852 research outputs found
Draft genome sequences of <i>Pantoea agglomerans</i> and <i>Pantoea vagans</i> isolates associated with termites
The genus Pantoea incorporates many economically and clinically important species. The plant-associated species,
Pantoea agglomerans and Pantoea vagans, are closely related and are often isolated from similar environments.
Plasmids conferring certain metabolic capabilities are also shared amongst these two species. The genomes of two
isolates obtained from fungus-growing termites in South Africa were sequenced, assembled and annotated. A high
number of orthologous genes are conserved within and between these species. The difference in genome size
between P. agglomerans MP2 (4,733,829 bp) and P. vagans MP7 (4,598,703 bp) can largely be attributed to the
differences in plasmid content. The genome sequences of these isolates may shed light on the common traits that
enable P. agglomerans and P. vagans to co-occur in plant- and insect-associated niches.The Danish Council for
Independent Research, Natural Sciences (STENO grant: Michael Poulsen), the
National Research Foundation (NRF) (RCA Fellowship: Pieter De Maayer) and
the NRF/Dept. of Science and Technology Centre of Excellence in Tree
Health Biotechnology (CTHB), South Africa.http://www.standardsingenomics.org/index.php/sigenam2016Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)Microbiology and Plant Patholog
Gamma-rays from millisecond pulsars in Globular Clusters
Globular clusters (GCs) with their ages of the order of several billion years
contain many final products of evolution of stars such as: neutron stars, white
dwarfs and probably also black holes. These compact objects can be at present
responsible for the acceleration of particles to relativistic energies.
Therefore, gamma-ray emission is expected from GCs as a result of radiation
processes occurring either in the inner magnetosperes of millisecond pulsars or
in the vicinity of accreting neutron stars and white dwarfs or as a result of
interaction of particles leaving the compact objects with the strong radiation
field within the GC. Recently, GeV gamma-ray emission has been detected from
several GCs by the new satellite observatory Fermi. Also Cherenkov telescopes
reported interesting upper limits at the TeV energies which start to constrain
the content of GCs. We review the results of these gamma-ray observations in
the context of recent scenarios for their origin.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, will be published in Astrophysics and Space
Science Series (Springer), eds. N. Rea and D.F. Torre
Turnover, account value and diversification of real traders: evidence of collective portfolio optimizing behavior
Despite the availability of very detailed data on financial market,
agent-based modeling is hindered by the lack of information about real trader
behavior. This makes it impossible to validate agent-based models, which are
thus reverse-engineering attempts. This work is a contribution to the building
of a set of stylized facts about the traders themselves. Using the client
database of Swissquote Bank SA, the largest on-line Swiss broker, we find
empirical relationships between turnover, account values and the number of
assets in which a trader is invested. A theory based on simple mean-variance
portfolio optimization that crucially includes variable transaction costs is
able to reproduce faithfully the observed behaviors. We finally argue that our
results bring into light the collective ability of a population to construct a
mean-variance portfolio that takes into account the structure of transaction
costsComment: 26 pages, 9 figures, Fig. 8 fixe
Allergy education and training for physicians.
The increasing prevalence of allergic diseases has placed a significant burden on global healthcare and society as whole. This has necessitated a rapid development of "allergy" as a specialist area. However, as allergy is so common and, for most, relatively easy to diagnose and control, all clinicians need to have basic knowledge and competence  to manage  mild disease and recognize when referral is required. The allergology specialty has not yet been recognized in many countries and even where allergy is fully recognized as a specialty, the approach to training in allergy differs significantly. In the light of recent developments in allergy diagnosis and management, there is an urgent need to harmonize core competences for physicians, as well as the standardization of core principles for medical education and post-graduate training in allergy. All physicians and allied health professionals must appreciate the multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to allergy, which is key to achieving the highest standards in holistic care. Due to worldwide variation in resources and personnel, some MDT roles will need to be absorbed by the treating physician or other healthcare professionals. We draw particular attention to the role of psychological input for all allergy patients, dietetic input in the case of food allergy and patient education to support all patients in the supported self-management of their condition on a daily basis. A strong appreciation of these multidisciplinary aspects will help physicians provide quality patient-centered care. We consider that harmonization of allergy components within undergraduate curricula is crucial to ensure all physicians develop the appropriate allergy-related knowledge and skills, particularly in light of inconsistencies seen in the primary care management of allergy. This review from the World Allergy Organization (WAO) Education and Training Committee also outlines allergy-related competences required of physicians working with allergic patients and provides recommendations to promote harmonization of allergy training and practice worldwide
Increasing Seed Viability of Maize Haploid Inducing Lines by Genetic and Non-Genetic Approaches
Some haploid inducing lines used in the production of maize doubled haploids (DHs), express germination problems and reduced vigor. In this study, haploid inducing lines RWS, RWK-76 and their reciprocal hybrids RWS/RWK-76 and RWK-76/RWS were examined for viability by Tetrazolium (TZ) and germination ability by standard germination tests. Evaluation based on TZ tests showed that 59% of the seed of RWK-76/RWS were not viable, compared with only 12% dead seed in RWS/RWK-76. Similarly, the percentage and speed of germination in RWK- 76/RWS (25%, 1.53) was lower than for RWS/RWK-76 (74%, 4.30). In an effort to develop a quick method for assessing seed viability in these lines, the TZ test was repeated in a different way. Seed from each genotype was placed in beakers containing distilled water.Seed would either float or sink. Subsequent TZ testing confirmed that seed that floated was dead, and seed that sank was alive, although some of them had defective embryos. The dead seed in both genotypes failed to develop an embryo, leaving an empty cavity that would fill with air and cause seed to float on water. This feature can be exploited for a simple and practical method to separate living from dead seed. In addition, we surveyed theig1 (indeterminate gametophyte) gene as a candidate for germination problems in inducer lines.Sequencing data from theig1 region showed that RWS and RWK-76 differed in one nucleotide and amino acidin the firstexon of ig1.Segregation of ig1 alleles from RWS and RWK-76 wassignificantly (P=0.01) distortedin the respectiveF2 population relative to the expected Mendelian segregation ratio (1:2:1). Thus, either ig1 or a linked gene in the ig1 region affect seed viability
âWe never boil our milk, it will cause sore udders and mastitis in our cowsâ- consumption practices, knowledge and milk safety awareness in Senegal
Phylogenomic resolution of the bacterial genus Pantoea and its relationship with Erwinia and Tatumella
Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch
H.E.S.S. observations of gamma-ray bursts in 2003-2007
Very-high-energy (VHE; >~100 GeV) gamma-rays are expected from gamma-ray
bursts (GRBs) in some scenarios. Exploring this photon energy regime is
necessary for understanding the energetics and properties of GRBs. GRBs have
been one of the prime targets for the H.E.S.S. experiment, which makes use of
four Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) to detect VHE gamma-rays.
Dedicated observations of 32 GRB positions were made in the years 2003-2007 and
a search for VHE gamma-ray counterparts of these GRBs was made. Depending on
the visibility and observing conditions, the observations mostly start minutes
to hours after the burst and typically last two hours. Results from
observations of 22 GRB positions are presented and evidence of a VHE signal was
found neither in observations of any individual GRBs, nor from stacking data
from subsets of GRBs with higher expected VHE flux according to a
model-independent ranking scheme. Upper limits for the VHE gamma-ray flux from
the GRB positions were derived. For those GRBs with measured redshifts,
differential upper limits at the energy threshold after correcting for
absorption due to extra-galactic background light are also presented.Comment: 9 pages, 4 tables, 3 figure
Fermi Large Area Telescope observations of the Vela-X Pulsar Wind Nebula
We report on gamma-ray observations in the off-pulse window of the Vela
pulsar PSR B0833-45, using 11 months of survey data from the Fermi Large Area
Telescope (LAT). This pulsar is located in the 8 degree diameter Vela supernova
remnant, which contains several regions of non-thermal emission detected in the
radio, X-ray and gamma-ray bands. The gamma-ray emission detected by the LAT
lies within one of these regions, the 2*3 degrees area south of the pulsar
known as Vela-X. The LAT flux is signicantly spatially extended with a best-fit
radius of 0.88 +/- 0.12 degrees for an assumed radially symmetric uniform disk.
The 200 MeV to 20 GeV LAT spectrum of this source is well described by a
power-law with a spectral index of 2.41 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.15 and integral flux
above 100 MeV of (4.73 +/- 0.63 +/- 1.32) * 10^{-7} cm^{-2} s^{-1}. The first
errors represent the statistical error on the fit parameters, while the second
ones are the systematic uncertainties. Detailed morphological and spectral
analyses give strong constraints on the energetics and magnetic field of the
pulsar wind nebula (PWN) system and favor a scenario with two distinct electron
populations.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical
Journa
Discovery of Pulsed -rays from PSR J0034-0534 with the Fermi LAT: A Case for Co-located Radio and -ray Emission Regions
Millisecond pulsars (MSPs) have been firmly established as a class of
gamma-ray emitters via the detection of pulsations above 0.1 GeV from eight
MSPs by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). Using thirteen months of LAT data
significant gamma-ray pulsations at the radio period have been detected from
the MSP PSR J0034-0534, making it the ninth clear MSP detection by the LAT. The
gamma-ray light curve shows two peaks separated by 0.2740.015 in phase
which are very nearly aligned with the radio peaks, a phenomenon seen only in
the Crab pulsar until now. The 0.1 GeV spectrum of this pulsar is well
fit by an exponentially cutoff power law with a cutoff energy of 1.80.1 GeV and a photon index of 1.50.1, first errors are
statistical and second are systematic. The near-alignment of the radio and
gamma-ray peaks strongly suggests that the radio and gamma-ray emission regions
are co-located and both are the result of caustic formation.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap
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