Fine Streak Research Articles

Dermatoscopy of primary localised cutaneous amyloidosis - A cross-sectional study in a setting of South Asian public dermatology department.

Amyloidosis, deposition of misfolded protein in body, is a fairly common condition. The deposition of misfolded proteins in skin which occurs in absence of systemic comorbidities, namely Primary Cutaneous Amyloidosis (PCA) is also a well-known entity in skin of colour patients of Asian subcontinent. Primary Cutaneous Amyloidosis is usually diagnosed with good clinical acumen and typical clinical phenotype and involved site. Dermoscope has been used as an adjunct non-invasive tool to confirm cases with diagnostic uncertainty and in those in whom biopsy is deferred. Typical dermoscopic features of PCA helps differentiate it from other pigmentary dermatoses and avoids unwanted invasive biopsies and investigations especially in resource poor settings with financial constraints. This study aims to identify and corroborate clinically, typical dermoscopic features in PCA in 42 patients which includes Macular Amyloidosis (MA) and Papular Amyloidosis (PA) predominantly in skin of colour patients from government based hospital of a south east Asian country. Patients with classic clinical features of PCA were selected. Primary Cutaneous Amyloidosis was subclassified into MA or PA and their corresponding clinically corroborative dermoscopic features were enlisted respectively. All patients (treatment naïve and previously treated), who consented to participate in the study were included. Patients were diagnosed based on the prototypical clinical features. Dermoscopy was done using DermLite III DL3N Polarised and Fluid Dermoscope w/PigmentBoost Brand (3Gen, DermLite LLC, San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA) and images were obtained to create digital dermoscopy system by attaching camera-equipped mobile device via an optional connection kit (Redmi Note 11, MIUI version 13.0.5, CHINA) and the findings were enlisted concurrently. In this study of dermoscopic findings of PCA, 42 patients were evaluated for their clinical lesions along with its corroboration with the dermoscopic features. Macular Amyloidosis was seen in 30 patients and 12 patients had typical cutaneous phenotypic and dermoscopic feature of PA. The most common dermoscopic finding seen in patients with MA was shiny to dull white, circular or oval central hub surrounded with halo of light brown dots. Most common configuration of brownish pigmentation around central hub was fine streak type. Also eccrine clues were seen in some cases of MA, which was a unique finding. Similarly in the PA subtype, the central hub was replaced by scar like structureless translucent white area surrounded by brownish black dot like structures, especially in those with large and thick plaques. Dermoscopic findings of PCA and their clinical corroboration is a much-needed aspect in treating patients with pigmentary disorders and in those with skin of colour, especially in developing countries. Utilization of dermoscope in clinical settings of low income countries and in government based hospitals will decrease the add on economic burden of invasive diagnostic modalities like biopsy and other inadvertent tests done to rule out pigmentary conditions.

Complete genome sequence of a Moroccan isolate of cereal chlorotic mottle virus.

Cereal chlorotic mottle virus (CCMoV) is a cicadellid-transmitted plant rhabdovirus associated with chlorotic and necrotic streaks on several gramineous hosts and weeds. The virus was initially described in 1979 in Australia, but its genome has never been sequenced. In this study, the complete genome sequence of a Moroccan isolate of CCMoV was generated by high-throughput sequencing from infected oat leaves (Avena sativa). The genome is 13,800 nt long, containing seven open reading frames (ORFs) arranged in the canonical organization of rhabdoviruses: 3'-nucleocapsid (N), phosphoprotein (P), unknown protein (p3), unknown protein (p4), matrix (M), glycoprotein (G), viral polymerase (L)-5'. Pairwise analysis showed that maize fine streak virus (MFSV, genus Gammanucleorhabdovirus) was the closest relative. The amino acid identity values between homologous proteins from CCMoV and MFSV are as follows: 59.27% (N), 36.7% (P), 24% (P3), 62% (P4), 43.70% (M), 49.15% (G), 60.93% (L). Based on its phylogenetic relationship and analogous genome architecture, CCMoV should be assigned as member of the genus Gammanucleorhabdovirus. The low sequence similarity observed between CCMoV and MFSV suggests that CCMoV is a member of a distinct virus species.

Transcriptome of the Maize Leafhopper (Dalbulus maidis) and Its Transcriptional Response to Maize Rayado Fino Virus (MRFV), Which It Transmits in a Persistent, Propagative Manner.

ABSTRACTThe corn leafhopper (Dalbulus maidis) is an important vector of maize rayado fino virus (MRFV), a positive-strand RNA (+ssRNA) marafivirus which it transmits in a persistent propagative manner. The interaction of D. maidis with MRFV, including infection of the insect and subsequent transmission to new plants, is not well understood at the molecular level. To examine the leafhopper-virus interaction, a D. maidis transcriptome was assembled and differences in transcript abundance between virus-exposed and naive D. maidis were examined at two time points (4 h and 7 days) post exposure to MRFV. The D. maidis transcriptome contained 56,116 transcripts generated from 1,727,369,026 100-nt paired-end reads from whole adult insects. The transcriptome of D. maidis shared highest identity and most orthologs with the leafhopper Graminella nigrifrons (65% of transcripts had matches with E values of <10−5) versus planthoppers Sogatella furcifera (with 23% of transcript matches below the E value cutoff) and Peregrinus maidis (with 21% transcript matches below the E value cutoff), as expected based on taxonomy. D. maidis expressed genes in the Toll, Imd, and Jak/Stat insect immune signaling pathways, RNA interference (RNAi) pathway genes, prophenoloxidase-activating system pathways, and immune recognition protein-encoding genes such as peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs), antimicrobial peptides, and other effectors. Statistical analysis (performed by R package DESeq2) identified 72 transcripts at 4 h and 67 at 7 days that were significantly responsive to MRFV exposure. Genes expected to be favorable for virus propagation, such as protein synthesis-related genes and genes encoding superoxide dismutase, were significantly upregulated after MRFV exposure.IMPORTANCE The transcriptome of the corn leafhopper, D. maidis, revealed conserved biochemical pathways for immunity and discovered transcripts responsive to MRFV-infected plants at two time points, providing a basis for functional identification of genes that either limit or promote the virus-vector interaction. Compared to other hopper species and the propagative plant viruses they transmit, D. maidis shared 15 responsive transcripts with S. furcifera (to southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus [SRBSDV]), one with G. nigrifrons (to maize fine streak virus [MFSV]), and one with P. maidis (to maize mosaic virus [MMV]), but no virus-responsive transcripts identified were shared among all four hopper vector species.

Metal artifacts reduction in computed tomography: A phantom study to compare the effectiveness of metal artifact reduction algorithm, model-based iterative reconstruction, and virtual monochromatic imaging.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a metal artifact reduction algorithm (MAR), model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR), and virtual monochromatic imaging (VMI) for reducing metal artifacts in CT imaging.A phantom study was performed for quantitatively evaluating the dark bands and fine streak artifacts generated by unilateral hip prostheses. Images were obtained by conventional scanning at 120 kilovolt peak, and reconstructed using filtered back projection, MAR, and MBIR. Furthermore, virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) at 70 kilo-electron volts (keV) and 140 keV with/without use of MAR were obtained by dual-energy CT. The extents and mean CT values of the dark bands and the differences in the standard deviations and location parameters of the fine streak artifacts evaluated by the Gumbel method in the images obtained by each of the methods were statistically compared by analyses of variance.Significant reduction of the extent of the dark bands was observed in the images reconstructed using MAR than in those not reconstructed using MAR (all, P < .01). Images obtained by VMI at 70 keV and 140 keV with use of MAR showed significantly increased mean CT values of the dark bands as compared to those obtained by reconstructions without use of MAR (all, <.01). Significant reduction of the difference in the standard deviations used to evaluate fine streak artifacts was observed in each of the image sets obtained with VMI at 140 keV with/without MAR and conventional CT with MBIR as compared to the images obtained using other methods (all, P < .05), except between VMI at 140 keV without MAR and conventional CT with MAR. The location parameter to evaluate fine streak artifacts was significantly reduced in CT images obtained using MBIR and in images obtained by VMI at 140 keV with/without MAR as compared to those obtained using other reconstruction methods (all, P < .01).In our present study, MAR appeared to be the most effective reconstruction method for reducing dark bands in CT images, and MBIR and VMI at 140 keV appeared to the most effective for reducing streak artifacts.

Role of QTL mapping to circumscribe various diseases in different crops with special emphasis on cotton.

Cotton not only provides the world’s best natural spinnable fibre but also its seed is a rich source oil and protein, which is best for food and livestock feed. A biotic and biotic stresses always a serious threat to cotton production world widely. There is a demand of such cultivars which could oppose these stresses with wide genetic variability. Molecular breeding along with marker technology opened new ways in crop improvement. Genome mapping which is the identification of genomic regions linked with different traits; using construction of linkage map and quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis can be used to identify resistant sources with the use of marker assistant selection (MAS). Improvements in control of many biotic diseases like verticillium (V) and Fusarium Wilt (FW), Reniform and Root-knot Nematodes had been made using molecular breeding. Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is the most distressing diseases of cotton in Pakistan, north-western areas of India and some parts of Africa which could be improved using these biotechnological tools. In many agricultural crops viral diseases like tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), rice black-streaked virus (RBSV), Maize Streak Virus (MSV), Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), SCMV (Sugarcane mosaic virus), WSMV (Wheat streak mosaic virus), MCDV (Maize chlorotic dwarf virus), MMV (Maize mosaic virus), MFSV (Maize fine streak virus), Rice Stripe Virus (RSV), Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV), rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) had been studied using molecular markers. This Review study provides explanation of molecular markers involved in crop improvement especially for disease resistance in cotton and other field crop which could carry out to find out CLCuD resistant sources in upland cotton.

Humerus photon starvation streak artefact

The reduced (attenuated) number of photons passing through the arm can result in a combination of fine and thick streak artefacts, particularly with the use of thin CT slices and lower radiation dose parameters. This phenomenon is known as photon starvation. We noted an abnormal appearance of the humerus when imaged with certain arm position. This appearance was thought to be artefact due to photon starvation. A human radius bone was imaged in different positions and the kV and mA were varied in an attempt to reproduce the artefact, which would support the hypothesis that the artefact may be caused by bone attenuation. Scanning the bone in a different angle and radiation dose parameters reproduced the artefactual appearance of the bone. Performing a chest CT scan with arms up can occasionally result in an abnormal appearance to the humerus due to photon starvation artefact. Familiarity with this artefact is essential to avoid misinterpretation.

연기선과 미세 수적을 이용한 두 가지 가시화 기법과 와류에의 적용

두 가지의 비표면 가시화 기법과 이들 기법의 와류 적용 예를 기술한다. 두 가지 가시화 기법 중 하나는 전통적인 연기선 기법이고, 또 다른 하나는 가정용 초음파 가습기에서 발생하는 미세 수적을 사용하는 기법이다. 연기선 기법은 공기 흐름 속도에 제한이 있으며(0.07 mm 지름의 연기선의 경우 약 5 m/sec), 오염의 문제점이 있지만 매우 정교하고 선명한 연기 유맥선 시트를 발생시킬 수 있다. 이 기법은 3차원 날개의 날개 끝 와류의 가시화에 적용되었다. 초음파 가습기 미세 수적 기법은 연기선 기법에 비하여 공기 흐름 속도를 보다 크게 할 수 있으며(10 m/sec 이상), 독성과 오염의 문제를 해결할 수 있다. 초음파 가습기 미세 수적 기법은 정점 스트레이크를 가지는 이중 삼각날개에서 발생하는 복잡한 와류 시스템의 가시화에 성공적으로 적용되었다. The present paper describes the two off-surface visualization techniques and their application examples to vortex flows. One of the two visualization techniques is the classical smoke-wire technique, and the other is the visualization technique using the micro water-droplets generated by the home-style ultrasonic humidifier. The smoke-wire technique has the limit of air flow speed (about 5 m/sec for 0.07 mm-diameter wire) and the pollution problem, but it produces very fine and clear streak line sheet. It is applied to visualize the wing-tip vortices of a 3-dimensional wing. The micro water-droplet technique has the larger limit of air flow speed (above 10 m/sec) and is free from pollution and toxic problems compared to the smoke-wire technique. It is successfully applied to visualize the complex vortex system of a double-delta wing with an apex strake.

Molecular interactions and immune responses between Maize fine streak virus and the leafhopper vector Graminella nigrifrons through differential expression and RNA interference.

Graminella nigrifrons is the only known vector for Maize fine streak virus (MFSV). In this study, we used real-time quantitative PCR to compare the expression profiles of transcripts that putatively function in the insect immune response: four peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRP-SB1, -SD, -LC and LB), Toll, spaetzle, defensin, Dicer-2 (Dcr-2), Argonaut-2 (Ago-2) and Arsenic resistance protein 2 (Ars-2). Except for PGRP-LB and defensin, transcripts involved in humoral pathways were significantly suppressed in G.nigrifrons fed on MFSV-infected maize. The abundance of three RNA interference (RNAi) pathway transcripts (Dcr-2, Ago-2, Ars-2) was significantly lower in nontransmitting relative to transmitting G.nigrifrons. Injection with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) encoding segments of the PGRP-LC and Dcr-2 transcripts effectively reduced transcript levels by 90 and 75% over 14 and 22 days, respectively. MFSV acquisition and transmission were not significantly affected by injection of either dsRNA. Knock-down of PGRP-LC resulted in significant mortality (greater than 90%) at 27 days postinjection, and resulted in more abnormal moults relative to those injected with Dcr-2 or control dsRNA. The use of RNAi to silence G.nigrifrons transcripts will facilitate the study of gene function and pathogen transmission, and may provide approaches for developing novel targets of RNAi-based pest control.

Genetic insights into Graminella nigrifrons Competence for maize fine streak virus infection and transmission.

BackgroundMost plant-infecting rhabdoviruses are transmitted by one or a few closely related insect species. Additionally, intraspecific differences in transmission efficacy often exist among races/biotypes within vector species and among strains within a virus species. The black-faced leafhopper, Graminella nigrifrons, is the only known vector of the persistent propagative rhabdovirus Maize fine streak virus (MFSV). Only a small percentage of leafhoppers are capable of transmitting the virus, although the mechanisms underlying vector competence are not well understood.MethodologyRNA-Seq was carried out to explore transcript expression changes and sequence variation in G. nigrifrons and MFSV that may be associated with the ability of the vector to acquire and transmit the virus. RT-qPCR assays were used to validate differential transcript accumulation.Results/SignificanceFeeding on MFSV-infected maize elicited a considerable transcriptional response in G. nigrifrons, with increased expression of cytoskeleton organization and immunity transcripts in infected leafhoppers. Differences between leafhoppers capable of transmitting MFSV, relative to non-transmitting but infected leafhoppers were more limited, which may reflect difficulties discerning between the two groups and/or the likelihood that the transmitter phenotype results from one or a few genetic differences. The ability of infected leafhoppers to transmit MFSV did not appear associated with virus transcript accumulation in the infected leafhoppers or sequence polymorphisms in the viral genome. However, the non-structural MFSV 3 gene was expressed at unexpectedly high levels in infected leafhoppers, suggesting it plays an active role in the infection of the insect host. The results of this study begin to define the functional roles of specific G. nigrifrons and MFSV genes in the viral transmission process.

Virus-independent and common transcriptome responses of leafhopper vectors feeding on maize infected with semi-persistently and persistent propagatively transmitted viruses

BackgroundInsects are the most important epidemiological factors for plant virus disease spread, with >75% of viruses being dependent on insects for transmission to new hosts. The black-faced leafhopper (Graminella nigrifrons Forbes) transmits two viruses that use different strategies for transmission: Maize chlorotic dwarf virus (MCDV) which is semi-persistently transmitted and Maize fine streak virus (MFSV) which is persistently and propagatively transmitted. To date, little is known regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms in insects that regulate the process and efficiency of transmission, or how these mechanisms differ based on virus transmission strategy.ResultsRNA-Seq was used to examine transcript changes in leafhoppers after feeding on MCDV-infected, MFSV-infected and healthy maize for 4 h and 7 d. After sequencing cDNA libraries constructed from whole individuals using Illumina next generation sequencing, the Rnnotator pipeline in Galaxy was used to reassemble the G. nigrifrons transcriptome. Using differential expression analyses, we identified significant changes in transcript abundance in G. nigrifrons. In particular, transcripts implicated in the innate immune response and energy production were more highly expressed in insects fed on virus-infected maize. Leafhoppers fed on MFSV-infected maize also showed an induction of transcripts involved in hemocoel and cell-membrane linked immune responses within four hours of feeding. Patterns of transcript expression were validated for a subset of transcripts by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using RNA samples collected from insects fed on healthy or virus-infected maize for between a 4 h and seven week period.ConclusionsWe expected, and found, changes in transcript expression in G. nigrifrons feeding of maize infected with a virus (MFSV) that also infects the leafhopper, including induction of immune responses in the hemocoel and at the cell membrane. The significant induction of the innate immune system in G. nigrifrons fed on a foregut-borne virus (MCDV) that does not infect leafhoppers was less expected. The changes in transcript accumulation that occur independent of the mode of pathogen transmission could be key for identifying insect factors that disrupt vector-mediated plant virus transmission.

Genetic analysis of resistance to six virus diseases in a multiple virus-resistant maize inbred line

Novel and previously known resistance loci for six phylogenetically diverse viruses were tightly clustered on chromosomes 2, 3, 6 and 10 in the multiply virus-resistant maize inbred line, Oh1VI. Virus diseases in maize can cause severe yield reductions that threaten crop production and food supplies in some regions of the world. Genetic resistance to different viruses has been characterized in maize populations in diverse environments using different screening techniques, and resistance loci have been mapped to all maize chromosomes. The maize inbred line, Oh1VI, is resistant to at least ten viruses, including viruses in five different families. To determine the genes and inheritance mechanisms responsible for the multiple virus resistance in this line, F1 hybrids, F2 progeny and a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross of Oh1VI and the virus-susceptible inbred line Oh28 were evaluated. Progeny were screened for their responses to Maize dwarf mosaic virus, Sugarcane mosaic virus, Wheat streak mosaic virus, Maize chlorotic dwarf virus, Maize fine streak virus, and Maize mosaic virus. Depending on the virus, dominant, recessive, or additive gene effects were responsible for the resistance observed in F1 plants. One to three gene models explained the observed segregation of resistance in the F2 generation for all six viruses. Composite interval mapping in the RIL population identified 17 resistance QTLs associated with the six viruses. Of these, 15 were clustered in specific regions of chr. 2, 3, 6, and 10. It is unknown whether these QTL clusters contain single or multiple virus resistance genes, but the coupling phase linkage of genes conferring resistance to multiple virus diseases in this population could facilitate breeding efforts to develop multi-virus resistant crops.

Transcriptome of the Plant Virus Vector Graminella nigrifrons, and the Molecular Interactions of Maize fine streak rhabdovirus Transmission

BackgroundLeafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) are plant-phloem feeders that are known for their ability to vector plant pathogens. The black-faced leafhopper (Graminella nigrifrons) has been identified as the only known vector for the Maize fine streak virus (MFSV), an emerging plant pathogen in the Rhabdoviridae. Within G. nigrifrons populations, individuals can be experimentally separated into three classes based on their capacity for viral transmission: transmitters, acquirers and non-acquirers. Understanding the molecular interactions between vector and virus can reveal important insights in virus immune defense and vector transmission.ResultsRNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed to characterize the transcriptome of G. nigrifrons. A total of 38,240 ESTs of a minimum 100 bp were generated from two separate cDNA libraries consisting of virus transmitters and acquirers. More than 60% of known D. melanogaster, A. gambiae, T. castaneum immune response genes mapped to our G. nigrifrons EST database. Real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) showed significant down-regulation of three genes for peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRP – SB1, SD, and LC) in G. nigrifrons transmitters versus control leafhoppers.ConclusionsOur study is the first to characterize the transcriptome of a leafhopper vector species. Significant sequence similarity in immune defense genes existed between G. nigrifrons and other well characterized insects. The down-regulation of PGRPs in MFSV transmitters suggested a possible role in rhabdovirus transmission. The results provide a framework for future studies aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms of plant virus vector competence.

Plant Host Range and Leafhopper Transmission ofMaize fine streak virus

Maize fine streak virus (MFSV), an emerging Rhabdovirus sp. in the genus Nucleorhabdovirus, is persistently transmitted by the black-faced leafhopper, Graminella nigrifrons (Forbes). MFSV was transmitted to maize, wheat, oat, rye, barley, foxtail, annual ryegrass, and quackgrass by G. nigrifrons. Parameters affecting efficiency of MFSV acquisition (infection) and transmission (inoculation) to maize were evaluated using single-leafhopper inoculations and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MFSV was detected in ≈20% of leafhoppers that fed on infected plants but <10% of insects transmitted the virus. Nymphs became infected earlier and supported higher viral titers than adults but developmental stage at aquisition did not affect the rate of MFSV transmission. Viral titer and transmission also increased with longer post-first access to diseased periods (PADPs) (the sum of the intervals from the beginning of the acquisition access period to the end of the inoculation access period). Length of the acquisition access period was more important for virus accumulation in adults, whereas length of the interval between acquisition access and inoculation access was more important in nymphs. A threshold viral titer was needed for transmission but no transmission occurred, irrespective of titer, with a PADP of <4 weeks. MFSV was first detected by immunofluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy at 2-week PADPs in midgut cells, hemocytes, and neural tissues; 3-week PADPs in tracheal cells; and 4-week PADPs in salivary glands, coinciding with the time of transmission to plants.

Improved adhesion, growth and maturation of human bone‐derived cells on nanocrystalline diamond films

AbstractNanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films were deposited on microscopic glass slides using the MW PECVD method (20 Torr, 710 °C, 0.8–1% CH4). After the growth period, the films were oxidized and subsequently hydrogenated, and some of them were doped with boron (NCD‐B; 3,000–30,000 ppm B:C; leading to ρ ∼ 10–1 Ω cm for the highest doped films). The neutron depth profiling showed that in the near surface region (&lt;800 nm) the boron (10B + 11B) content in the highest doped sample was about (1.9 ± 0.3) × 1021 B cm–3 (i.e., 1.1 ± 0.2 at% of B). The films were seeded with human osteoblast‐like MG 63 cells (∼17,000 cells/cm2). On day 3 after seeding, the cell number on NCD (56,280 ± 1,090 cells/cm2) was significantly higher than that on NCD‐B (by 27 ± 3%), glass slides (by 22 ± 3%) and polystyrene wells (by 36 ± 3%). On day 7, the cell numbers on both NCD and NCD‐B films (351,170 ± 16,530 cells/cm2 and 310,020 ± 10,410 cells/cm2, respectively) became significantly higher than the values on glass slides and polystyrene dishes (218,800 ± 12,340 cells/cm2 and 223,400 ± 9,290 cells/cm2, respectively). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the cells on both NCD films assembled fine streak‐ or dot‐like focal adhesion plaques containing alphav integrins or talin, and a mesh‐like beta‐actin cytoskeleton. The cells on NCD‐B were brightly stained for osteocalcin, an important marker of osteogenic differentiation. Thus, both tested nanocrystalline diamond films gave good support for the adhesion, growth and maturation of bone‐derived cells. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Laser Molecular Beam Epitaxy Growth of BaTiO3 inSeven Thousands of Unit-Cell Layers

BaTiO3 thin films in seven thousands of unit-cell layers havebeen successfully fabricated on SrTiO3 (001) substrates by lasermolecular beam epitaxy. The fine streak pattern and the undampingintensity oscillation of reflection high-energy electron diffractionindicate that the BaTiO3 film was layer-by-layer epitaxialgrowth. The measurements of scanning electron microscopy and atomicforce microscopy show that surfaces of the BaTiO3 thin film areatomically smooth. The measurements of x-ray diffraction andtransmission electron microscopy, as well as selected-area electrondiffraction reveal that the BaTiO3 thin film is a c-orientedepitaxial crystalline structure.

Shotgun sequencing of the negative-sense RNA genome of the rhabdovirus Maize mosaic virus

The maize-infecting nucleorhabdovirus, Maize mosaic virus (MMV), was sequenced to near completion using the random shotgun approach. Sequences of 102 clones from a cDNA library constructed from randomly-primed viral RNA were compiled into a 12,133 nucleotide (nt) contig containing six open reading frames. The contig consisted of 97 sequences averaging 660 bp in length. The average sequence coverage was six-fold, and 93% of the contig had sequence reads covering both strands. The remaining sequence was derived from single (5%) or multiple (2%) reads on the same strand. Three of the six ORFs showed significant similarities to the deduced protein sequences of the nucleocapsid, glycoprotein and polymerase sequences of other rhabdoviruses. The predicted gene order of the MMV genome was 3′ -N-P-3-M-G-L-5′. Shotgun sequencing of the MMV genome took approximately 127 h and cost $ 0.38 per nt (including labor), whereas the primer walking approach for sequencing the 13,782-nt MFSV genome [Tsai, C.-W., Redinbaugh, M.G., Willie, K.J., Reed, S., Goodin, M., Hogenhout, S. A., 2005. Complete genome gequence and in planta subcellular localization of maize fine streak virus proteins. J. Virol. 79, 5304–5314] took about 217 h and cost $ 0.50 per nt. Thus, the shotgun approach gave good depth of coverage for the viral genome sequence while being significantly faster and less expensive than the primer walking method. This technique will facilitate the sequencing of multiple rhabdovirus genomes.

Maize fine streak virus, a New Leafhopper-Transmitted Rhabdovirus

ABSTRACT A previously uncharacterized virus was isolated from fall-planted sweet corn (Zea mays L., Syngenta GSS 0966) leaves showing fine chlorotic streaks. Symptomatic plants were negative in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against many maize viruses, but reacted weakly with antisera to Sorghum stunt mosaic virus suggesting a distant relationship between the viruses. The virus was readily transmitted by vascular puncture inoculation (VPI), but not by leaf-rub inoculation. Symptoms on maize included dwarfing and fine chlorotic streaks along intermediate and small veins that developed 12 to 17 days post-VPI. The isolated virus was bacilliform (231 +/- 5 nm long and 71 +/- 2 nm wide), with a knobby surface, and obvious helical structure typical of rhabdovirus morphology. Nucleorhabdovirus virions were observed by transmission electron microscopy of infected maize leaf tissue sections. Proteins unique to infected plants were observed in extracts of infected leaves, and the isolated virion contained three proteins with molecular masses 82 +/- 2, 50 +/- 3, and 32 +/- 2 kDa. Preliminary sequence analysis indicated the virus had similarity to members of the family Rhabdoviridae. The virus was transmitted by Graminella nigrifrons under persistent conditions. The data indicate the virus, provisionally designated Maize fine streak virus, is a new species in the genus Nucleorhabdovirus.

The formation mechanism of the O phase in a Ti 3Al–Nb alloy

It is reported that there are several different transformation mechanisms of the O phase in different heat treatment conditions in the Ti 3Al based alloys. However, very little work has been carried out on the α 2→O phase transformation in the Ti 3Al–Nb alloys of Nb amounts exceeding 12 at%. In this paper, the formation mechanism of the O phase in the Ti–24Al–14Nb–3V–0.5Mo (at%) alloy has been carried out by means of TEM and HRTEM. The results show that the O phase is directly derived from the primary equiaxed α 2 grains with a fine streak contrast, and exists in multivariant forms owing to its different orientations after the alloy is solution treated at 1000°C for 1 h followed by water quenching (WQ) and aged at 650°C for 24 h. The O plates in the primary equiaxed α 2 grains exist not only in the form of a single variant, but also in the form of fine α 2+O mixtures. The analysis indicates that the formation of the O phase is the result of a phase decomposition, that is the introduction of niobium as the preferred β stabilizer makes the supersaturation of niobium in the primary α 2 grains, and the α 2 phase containing Niobium separates into Niobium lean and Niobium rich regions through the Niobium diffusion: α 2→α 2(Nb-lean)+O(Nb-rich). Niobium rich regions transform to the ordered orthorhombic phase (O phase) with a lattice distortion and only a very small composition change. It appears, therefore, that the transformation involves nucleation, growth and coarsening of the O phase by a diffusion mechanism.

Laser molecular beam epitaxy system and its key technologies

The laser molecular beam epitaxy system and its key technologies have been successfully developed in China. Atomically regulated unit-cell by unit-cell homoepitaxial SrTiO3 (STO) and heteroepitaxial BaTiO3 (BTO) films and STO/BTO superlattices were fabricated on STO (100) substrates by the laser molecular beam epitaxy. The fine streak patterns and more than 1000 cycles of undamping intensity oscillation were obtained by using in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction. The surfaces of films are atomically smooth.

Premartensitic behavior of the supersaturated beta phase in Ti alloys

The authors report on a study of the transformation behavior in Ti-15-3 and Ti{sub 3}Al-Nb alloys especially on the nature of the premartensitic phenomena by electron diffraction and microscopy. The premartensitic behavior of commercial beta Ti alloys has not been reported in other papers. The microstructure of premartensitic phase, called tweed or mottled structure composed of fine streak lamella, may have significant effect on mechanical properties of hardness, strength and toughness, since the structure of the phase provides many sites of nuclear in aging. The authors will consider the aging behavior of {beta} or B2 Ti alloys caused by fine precipitates from premartensitic phase, and the phase relationship between precipitates and matrix.