Impact of different Agents on the Efficacy of Codling Moth Granulovirus in Tank Mixtures

In the control of codling moth it is common to combine the granulovirus with other agents, especially fungicides, in spray application. Therefore the knowledge about the influence of these agents on the efficacy of the virus in tank mix is very important. Studies on this subject were part of a project supported by BMELV (German Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer protection) at the Institute for Biological Control of JKI in Darmstadt. The granulovirus of Cydia pomonella (L.) (CpGV) was mixed with 10 different agents at concentrations as applied in the field. After the exposure the virus activity was calculated from larval mortality determined in bioassays with neonates of a susceptible codling moth strain. Only two agents with a pH of 11 (sodium silicate (water glass) and calcium polysulfide (lime sulphur)) reduced the virulence of CpGV significantly

Spectroscopy of a fractional Josephson vortex molecule

In long Josephson junctions with multiple discontinuities of the Josephson phase, fractional vortex molecules are spontaneously formed. At each discontinuity point a fractional Josephson vortex carrying a magnetic flux $|\Phi|<\Phi_0$, $\Phi_0\approx 2.07\times 10^{-15}$ Wb being the magnetic flux quantum, is pinned. Each vortex has an oscillatory eigenmode with a frequency that depends on $\Phi/\Phi_0$ and lies inside the plasma gap. We experimentally investigate the dependence of the eigenfrequencies of a two-vortex molecule on the distance between the vortices, on their topological charge $\wp=2\pi\Phi/\Phi_0$ and on the bias current $\gamma$ applied to the Josephson junction. We find that with decreasing distance between vortices, a splitting of the eigenfrequencies occurs, that corresponds to the emergence of collective oscillatory modes of both vortices. We use a resonant microwave spectroscopy technique and find good agreement between experimental results and theoretical predictions.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.

Fourier decomposition and frequency analysis of the pulsating stars with P<1 d in the OGLE database. I. Monoperiodic Delta Scuti, RRc and RRab variables. Separation criteria and particularities

The OGLE database is revisited to investigate in more detail the properties of the Fourier parameters. Methodological improvements led us to identify a clear separation among High-Amplitude Delta Scuti (HADS), RRc and RRab stars. The bimodal distribution of the R21 parameter in HADS stars is explained as a contamination effect from RRc stars: there is evidence that all stars with 0.20<P<0.25 d are RRc variables. The previously claimed existence of a subclass of unusual HADS is demonstrated to be a spurious result. Candidate overtone pulsators are found among HADS and RRc variables. The properties of the Fourier parameters are discussed as a function of the physical conditions in the stars involved. Among the field RRab stars we detected different light-curve groups producing distinct "tails" in the Fourier plots for P>0.55 d; evolutionary phases or the combination of different physical conditions (not only metallicity) are suggested to explain this separation, observed also in the cluster RRab stars. The stellar parameters of RRc stars in a given globular cluster show different tendencies than those of RRc stars from different clusters.Comment: 12 pages (in A&A style), 14 eps figures. Accepted for A&A Main Journal. Table 3, 4 and 5 are also included as ascii files. The atlas of the light curves and least-squares fits can be requested from the autho

Hydrodynamical Survey of First Overtone Cepheids

A hydrodynamical survey of the pulsational properties of first overtone Galactic Cepheids is presented. The goal of this study is to reproduce their observed light- and radial velocity curves. The comparison between the models and the observations is made in a quantitative manner on the level of the Fourier coefficients. Purely radiative models fail to reproduce the observed features, but convective models give good agreement. It is found that the sharp features in the Fourier coefficients are indeed caused by the P1/P4 = 2 resonance, despite the very large damping of the 4th overtone. For the adopted mass-luminosity relation the resonance center lies near a period of 4.2d +/- 0.2 as indicated by the observed radial velocity data, rather than near 3.2d as the light-curves suggest.Comment: ApJ, 12 pages, (slightly) revise

Use of a proposed antimicrobial susceptibility testing method for Haemophilus parasuis

The aim of this study was to examine the antimicrobial susceptibility of 97 Haemophilus parasuis cultured from Australian pigs. As there is no existing standard antimicrobial susceptibility technique available for H. parasuis, methods utilising the supplemented media, BA/SN for disc diffusion and test medium broth (TMB) for a microdilution technique, were initially evaluated with the reference strains recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The results of the media evaluation suggested that BA/SN and TMB can be used as suitable media for susceptibility testing of H. parasuis. The proposed microdilution technique was then used with 97 H. parasuis isolates and nine antimicrobial agents. The study found that Australian isolates showed elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for ampicillin (1%), penicillin (2%), erythromycin (7%), tulathromycin (9%), tilmicosin (22%), tetracycline (31%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (40%). This study has described potential antimicrobial susceptibility methods for H. parasuis and has detected a low percentage of Australian H. parasuis isolates with elevated antimicrobial MICs

High Mass Triple Systems: The Classical Cepheid Y Car

We have obtained an HST STIS ultraviolet high dispersion Echelle mode spectrum the binary companion of the double mode classical Cepheid Y Car. The velocity measured for the hot companion from this spectrum is very different from reasonable predictions for binary motion, implying that the companion is itself a short period binary. The measured velocity changed by 7 km/ s during the 4 days between two segments of the observation confirming this interpretation. We summarize "binary" Cepheids which are in fact members of triple system and find at least 44% are triples. The summary of information on Cepheids with orbits makes it likely that the fraction is under-estimated.Comment: accepted by A

Cloning, sequencing, and expression analysis of the hemagglutinin gene of the bovine enteric coronavirus

Bovine coronavirus is one of six coronaviruses that contain the hemagglutinin glycoprotein, a fourth and final major structural protein to be demonstrated for the Coronaviridae. On the virion particle, each hemagglutinin molecule exists as a disulfide-linked homodimeric structure. What biological advantage the hemagglutinin may confer upon BCV is not known. The experiments described in this dissertation examine these issues on a molecular level by cloning and expressing the hemagglutinin gene in both in vitro and in vivo expression systems. The first 8,955 bases of the 3\u27 end of the BCV genome were cDNA cloned using random or specific oligonucleotide primers. The hemagglutinin gene was found to map on the 5\u27 side of the peplomer gene between bases 8,678 and 7,408 relative to the 3\u27 end of the BCV genome. The hemagglutinin gene was sequenced and found to be 1,272 bases in length. A deduced amino acid sequence shows the hemagglutinin to be 424 amino acids long with a molecular weight of 47,700. The hemagglutinin gene was subcloned into a pGEM plasmid vector and expressed using wheat germ extract. Partial translocation across the microsomal membranes, signal cleavage, and glycosylation of the hemagglutinin were demonstrated in the presence of microsomes. At no iv time, however, was a dimer form of the in vitro expressed hemagglutinin observed. These results suggest that early stages in the biosynthesis of the hemagglutinin in vivo may be independent of other viral proteins. The hemagglutinin was found to be anchored in microsomal membranes by its carboxy terminus, indicating that it is a type I membrane glycoprotein. The hemagglutinin gene was transiently expressed in cell culture. Analysis of the hemagglutinin expressed in vivo by immunofluorescence demonstrated that it was transported to the cell surface. These results suggest that the hemagglutinin contains all the information necessary for transport to and insertion into the plasma membrane

Classical Cepheid Pulsation Models. III. The Predictable Scenario

Within the current uncertainties in the treatment of the coupling between pulsation and convection, limiting amplitude, nonlinear, convective models appear the only viable approach for providing theoretical predictions about the intrinsic properties of radial pulsators. In this paper we present the results of a comprehensive set of Cepheid models computed within such theoretical framework for selected assumptions on their original chemical composition.Comment: 24 pages, 1 latex file containing 6 tables, 10 postscript figures, accepted for publication on Ap

Synthese von spiro-substituierten Cyclopentenonen und analogen Verbindungen

Symmetric diols derived from cyclic ketones and acetylene cyclize under the influence of acids to spiro-substituted 2-cyclopentenones. The scope of the reaction is being discussed