Flight performance of the moth, Manduca sexta, at variable gravity

The tethered and free flight of Manduca sexta were studied during period 1,2, and 0 times normal gravity (g) produced in an aeroplane by flying through parabolic trajectories. Moths in tethered flight did not change their aerodynamic output in response to increases or decreases in gravity. Some moths in free flight at 0 g maintained a position in the box by flying against a surface, or into the angle between two surfaces. In the absence of gravity as an orienting stimulus, the positive dorsophotic response to light was dominant. As the period of 0 g continued, moths were increasingly likely to periodically reduce the amplitude of their wingbeat and/or stop flying, for the equivalent of a few wingbeats. Only at 0 g, moths very occasionally spread their wings and floated freely for a few seconds. At 0 g moths retained control of rolling and yawing movements but stability in pitch was greatly reduced or absent.     

Slot‐Die and Roll‐to‐Roll Processed Single Junction Organic Photovoltaic Cells with the Highest Efficiency

The record efficiency of the state‐of‐the‐art polymer solar cells (PSCs) is rapidly increasing, due to the discovery of high‐performance photoactive donor and acceptor materials. However, strong questions remain as to whether such high‐efficiency PSCs can be produced by scalable processes. This paper reports a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.5% achieved with single‐junction ternary PSCs based on PTB7‐Th, PC₇₁BM, and COi8DFIC fabricated by slot‐die coating, which shows the highest PCE ever reported in PSCs fabricated by a scalable process. To understand the origin of the high performance of the slot‐die coated device, slot‐die coated photoactive films and devices are systematically investigated. These results indicate that the good performance of the slot‐die PSCs can be due to a favorable molecule‐structure and film‐morphology change by introducing 1,8‐diiodooctane and heat treatment, which can lead to improved charge transport with reduced carrier recombination. The optimized condition is then used for the fabrication of large‐area modules and also for roll‐to‐roll fabrication. The slot‐die coated module with 30 cm² active‐area and roll‐to‐roll produced flexible PSC has shown 8.6% and 9.6%, respectively. These efficiencies are the highest in each category and demonstrate the strong potential of the slot‐die coated ternary system for commercial applications.     

葡萄卷叶病毒的纯化,血清学研究及其在脱毒组培苗检测中的应用

将具有典型葡萄卷叶病(Grapevine leafroll diseas,GLRD)症状的葡萄组织,经差速和硫酸铯—蔗糖密度梯度离心,提纯了GLRV,并制备了兔抗血清。电镜下可观察到长度从600～2000nm的线形病毒颗粒,其中以1400nm左右为主。免疫电镜结果表明线形病毒颗粒能被美国的NY-1分离株抗血清(Ⅲ型)所修饰。在间接ELISA中提纯制品与GLRV的Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅱ型抗血清均能产生免疫反应。与Ⅲ型抗血清产生较强的免疫反应,Ⅳ型次之,Ⅱ型最弱。在SDS-免疫双扩散实验中病组织韧皮部粗提液与GLRV的Ⅲ,Ⅳ、Ⅱ型抗血清均产生免疫沉淀线。从而推测我国葡萄园内的葡萄卷叶病很可能由2种或3种卷叶病毒感染所致.采用A蛋白夹心酶联免疫吸附试验(PAS-ELISA)检测葡萄试管苗,Ⅲ型抗血清和自制抗血清的平行测试结果基本相符,共获得11个生食葡萄和10个山葡萄品种的脱葡萄卷叶病毒和扇叶病毒的组培苗,扩繁后田间试种表现出良好的农艺性状。     

Evidence of simple genetic control in potato of ability to restrict potato leaf roll virus concentration in leaves

Summary The concentration of potato leaf roll virus (PLRV), measured by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in foliage of plants of cv Maris Piper and clone G7445(1) with secondary infection was 2,700 ng/g leaf and 120 ng/g leaf, respectively. In experiments to examine the genetic control of their ability to restrict the multiplication of PLRV, reciprocal crosses were made between these two clones. Among 40 genotypes from the progeny of the crosses, about half had a low PLRV concentration in plants with secondary infection and the other half had a high concentration. The possibility of monogenic control of the character that restricts PLRV multiplication in such clones of Solanum tuberosum is discussed.     

Transfer of resistance to potato leaf roll virus from Solanum brevidens into Solanum tuberosum by somatic fusion

Tetraploid somatic hybrids were produced by protoplast fusion between Solanum brevidens, a diploid non-tuber-bearing wild species and a diploid tuber-bearing potato line derived from an S. tuberosum Gp. Phureja-Stenotumum population. S. brevidens has resistance to potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) and frost but is difficult to cross sexually with cultivated potato. Hybridity was verified by morphological characteristics and cytological observations. Nine of ten hybrids tested showed resistance to PLRV. Hybrids produced fertile pollen and eggs which may allow beneficial traits of S. brevidens to be incorporated into a conventional potato breeding programme.     

A Basic Approach Towards the Development of Bioelectric Bacterial Biosensors for the Detection of Plant Viruses

There is a growing need for virus sensors with improved sensitivity and dynamic range for disease diagnosis, pharmaceutical research, agriculture and homeland security. Membrane‐engineered animal cells bearing antibodies against viral antigens have been previously used for biorecognition biosensors for the ultrarapid (3 min), sensitive (1 ng/ml) detection of plant viruses, such as the cucumber mosaic virus. We here report a new approach for the construction of cell‐based sensors for virus detection, based on membrane (antibody)‐engineered bacteria. The novel method was applied for the detection of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV) using sensors containing modified Escherichia coli XL‐1Blue MRF’ bacteria. E. coli membranes have been engineered with electro‐inserted, virus‐homologous antibodies. The detection principle was based on the measurement of changes in the bacterial membrane potential as a result of virus–antibody binding. After optimization of the membrane‐engineering process, the virus detection limit for TMV and CLRV with the bacteria‐based biosensor system was 1 pg/ml, representing a 1000‐fold improvement over currently available methods. Although the novel biosensor is still in its proof‐of‐concept stage of development, its sensitivity and speed (assay time: 60–100 s) could make it a very promising tool for high throughput, field‐based virus screening.