7 / 2 components is found to play an important role, favoring the dominance of inverted configurations with dineutron spreads for two-neutron halo formation. The increase in matter radius with respect to the core radius, Δ r ≳ 0.30 fm and the dipole distributions along with the integrated B ( E 1 ) strengths of ⩾ 2.6 e 2 fm 2 are large enough to be compatible with other two-neutron halo nuclei.Scuola Italiana Design (SID) de la Università degli Studi di Padova-CASA_SID19_0

The algebraic molecular model in 12^{12}C and its application to the α\alpha+12^{12}C scattering: from densities and transition densities to optical potentials and nuclear formfactors

The algebraic molecular model is used in $^{12}$C to construct densities and transition densities connecting low-lying states of the rotovibrational spectrum, first and foremost those belonging to the rotational bands based on the ground and the Hoyle states. These densities are then used as basic ingredients to calculate, besides electromagnetic transition probabilities, nuclear potentials and formfactors to describe elastic and inelastic $\alpha$+$^{12}$C scattering processes. The calculated densities and transition densities are also compared with those obtained by directly solving the problem of three interacting alpha's within a three-body approach where continuum effects, relevant in particular for the Hoyle state, are properly taken into account.Comment: Contribution to "Symmetries and Order: Algebraic Methods in Many Body Systems", in honor of F. Iachell

Fried potatoes: Impact of prolonged frying in monounsaturated oils

Fresh potatoes were intermittently deep-fried up to recommended limits (175 °C, 8 h/day, 28 h) in extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), peanut oil (PO) and canola oil (CO), and compared for diverse chemical components and sensorial attributes, aiming to quantify the impact of prolonged frying on potatoes nutrients, and the potential alterations resulting from the use of different monounsaturated-rich oils. Independently of oil type, its degradation promotes time-dependent losses of important potato nutrients, as vitamin C. Regarding the monounsaturated-rich oils tested, potatoes fried in CO had more equilibrated fatty acid profiles, but higher amounts of aldehydes derived from PUFA oxidation, while in EVOO were enriched with phenolic compounds. Acrylamide amounts were not affected by oil type or frying hours. Sensory degradation was gradually perceived by the panellists, except in PO. Prolonged frying should not be studied only on the basis of oil degradation because, even if within regulated limits, it induces loss of important food compounds.The authors acknowledge the financial support from PRODER (Contract n° 53988), co-financed by FAEDER, and from project UID/QUI/50006/2013 – POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265 with financial support from FCT/MEC through national funds, co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020 and the PhD Grant—SFRH/BD/82285/2011 attributed to Carla S.P. Santos. Lucía Molina García also acknowledges the financial support from Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario (ceiA3) and University of Jaén, from Spain

Influence of match status on corner kick in elite soccer

El propósito del estudio es analizar como la variable situacional resultado parcial puede afectar al comportamiento táctico-estratégico en los saques de esquina en fútbol. Se han estudiado 902 saques de esquina realizados en 95 partidos correspondientes a la UEFA Euro 2012, y Fase Final de la FIFA World Cup 2010. Para identificar las interacciones se utilizó el método de crecimiento Chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID), que nos ha permitido identificar tres modelos: con el resultado de empate en los últimos minutos de juego, el equipo atacante incorpora al remate entre 2 a 5 jugadores y el equipo rival sitúa 1 ó 2 jugadores bajo palos. Ganando en los últimos minutos del encuentro, el equipo sitúa también entre 2 a 5 jugadores en ataque y el rival no defiende bajo palos. Perdiendo en los últimos minutos del encuentro, el equipo atacante incorpora a 6 o más jugadores al ataqueThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of the situational variable match status on corner kicks performance indicators in 95 matches played during the final stages of the 2012 UEFA European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Video recordings of the matches were analyzed and coded post-event using notational analysis. Multiple interactions between the performance indicators and match status were analyzed using the Chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) decision-tree method. The results show that when a corner kick is taken during the last 30 minutes of the match, teams that are losing place 6 or more attackers in the shooting area, while teams that are drawing place 2-5 attackers in this area. In the same situation, teams that are drawing place 1-2 defenders at the goalposts while winning teams place non

Electric dipole response of low-lying excitations in the two-neutron halo nucleus 29\boldsymbol{^{29}}F

The neutron-rich $^{28,29}$F isotopes have been recently studied via knockout and interaction cross-section measurements. The $2n$ halo in $^{29}$F has been linked to the occupancy of $pf$ intruder configurations. We investigate bound and continuum states in $^{29}$F, focusing on the $E1$ response of low-lying excitations and the effect of dipole couplings on nuclear reactions. $^{29}\text{F}$ ($^{27}\text{F}+n+n$) wave functions are built within the hyperspherical harmonics formalism, and reaction cross sections are calculated using the Glauber theory. Continuum states and $B(E1)$ transition probabilities are described in a pseudostate approach using the analytical THO basis. The corresponding structure form factors are used in CDCC calculations to describe low-energy scattering. Parity inversion in $^{28}$F leads to a $^{29}$F ground state characterized by 57.5% of $(p_{3/2})^2$ intruder components, a strong dineutron configuration, and an increase of the matter radius with respect to the core radius of $\Delta R=0.20$ fm. Glauber-model calculations for a carbon target at 240 MeV/nucleon provide a total reaction cross section of 1370 mb, in agreement with recent data. The model produces also a barely bound excited state corresponding to a quadrupole excitation. $B(E1)$ calculations into the continuum yield a total strength of 1.59 e$^2$fm$^2$ up to 6 MeV, and the $E1$ distribution exhibits a resonance at $\approx$ 0.85 MeV. Results using a standard shell-model order for $^{28}$F lead to a considerable reduction of the $B(E1)$ distribution. The four-body CDCC calculations for $^{29}\text{F}+^{120}\text{Sn}$ around the Coulomb barrier are dominated by dipole couplings, which totally cancel the Fresnel peak in the elastic cross section. These results are consistent with a two-neutron halo and may guide future experimental campaigns.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures. Accepted in Physical Review

Populational analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains from different appellations of origin and grape varieties by microsatellite analysis.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate populational relationships among Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from some of the Portuguese most important grapevine varieties in different appellations of origin, using polymorphic microsatellites. 
One hundred ninety two grape samples were collected during the 2006 and 2007 harvest season in the Vinho Verde (grape varieties: Arinto, Alvarinho, Avesso, Loureiro, Touriga Nacional) Bairrada (grape varieties: Arinto, Baga, Castelão Francês, Maria Gomes, Touriga Nacional) Alentejo (grape varieties, Aragonês, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional), Terras do Sado (grape variety Castelão) Bucelas (grape variety Arinto) and Estremadura (grape varieties: Arinto, Aragonês, Castelão, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional) appellations of origin. From the final stage of spontaneous fermentations, 2820 yeast isolates were obtained, mainly belonging to the species S. cerevisiae. An initial genetic screen, based on mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (mtDNA RFLP) and/or interdelta sequence analysis was followed by microsatellite analysis of strains with unique genetic profiles, using 10 highly polymorphic microsatellites. Our results showed that microsatellite analysis revealed a high resolution populational screen, showing that genetic differences and populational structures among S. cerevisiae populations derived from both “diagnostic” vineyard-, specific alleles and the accumulation of small allele-frequency differences across ten microsatellite loci. Heterozygosity was three to four times lower than the expected value, confirming the strong populational substructuring. The presented large-scale approach shows that each vineyard contains differentiated S. cerevisiae populations, showing the occurrence of specific native strains that can be associated with a terroir. 

Financially supported by the programs POCI 2010 (FEDER/FCT, POCTI/AGR/56102/2004) and AGRO (ENOSAFE, Nº 762).
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The 29F nucleus as a lighthouse on the coast of the island of inversion

The exotic, neutron-rich and weakly-bound isotope 29F stands out as a waymarker on the southern shore of the island of inversion, a portion of the nuclear chart where the effects of nuclear forces lead to a reshuffling of the single particle levels and to a reorganization of the nuclear structure far from stability. This nucleus has become very popular, as new measurements allow to refine theoretical models. We review the latest developments and suggest how to further assess the structure by proposing predictions on electromagnetic transitions that new experiments of Relativistic Coulomb Excitation should soon become able to measure