Serodetection of viruses associated to barley yellow dwarf (BYD) on cereals in Algeria

La recherche des virus associés à la jaunisse nanisante de l'orge et de leurs vecteurs a été effectuée dans différentes zones céréalieres en Algérie (Guelma, Constantine, Alger, Sidi-bélabès, Adrar) en 1997 et 1998. Le Rhopalosiphum padi est présent dans toutes les zones de culture, alors que R. maidis, Sitobion avenae, S. fragariae et Schizaphis graminum ne montrent qu'une distribution locale. Dans la plupart des parcelles, on observe un nanisme et jaunissement de l'orge (Hordeum vulgare), un rougissement et un nanisme de l'avoine (Avena sativa) et du blé (Triticum aestivum). Des tests sérologiques ont été effectués sur ces cultures en DAS-ELISA (RMV et SGV) ou en TAS-ELISA révélés par un anticorps monoclonal du CYDV-RPV et par différents anticorps monoclonaux du BYDV-PAV (CpA et CpB) et du BYDV-MAV. Le BYDV-PAV est mis en évidence dans toutes les zones étudiées. Peu de plantes se sont révélées porteuses des autres virus (RMV, SGV, BYDV-MAV, CYDV-RPV). Les fréquences relatives des sérotypes BYDV-PAV CpA et CpB sont variables suivant les cultures et les années. Les symptômes induits par les isolats des sérotypes BYDV-PAV CpA et BYDV-PAV CpB d'Algérie sur l'orge sont légers à graves. Le comportement de 21 isolats de BYDV-MAV a été analysé vis-à-vis d'anticorps monoclonaux distinguant deux sérotypes de ce virus. Uniquement un sérotype, le plus répandu en Europe, a été mis en évidence.Surveys on viruses associated with Barley Yellow Dwarf (BYD) and their vectors were carried out in Algerian cereal areas (Guelma, Constantine, Algiers, Sidi-belabes, Adrar) in 1997 and 1998. Rhopalosiphum padi was present in all zones of culture, whereas R. maidis, Sitobion avenae, S. fragariae and Schizaphis graminum had only local distributions. In most areas BYD-like symptoms, i.e. dwarfing and yellowing of barley (Hordeum vulgare), dwarfing and reddening of oat (Avena sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum), were observed. Serological tests were done on these crops using DAS-ELISA (RMV and SGV) or TAS-ELISA using monoclonal antibodies specifie to CYDV-RPV or using different variant specifie BYDV-PAV (CpA and CpB) and BYDV-MAV monoclonal antibodies. BYDV-PAV was prevalent and few plant samples carrying RMV, SGV, BYDV-MAV or CYDV-RPV were detected. The relative frequencies of BYDV-PAV CpA and CpB serotypes were variable depending on the area and the crop season. The range of symptoms induced on barley by both Algerian BYDV-PAV CpB and BYDV-PAV CpA serotypes was mild to severe. Twenty-one BYDV-MAV isolates were compared using monoclonal antibodies, which distinguish two serotypes of this virus. Only one serotype was detected. This same serotype is also the most prevalent in Europe

Collisional perturbation of radio-frequency E1 transitions in an atomic beam of dysprosium

We have studied collisional perturbations of radio-frequency (rf) electric-dipole (E1) transitions between the nearly degenerate opposite-parity levels in atomic dysprosium (Dy) in the presence of 10 to 80 $\mu$Torr of H$_\text{2}$, N$_\text{2}$, He, Ar, Ne, Kr, and Xe. Collisional broadening and shift of the resonance, as well as the attenuation of the signal amplitude are observed to be proportional to the foreign-gas density with the exception of H$_2$ and Ne, for which no shifts were observed. Corresponding rates and cross sections are presented. In addition, rates and cross sections for O$_2$ are extracted from measurements using air as foreign gas. The primary motivation for this study is the need for accurate determination of the shift rates, which are needed in a laboratory search for the temporal variation of the fine-structure constant [A. T. Nguyen, D. Budker, S. K. Lamoreaux, and J. R. Torgerson, Phys. Rev. A \textbf{69}, 22105 (2004)].Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Phonon anomalies at the valence transition of SmS : An inelasticX-ray scattering study under pressure

The phonon dispersion curve of SmS under pressure was studied by inelastic x-ray scattering around the pressure-induced valence transition. A significant softening of the longitudinal acoustic modes propagating along the [111] direction was observed spanning a wide $q$ region from ($\frac{2\pi}{3a},\frac{2\pi}{3a},\frac{2\pi}{3a}$) up to the zone boundary as SmS becomes metallic. The largest softening occurs at the zone boundary and stays stable up to the highest measured pressure of 80 kbar while a gradual hardening of the low $q$ modes simultaneously appears. This phonon spectrum indicates favorable conditions for the emergence of pressure-induced superconductivity in SmS.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Anak Krakatau triggers volcanic freezer in the upper troposphere

Volcanic activity occurring in tropical moist atmospheres can promote deep convection and trigger volcanic thunderstorms. These phenomena, however, are rarely observed to last continuously for more than a day and so insights into the dynamics, microphysics and electrification processes are limited. Here we present a multidisciplinary study on an extreme case, where volcanically-triggered deep convection lasted for six days. We show that this unprecedented event was caused and sustained by phreatomagmatic activity at Anak Krakatau volcano, Indonesia during 22-28 December 2018. Our modelling suggests an ice mass flow rate of similar to 5x10(6)kg/s for the initial explosive eruption associated with a flank collapse. Following the flank collapse, a deep convective cloud column formed over the volcano and acted as a 'volcanic freezer' containing similar to 3x10(9)kg of ice on average with maxima reaching similar to 10(10)kg. Our satellite analyses reveal that the convective anvil cloud, reaching 16-18km above sea level, was ice-rich and ash-poor. Cloud-top temperatures hovered around -80 degrees C and ice particles produced in the anvil were notably small (effective radii similar to 20 mu m). Our analyses indicate that vigorous updrafts (>50m/s) and prodigious ice production explain the impressive number of lightning flashes (similar to 100,000) recorded near the volcano from 22 to 28 December 2018. Our results, together with the unique dataset we have compiled, show that lightning flash rates were strongly correlated (R=0.77) with satellite-derived plume heights for this event