The Genomic Sequence of Defective Interfering Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) Determines Its Ability to Be Replicated in Mouse Brain and to Protect against a Lethal SFV Infectionin Vivo

AbstractWe have recently cloned and sequenced two genomes of defective interfering (DI) Semliki Forest virus (SFV), DI-6 (2146 nt), and DI-19 (1244 nt). These are similar in that both contain two large central deletions (encompassing the 5′ part of the nsP1 gene and the 3′ part of the nsP2 gene and all of the structural genes), and all the sequence of the latter is represented in the genome of SFV DI-6. RNA was transcribed from both and transfected into SFV-infected BHK-21 cells. RT–PCR analysis of tissue culture fluid harvested 18 h after transfection suggested that SFV DI virions had been rescued from the cloned genomes. Unlike the genomes of noncloned DI SFV, these genomes bred true for at least 7 serial passages. Cloned DI-6 and DI-19 viruses interfered to a similar extent with the multiplication of SFV in cultured cells, but only DI-19 protected mice from a lethal intranasal dose of SFV. Further investigation by RT–PCR analysis showed that DI-19 but not DI-6 genomes were replicated in mouse brain after direct intracerebral injection of DI virus together with an excess of infectious helper SFV. Thus the replication and hence antiviral activity of two closely related DI SFV genomes appears to be exquisitely sequence specific and cell specific. These findings mark a significant step on the way to using DI genomes as antivirals and also may explain why so few animal-protecting DI viruses have been identified

Ophyiulus in Victoria: results of millipede surveys from south-eastern Australia

The composition and ecology of the millipede fauna of Victoria remain poorly understood. We collected millipedes as part of a series of ecological arthropod surveys across south-eastern Australia, focusing mainly on Victoria. These samples almost exclusively contained millipedes from the introduced order Julida. We pursued species identification of the julids when it became apparent there were species other than the well-recorded Ommatoiulus moreleti (Lucas, 1860) (Portuguese millipede) in the samples. The majority of specimens were O. moreleti, but we also detected at least one species of Cylindroiulus Verhoeff, 1894, as well as an Ophyiulus Berlese, 1884, species, specimens of which have been identified as Ophyiulus cf. targionii. These are the first Ophyiulus records for Victoria to our knowledge. We present preliminary data on the abundance through the year of Ophyiulus. This is the first study to examine this species in Victoria and little is currently known about its likely impact on agriculture or on native species. Monitoring and research of the species in the future is therefore warranted

Synthetic mean-field interactions in photonic lattices

Photonic lattices are usually considered to be limited by their lack of methods to include interactions. We address this issue by introducing mean-field interactions through optical components which are external to the photonic lattice. The proposed technique to realise mean-field interacting photonic lattices relies on a Suzuki-Trotter decomposition of the unitary evolution for the full Hamiltonian. The technique realises the dynamics in an analogous way to that of a step-wise numerical implementation of quantum dynamics, in the spirit of digital quantum simulation. It is a very versatile technique which allows for the emulation of interactions that do not only depend on inter-particle separations or do not decay with particle separation. We detail the proposed experimental scheme and consider two examples of interacting phenomena, self-trapping and the decay of Bloch oscillations, that are observable with the proposed technique.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, comments welcom

Pathologies of acute interstitial pneumonia in feedlot cattle

Citation: Valles, J. A., Apley, M. D., Reinhardt, C. D., Bartle, S. J., & Thomson, D. U. (2016). Pathologies of acute interstitial pneumonia in feedlot cattle. American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 11(1), 1-7. doi:10.3844/ajavsp.2016.1.7Acute Interstitial Pneumonia (AIP) is a costly issue that affects feedlot cattle. Research has yet to elucidate the etiology of AIP; therefore a case-control study was conducted to evaluate possible management and physiological factors that contribute to AIP in feedlot cattle. The experiment was conducted during the summer of 2011 in a commercial feedyard in Kansas. Animals exhibiting clinical signs of AIP and a control animal from the same pen were selected for ante-mortem examination. Post-mortem AIP cases were also selected for additional examination. Ante-mortem measurements included rumen gas cap hydrogen sulfide and pH, rectal temperature and body weight. Post-mortem examination added histological examination of lung tissue. Rectal temperature was greater in the AIP cattle (40.6±0.16°C) than controls (39.7±0.16°C; p0.10). Post-mortem rumen pH values were 6.3±0.4 and 5.7±0.6 for AIP and control cattle, respectively. Histological evaluation of lung samples showed that bronchiolitis was present in about 90% of the cattle affected with AIP. About 75% of the cattle with AIP also had bronchopneumonia. No relationships between feed intake patterns, or serum amylase or lipase levels were noted between treatments (p>0.20). This study generally confirms that AIP tends to occur more in heifers relative to steers, occurs in cattle at heavier weights or later in the feeding period and tends to be associated pathologically with bronchio’ litis and bronchopneumonia. The lack of differences in rumen measures and the feed intake data between AIP and control cattle suggest that feed intake patterns and rumen fermentation may not impact AIP in feedlot cattle and that it may be more directly related to bronchiolitis/bronchopneumonia due to chronic irritation or infection. © 2016 Jose A. Valles, Michael D. Apley, Chris D. Reinhardt, Steven J. Bartle and Daniel U. Thomson

Tribes\u27 Reply to the State

The Tribes\u27 response to basic arguments made by the State, with reference to its proposed findings and the Tribes\u27 proposed findings, where appropriate

Tribes\u27 Reply to the State

The Tribes\u27 response to basic arguments made by the State, with reference to its proposed findings and the Tribes\u27 proposed findings, where appropriate

Crystal and magnetic structures of hexagonal YMnO \textrm3

The available data on the structural and magnetic transitions in multiferroic hexagonal YMnO3 have been reviewed, first making use of the computer programs from the group theoretical ISOTROPY software suite to list possible crystal and magnetic structures, then taking into account the capability of neutron diffraction and other physical methods to distinguish them. This leads to a clear view of the transformation sequence, as follows. Hexagonal YMnO3 is paraelectric in P63/mmc at elevated temperatures, and undergoes a single structural transition on cooling through 1250 K to a ferrielectric phase in P63cm that is retained through room temperature. At a much lower temperature, 70 K, there is a magnetic transition from paramagnetic to a triangular antiferromagnetic arrangement, most likely with symmetry P63'cm'. Comment is made on the unusual coupling of ferroelectric and magnetic domains reported to occur in this material, as well as on the so-called `giant magneto-elastic' effect

Fine mapping of a grain weight quantitative trait locus, qGW6, using near isogenic lines derived from Oryza rufipogon IRGC105491 and Oryza sativa cultivar MR219

Grain weight is a major component of rice grain yield and is controlled by quantitative trait loci. Previously, a rice grain weight quantitative trait locus (qGW6) was detected near marker RM587 on chromosome 6 in a backcross population (BC2F2) derived from a cross between Oryza rufipogon IRGC105491 and O. sativa cv. MR219. Using a BC2F5 population, qGW6 was validated and mapped to a region of 4.8 cM (1.2 Mb) in the interval between RM508 and RM588. Fine mapping using a series of BC4F3 near isogenic lines further narrowed the interval containing qGW6 to 88 kb between markers RM19268 and RM19271.1. According to the Duncan multiple range test, 8 BC4F4 near isogenic lines had significantly higher 100-grain weight (4.8 to 7.5% over MR219) than their recurrent parent, MR219 (P < 0.05). According to the rice genome automated annotation database, there are 20 predicted genes in the 88-kb target region, and 9 of them have known functions. Among the genes with known functions in the target region, in silico gene expression analysis showed that 9 were differentially expressed during the seed development stage(s) from gene expression series GSE6893; however, only 3 of them have known functions. These candidates provide targets for further characterization of qGW6, which will assist in understanding the genetic control of grain weight in rice

The Scots at the Battle of Neville's Cross, 17 October 1346

This is an analysis of the loyalties and political rivalries of the army of David II of Scotland at the battle of Neville's Cross in 1346 where that king was apparently deserted by some of his subjects and led off to eleven years' captivity in England