Onset of virus systemic infection in plants is determined by speed of cell-to-cell movement and number of primary infection foci

The cornerstone of today''s plant virology consists of deciphering the molecular and mechanistic basis of host–pathogen interactions. Among these interactions, the onset of systemic infection is a fundamental variable in studying both within- and between-host infection dynamics, with implications in epidemiology. Here, we developed a mechanistic model using probabilistic and spatio-temporal concepts to explain dynamic signatures of virus systemic infection. The model dealt with the inherent characteristic of plant viruses to use two different and sequential stages for their within-host propagation: cell-to-cell movement from the initial infected cell and systemic spread by reaching the vascular system. We identified the speed of cell-to-cell movement and the number of primary infection foci in the inoculated leaf as the key factors governing this dynamic process. Our results allowed us to quantitatively understand the timing of the onset of systemic infection, describing this global process as a consequence of local spread of viral populations. Finally, we considered the significance of our predictions for the evolution of plant RNA viruses.     

How much nitrogen is fixed by biological symbiosis in tropical dry forests? 2. Herbs

Although biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is considered the main input of N in mature and regenerating native tropical vegetation, it has seldom been quantified. Biomass and N accumulation and fixation were determined for spontaneously occurring herbaceous species in caatinga areas in four regeneration stages (2, 17, 39 and >50?years after abandonment from agricultural use). BNF was estimated using the ¹⁵N natural-abundance method. The 2-year regeneration area had the highest total herb (6,355?kg?ha^?1) and legume (262?kg?ha^?1) biomass production, N stocks (82?kg?ha^?1) and fixed N (5.0?kg?ha^?1). N₂-fixing legumes (nine species in the sampled area) contributed over 97?% of legume biomass in all areas. Macroptilium gracile added the largest amount of N (3.9?kg?ha^?1 in the 2-year regeneration area) because of its large biomass production (205?kg?ha^?1), although it was not the species with the highest proportion of fixed N (76?%). All of the N₂-fixing species obtained large proportions of their N from symbiosis, most of them more than 50?%.However, the amounts of fixed N per unit area were relatively low (0.22?C5.00?kg?ha^?1) because the biomass of N₂-fixing species was always less than 5?% of the total herb biomass.     

Solid lubricant behavior of MoS2 and WSe2-based nanocomposite coatings

Abstract

Tribological coatings made of MoS₂ and WSe₂ phases and their corresponding combinations with tungsten carbide (WC) were prepared by non-reactive magnetron sputtering of individual targets of similar composition. A comparative tribological analysis of these multiphase coatings was done in both ambient air (30–40% relative humidity, RH) and dry nitrogen (RH<7%) environments using the same tribometer and testing conditions. A nanostructural study using advanced transmission electron microscopy of the initial coatings and examination of the counterfaces after the friction test using different analytical tools helped to elucidate what governs the tribological behavior for each type of environment. This allowed conclusions to be made about the influence of the coating microstructure and composition on the tribological response. The best performance obtained with a WSe_x film (specific wear rate of 2 × 10^?8 mm³ N^–1m^–1 and a friction coefficient of 0.03–0.05) was compared with that of the well-established MoS₂ lubricant material.     

Novel ferrofluids coated with a renewable material obtained from cashew nut shell liquid

In this work, we present the synthesis and characterization of a new surfactant molecule obtained from a byproduct of the cashew nut processing (diphosphorylated cardol, DPC). It is herein used to overcoat magnetic nanoparticles showing spinel structures in order to create new ferrofluids. The nanoparticle structure and magnetic properties have been deeply investigated. DPC-functionalized Fe₃O₄ and NiFe₂O₄ samples exhibit higher magnetic saturation than DPC–CoFe₂O₄. These new ferrofluids reveal appealing as possible nanoparticle stabilizing molecules, magnetic resonance imaging agents, storage systems or in any material science field that requires the employment of biocompatible magnetic stable fluids.     

Rheological,Thermodynamic, and Gas Solubility Properties of Phenylacetic Acid‐Based Deep Eutectic Solvents

Choline chloride + phenylacetic acid‐based deep eutectic solvents are studied. Their most relevant experimental physicochemical properties at different mixing ratios together with the CO₂ solubility data obtained in wide pressure and temperature ranges are reported. The presented materials exhibit a significant CO₂ capture performance with low corrosion effect when compared with the most common amine‐based CO₂ capture agents. Detailed rheological measurements are carried out and various models are applied to describe the dynamic flow behavior of the solvents. The CO₂ absorption mechanism is evaluated by studying the behavior of the liquid gas and interface. Due to the advantages of low cost, nontoxicity, and favorable physical properties, these solvents are an environmentally promising alternative for effective CO₂ capture technological applications.     

Generating model-based test cases from natural language requirements for space application software

Natural Language (NL) deliverables suffer from ambiguity, poor understandability, incompleteness, and inconsistency. Howewer, NL is straightforward and stakeholders are familiar with it to produce their software requirements documents. This paper presents a methodology, SOLIMVA, which aims at model-based test case generation considering NL requirements deliverables. The methodology is supported by a tool that makes it possible to automatically translate NL requirements into Statechart models. Once the Statecharts are derived, another tool, GTSC, is used to generate the test cases. SOLIMVA uses combinatorial designs to identify scenarios for system and acceptance testing, and it requires that a test designer defines the application domain by means of a dictionary. Within the dictionary there is a Semantic Translation Model in which, among other features, a word sense disambiguation method helps in the translation process. Using as a case study a space application software product, we compared SOLIMVA with a previous manual approach developed by an expert under two aspects: test objectives coverage and characteristics of the Executable Test Cases. In the first aspect, the SOLIMVA methodology not only covered the test objectives associated to the expert’s scenarios but also proposed a better strategy with test objectives clearly separated according to the directives of combinatorial designs. The Executable Test Cases derived in accordance with the SOLIMVA methodology not only possessed similar characteristics with the expert’s Executable Test Cases but also predicted behaviors that did not exist in the expert’s strategy. The key benefits from applying the SOLIMVA methodology/tool within a Verification and Validation process are the ease of use and, at the same time, the support of a formal method consequently leading to a potential acceptance of the methodology in complex software projects.     

A factorial design study to determine the significant parameters of fresh concrete lateral pressure and initial rate of pressure decay

The design of vertical formwork is governed by the lateral pressure exerted by fresh concrete; the complexity of the problem is due to the large number of factors which affect pressure. This work describes an experimental investigation in columns to determine the variation in lateral pressure and initial rate of pressure drop with the following variables: formwork size and shape, coarse aggregate concentration and concrete temperature.An 8-run factorial design 2³ was done to determine the influence of formwork size and shape and coarse aggregate concentration. It was impossible to vary temperature between two levels in the field, so in this analysis this factor was considered as a co-variable. With this objective, square and circular experimental columns 3 m high but with different cross sections were instrumented, and two concrete mixtures with different sand to total aggregate ratios were used.Afterwards, two tests were done to determine the influence in pressure of concrete impact, changing the method for filling the columns.Formwork shape, coarse aggregate concentration and concrete impact have a minor effect in maximum lateral pressure, while temperature shows an inverse relationship with the pressure, but not to a sufficient degree to be considered a significant parameter. On the other hand, formwork size has a major effect on the pressure, narrow sections generate less lateral pressure than higher ones. This is attributed to the friction forces between concrete and formwork which are much more important in small sections.Formwork shape and size present a major influence in the initial rate of pressure decay. While circular formworks present a higher value than squares ones, smaller cross sections present a lower value than larger ones. On the other hand, coarse aggregate concentration has a minor effect on this parameter.