beta-Cu2V2O7: a spin-1/2 honeycomb lattice system

We report on band structure calculations and a microscopic model of the low-dimensional magnet beta-Cu2V2O7. Magnetic properties of this compound can be described by a spin-1/2 anisotropic honeycomb lattice model with the averaged coupling \bar J1=60-66 K. The low symmetry of the crystal structure leads to two inequivalent couplings J1 and J1', but this weak spatial anisotropy does not affect the essential physics of the honeycomb spin lattice. The structural realization of the honeycomb lattice is highly non-trivial: the leading interactions J1 and J1' run via double bridges of VO4 tetrahedra between spatially separated Cu atoms, while the interactions between structural nearest neighbors are negligible. The non-negligible inter-plane coupling Jperp~15 K gives rise to the long-range magnetic ordering at TN~26 K. Our model simulations improve the fit of the magnetic susceptibility data, compared to the previously assumed spin-chain models. Additionally, the simulated ordering temperature of 27 K is in remarkable agreement with the experiment. Our study evaluates beta-Cu2V2O7 as the best available experimental realization of the spin-1/2 Heisenberg model on the honeycomb lattice. We also provide an instructive comparison of different band structure codes and computational approaches to the evaluation of exchange couplings in magnetic insulators.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables: revised version, extended description of simulation result

Caracterização molecular por ISSR de acessos de melancia do Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Cucurbitáceas.

Suplemento. Edição dos Anais do 52 Congresso Brasileiro de Olericultura, Salvador, jul. 201

Cytogenetics and cytotaxonomy of Velloziaceae.

Chromosome number and other cytological features are reported from 35 species of Velloziaceae, including several african and brazilian populations. All analyzed species show areticulate interphase nuclei and prophase/prometaphase chromosomes with proximal early condensation. Most heteropycnotic blocks do not seem to correspond to heterochromatin since, at least in Vellozia patens, they do not stain differentially after C-banding procedures. Regarding the chromosome number, three main groups could be identified. The first comprised diploid species of the genera Nanuza, Vellozia and the brazilian species of Xerophyta with 2n=14 or 16; the second comprised tetraploid species with 2n=34, and included all brazilian species of subfam. Barbacenioideae; the third group, of hexaploid species, comprised the African representatives of the genus Xerophyta. A single population of Vellozia, possibly of hybrid origin, had 2n~=32. A basic number of x=8 is proposed for the family. The karyological information supports the hypothesis that the Velloziaceae originated on the South American, rather than on the African continent

Genetic diversity among cowpea cultivars as revealed by ISSR and DAF markers.

BIOLATINA 2010. Autoria: DAMASCENO-SILVA, K. J. [i.e. SILVA, K. J. D. e]

Receptor-like proteins (RLPs) in the transcriptome of Vitis spp. under inoculation of Xanthomonas citri.

Objetivou-se identificar e caracterizar transcritos que codificam proteínas RLPs em dois acessos de Vitis inoculados com Xanthomonas citri

Genome-Wide Screen of Genes Required for Caffeine Tolerance in Fission Yeast

Isabel A. Calvo et al...Background An excess of caffeine is cytotoxic to all eukaryotic cell types. We aim to study how cells become tolerant to a toxic dose of this drug, and the relationship between caffeine and oxidative stress pathways. Methodology/Principal Findings We searched for Schizosaccharomyces pombe mutants with inhibited growth on caffeine-containing plates. We screened a collection of 2,700 haploid mutant cells, of which 98 were sensitive to caffeine. The genes mutated in these sensitive clones were involved in a number of cellular roles including the H2O2-induced Pap1 and Sty1 stress pathways, the integrity and calcineurin pathways, cell morphology and chromatin remodeling. We have investigated the role of the oxidative stress pathways in sensing and promoting survival to caffeine. The Pap1 and the Sty1 pathways are both required for normal tolerance to caffeine, but only the Sty1 pathway is activated by the drug. Cells lacking Pap1 are sensitive to caffeine due to the decreased expression of the efflux pump Hba2. Indeed, ?hba2 cells are sensitive to caffeine, and constitutive activation of the Pap1 pathway enhances resistance to caffeine in an Hba2-dependent manner. Conclusions/Significance With our caffeine-sensitive, genome-wide screen of an S. pombe deletion collection, we have demonstrated the importance of some oxidative stress pathway components on wild-type tolerance to the drug.This work was supported by Direccion General de Investigacion of Spain Grant BFU2006-02610, and by the Spanish program Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Grant CSD 2007-0020, to E.H.Peer reviewe

Genomic characterization of phosphoprotein phosphatase gene family in vitis vinifera.

O trabalho objetivou identificar e caracterizar genes que codificam proteínas da família PPP no genoma de V. vinifera