Quantitative PCR assay for detection of Bois noir phytoplasmas in grape and insect tissue

In Europe's vineyards "Bois noir" (BN) is an expanding yellows disease on Vitis vinifera. It is associated with phytoplasmas of the stolbur group (16SrXII-A). Two subtypes are important, one is associated with Urtica dioica and one with Convolvulus arvensis. Both phytoplasma types are transmitted by the insect Hyalesthes obsoletus. A nucleic acid extraction method for V. vinifera and H. obsoletus was developed together with a real time PCR (qPCR) assay based on a polymorphic sequence with homology to a putative dimethyladenosine transferase. The comparison of the conventional detection method with the qPCR assay of 40 insect and 40 V. vinifera samples showed a 10 % higher sensitivity of qPCR in plant samples. The titer of phytoplasmas in H. obsoletus was 2643-fold increased in the strongest infected samples compared to the lowest ones. The results suggest this real-time PCR as a valid and fast alternative procedure for the detection and quantification of BN phytoplasmas. The assay allows to discriminate the two phytoplasma types and to quantify phytoplasmas in H. obsoletus.

A rapid and inexpensive RNA-extraction method for high-throughput virus detection in grapevine

The extraction of RNA from grapevine tissue is a crucial step for virus diagnostics via multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR). Conventional methods are either time-consuming or expensive when convenient extraction kits are used. Here we present an easy, but reliable extraction method that fulfills the requirements of epidemiological research (high sample throughput with maximum accuracy). A further advantage of the protocol beside the low costs is the absence of harmful chemicals like phenol or chloroform and the possibility to manage 'high-throughput' extractions and analyses

Fifth-order susceptibility unveils growth of thermodynamic amorphous order in glass-formers

Glasses are ubiquitous in daily life and technology. However the microscopic mechanisms generating this state of matter remain subject to debate: Glasses are considered either as merely hyper-viscous liquids or as resulting from a genuine thermodynamic phase transition towards a rigid state. We show that third- and fifth-order susceptibilities provide a definite answer to this longstanding controversy. Performing the corresponding high-precision nonlinear dielectric experiments for supercooled glycerol and propylene carbonate, we find strong support for theories based upon thermodynamic amorphous order. Moreover, when lowering temperature, we find that the growing transient domains are compact - that is their fractal dimension d_f = 3. The glass transition may thus represent a class of critical phenomena different from canonical second-order phase transitions for which d_f < 3.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

The first record in Italy of Trichogramma cordubense Vargas & Cabello 1985 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) emerging from the eggs of Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

This study investigated the egg parasitoids of Lobesia botrana (Denis &amp; Schiffermüller, 1775) feeding on Daphne gnidium L. (Malvales, Thymelaeaceae) in the San Rossore-Migliarino-Massaciuccoli Nature Reserve (Tuscany, Italy). Four species of egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma spp. were obtained. The parasitization rate gradually increased over the season, reaching its maximum level in September 2015, with a percentage of parasitized eggs close to 55&nbsp;%. Three of the species obtained were already known as L.&nbsp;botrana parasitoids, whereas the finding of Trichogramma cordubense Vargas &amp; Cabello, 1985 represents the first recording in Italy, as well as the first report of this species among the natural enemies of L. botrana

Современные методы оценки персонала ( на примере МБУ ДО СДЮСШОР «Олимп» г. Зеленогорск)

РЕФЕРАТ Бакалаврская работа 94 с., 15 рис., 17 табл., 45 источников, 5 прил. Ключевые слова: оценка персонала, персонал организации, методы оценки, интегральный подход, анализ, анкетирование, эффективность, совер-шенствование методов оценки. Объектом исследования является оценка деятельности тренерско – преподавательского состава в МБУ ДО СДЮСШОР «Олимп» г. Зеленогорска Красноярского края. Цель исследования является выработка рекомендаций по совершенствованию методов оценки персонала. В результате исследования были разработаны мероприятия направленные на совершенствование методов оценки персонала. Степень внедрения: разработанные рекомендации могут быть использованы руководством предприятия с целью эффективности использования персонала предприятия. Область применения: разработанные методы оценки персонала организации могут быть использованы на предприятии, организации, фирме любой отрасли. Экономическая эффективность/значимость работы: эффективность реализации разработанных мероприятий направленных на совершенствование оценки персонала в МБУ ДО СДЮСШОР «Олимп» очевидна, что позволит руководству данного образовательного учреждения повысить эффективность использования персонала предприятия. В будущем планируется разработка наиболее новых методологических аспектов оценки персонала, направленных на совершенствование структуры управления и повышение эффективности использования персонала образовательного учреждения.ESSAY Bachelor work 94 p., 15 fig., 17 tab., 45 sources, 5 adj. Keywords: evaluation of personnel, staff organization, evaluation methods, inte-gral approach, analysis, questioning, efficiency, improvement of assessment methods. The object of the study is to evaluate the activity of coaching - the teacher-sky composition in the MBU to SDYUSSHOR "Olympus" Zelenogorsk Krasnoyarsk Territory. The purpose of this study is to develop recommendations for improving Meto-ing personnel evaluations. As a result of research activities aimed at Sauveur-ment personnel evaluation methods have been developed. Degree of implementation: developed recommendations can be used handle-duction of the enterprise for the purpose of efficient use of personnel of the enterprise. Scope: designed organization personnel evaluation methods can be used in the enterprise, organization, company in any industry. Cost-effectiveness / value of the work: the effectiveness of the implementation of time-work activities aimed at improving the evaluation of staff at MBU to SDYUSSHOR "Olympus" is obvious that enable management of the educational institution more efficient use of personnel of the enterprise. In the future development of the most recent assessment of the methodological aspects of personnel, aimed at improving the management structure and more efficient use of personnel of the educational institution

Precipitated iron: a limit on gettering efficacy in multicrystalline silicon

A phosphorus diffusion gettering model is used to examine the efficacy of a standard gettering process on interstitial and precipitated iron in multicrystalline silicon. The model predicts a large concentration of precipitated iron remaining after standard gettering for most as-grown iron distributions. Although changes in the precipitated iron distribution are predicted to be small, the simulated post-processing interstitial iron concentration is predicted to depend strongly on the as-grown distribution of precipitates, indicating that precipitates must be considered as internal sources of contamination during processing. To inform and validate the model, the iron distributions before and after a standard phosphorus diffusion step are studied in samples from the bottom, middle, and top of an intentionally Fe-contaminated laboratory ingot. A census of iron-silicide precipitates taken by synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy confirms the presence of a high density of iron-silicide precipitates both before and after phosphorus diffusion. A comparable precipitated iron distribution was measured in a sister wafer after hydrogenation during a firing step. The similar distributions of precipitated iron seen after each step in the solar cell process confirm that the effect of standard gettering on precipitated iron is strongly limited as predicted by simulation. Good agreement between the experimental and simulated data supports the hypothesis that gettering kinetics is governed by not only the total iron concentration but also by the distribution of precipitated iron. Finally, future directions based on the modeling are suggested for the improvement of effective minority carrier lifetime in multicrystalline silicon solar cells

Surface Grafting of Poly(L-glutamates). 2. Helix Orientation

In this paper the average helix orientation of surface-grafted poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBLG), poly(γ-methyl L-glutamate) (PMLG), and poly(γ-methyl L-glutamate)-co-(γ-n-stearyl L-glutamate) (PMLGSLG 70/30) was investigated by means of FT-IR transmission spectroscopy. The theoretical relation between the average tilt angle (θ) and the absorption peak areas of three different backbone amide bands could be calculated because their transition dipole moment directions with respect to the helix axis were known. From the normalized absorptions, the average tilt angles of grafted helices of PBLG, PMLG, and PMLGSLG 70/30 were determined. The somewhat larger average angle of PMLG helices of 35 ± 5° with respect to the substrate compared to the value of 32 ± 5° of PBLG was due to the higher grafting density of PMLG. Because of the smaller helix diameter as a result of the smaller size of the methyl side group, more PMLG helices grew on the same surface area. Sterical hindrance and unfavorable polar interactions between unidirectional aligned helices forced the PMLG helices in a more upright arrangement. The even more perpendicular orientation of PMLGSLG 70/30 (48 ± 6°) could be the result of incorporation of mainly γ-methyl L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (MLG-NCA) monomers during the initiation step. Incorporation of the much larger γ-n-stearyl L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (SLG-NCA) monomers afterward lead to enlarged angles with respect to the substrate. Due to swelling, a pronounced change in helix orientation of grafted PMLGSLG 70/30 in n-hexadecane was observed, resulting in an almost perpendicular helix orientation.

Efficient determiniation of multilayer relaxation in the Pt(210) stepped and densely kinked surface

The multilayer relaxation of the Pt(210) stepped and kinked surface is analyzed by low-energy-electron diffraction. This is the first application of the new real-space multiple-scattering theory of LEED, designed specifically for such open surfaces where conventional theories fail. Combined with an automated tensor LEED method, it efficiently detects nonalternating atomic relaxations which are oriented primarily perpendicular to the surface. These relaxations are in qualitative agreement with new embedded-atom-method results

Effect of interchain coupling on conducting polymer luminescence: excimers in derivatives of poly(phenylene vinylene)

Optical excitation of a chain in a polymer film may result in formation of an excimer, a superposition of on-chain excitons and charge-transfer excitons on the originally excited chain and a neighboring chain. The excimer emission is red-shifted compared to that of an on-chain exciton by an amount depending on the interchain coupling $t_\perp$. Setting up the excimer wavefunction and calculating the red shift, we determine average $t_\perp$ values, referred to a monomer, of 0.52 eV and 0.16 eV for poly(2,5-hexyloxy $p$-phenylene cyanovinylene), CN-PPV, and poly[2-methoxy, 5-(2'-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1, 4 p-phenylene vinylene], MEH-PPV, respectively, and use them to determine the effect of interchain distance on the emission.Comment: 10 pages, RevTeX, 1 PS figure, replaced version of cond-mat/9707095, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B, Rapid Communicatio