Nanopore sequencing of tomato mottle leaf distortion virus, a new bipartite begomovirus infecting tomato in Brazil

During a survey in a tomato field in Luziânia (Goiás State, Brazil), a plant showing mottling, chlorotic spots, and leaf distortion was found. A new bipartite begomovirus was found by Nanopore sequencing, and the full DNA-A sequence was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The highest nucleotide identity match of this DNA-A genome (2596 bases) was 81.65% with tomato golden leaf deformation virus (HM357456). Due to the current species demarcation criterion of 91% of nucleotide identity (DNA-A), we propose it as a new member of the genus Begomovirus, named Tomato mottle leaf distortion virus.

Metaphilosophical pessimism of C. McGinn

This article is dedicated to the metaphilosophical pessimism of C. McGinn. McGinn is known as a main proponent of “new mysterianism” in the contemporary analytic philosophy of mind. According to mysterianism, we can’t solve the mind-body problem because of the natural cognitive limitations on our side. McGinn’s view on the nature of philosophy is the component of this conception. In general, mysterian metaphilosophy didn’t get enough coverage in the research literature but it deserves a bigger interest. McGinn argues that philosophy is actually a combination of unsolvable problems. He identifies the scientific/philosophical demarcation criterion as the potential solvability for the human mind. However, this metaphilosophical position faces serious difficulties. At first, if the objections of U. Kriegel and D. Dennett are right and the mysterian cognitive closure thesis is not sufficiently proved, then the termination of research on a number of philosophical issues may also be an unreasoned decision. Secondly, there is a threat of performative contradiction. But we could try to explain this contradiction by considering the style of analytic philosophy itself which is characterized by dialogical form and free dealing with the ideas considered as possible options. In the article, the standard methods of historicophilosophical investigation are used including the comparative analysis and the principle of objective analysis of a text in the work with sources.

Kant’s Metaphilosophy

While the term “metaphilosophy” enjoys increasing popularity in Kant scholarship, it is neither clear what distinguishes a metaphilosophical theory from a philosophical one nor to what extent Kant’s philosophy contains metaphilosophical views. In the first part of the article, I will introduce a demarcation criterion and show how scholars fall prey to the fallacy of extension confusing Kant’s philosophical theories with his theories about philosophy. In the second part, I will analyze eight elements for an “imperfect definition” (KrV A731/B759) of philosophy outlining the scope of Kant’s explicit metaphilosophy against the backdrop of recent metaphilosophical research: (i) scientific concept of philosophy, (ii) philosophy as an activity, (iii) worldly concept, (iv) philosophy as a (proper and improper) science, (v) philosophy as an architectonic idea (archetype and ectypes), (vi) philosophy as a social practice and the appropriate holding-to-be-true (one or many true philosophies?), (vii) reason as the absolute condition and subject of philosophy, and (viii) methodology of philosophy. I will put these elements together for an attempt to give an imperfect definition of philosophy – something that Kant promised but never did – in the conclusion.

A novel foveavirus identified in wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris)

We report the genome sequence of a putative new foveavirus infecting non-cultivated Vitis vinifera, tentatively named “grapevine foveavirus A” (GFVA). This virus was identified by high-throughput sequencing analysis of a European wild Vitis collected in Switzerland. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this virus clustered with known grapevine virus T (GVT) isolates but was clearly distinct from any of them. If considering the International Committee of Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV)-suggested foveavirus species demarcation criterion based on sequence similarity in the replicase gene/protein, this virus should be considered a member of a new species closely related to GVT. On the other hand, comparison of capsid gene/protein sequences using the same criteria indicates that GFVA is at the border of species demarcation. Whether this virus represents a highly divergent GVT isolate or a member of a distinct but closely related species is discussed.

Doctors without ‘Disorders’

On one influential view, the problems that should attract medical attention involve a disorder, because the goals of medical practice are to prevent and treat disorders. Based on this view, if there are no mental disorders then the status of psychiatry as a medical field is challenged. In this paper, I observe that it is often difficult to establish whether the problems that attract medical attention involve a disorder, and argue that none of the notions of disorder proposed so far offers a successful demarcation criterion between medical and non-medical problems. As an illustration, I consider why delusions are considered pathological and whether they attract medical attention in virtue of being pathological, where ‘pathological’ stands for ‘being caused by a disorder’. Although there are several promising answers to what makes delusions pathological, available accounts of the pathological nature of delusions fail to distinguish delusions from other irrational beliefs that are not typically thought of as pathological; and cannot explain why delusions typically attract medical attention whereas other irrational beliefs do not.

Identification and Genetic Characterization of a Novel Respirovirus in Alpine Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra)

The Respirovirus genus, family Paramamixoviridae, includes respiratory viral pathogens. Here we report the identification and genetic characterization of a respirovirus in an Alpine chamois showing interstitial pneumonia associated with catarrhal bronchopneumonia. The full-genome characterization of this respirovirus, named ChamoisRV/IT2014, revealed low similarities to caprine respirovirus (77.1%), bovine respirovirus (74.5%) and human respirovirus (72.0%). The phylogenetic analyses based on the full-length genome sequence of the novel isolate and reference respirovirus strains showed that ChamoisRV/IT2014 clustered with caprine respirovirus but formed a separate branch. The phylogenetic tree topology of complete large protein amino acid sequences, representing the current species demarcation criterion for Respirovirus genus, showed a 0.05 branch length of ChamoisRV/IT2014 sequence between the nearest node and the tip of the branch, suggesting that this virus belongs to a novel species. This new isolate in a new host species raises several questions to be addressed on the epidemiological role of chamois and the risks of cross-transmission between wild ruminants and livestock.

Accountability and the Multidimensional Mandate

Public organizations are subject to many kinds of control mechanisms and analysts worry that they often suffer from an “accountability overload.” This article argues that such diagnoses are typically set without an adequate demarcation criterion for identifying accountability practices and separating them from other kinds of interaction, such as strategic pursuit of power or reputational standing. In response, the suggestion is that accountability practices should be restricted to procedures that track the mandate of the organization. This requires clarification of how mandates can be seen as more than a mere heap of conflicting considerations. The concept of a “multidimensional mandate” is introduced as a heuristic for thinking about how different perspectives on organizational action can be integrated. The interpretive test for deciding if a procedure qualifies as an accountability practice is whether it is sufficiently sensitive to the intertwinement of the goals and commitments of the organization. Neither account-givers nor account-holders can legitimately refrain from orienting themselves in this broader normative framework.

Partial molecular characterization of begomoviruses isolated from weeds collected in tomato crops in the southeast of Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Weeds are usually considered as a source of new viruses but are often neglected during diversity studies. Previously eleven samples of weeds were collected along the edges of a tomato crop field located in four municipalities (Florida, Ginebra, Cerrito and Candelaria) in the Southeast of Valle del Cauca. These samples were positive for begomoviruses but their molecular characterization had not been done until now. For each sample, DNA fragments were cloned, sequenced and analyzed. Nucleotide sequence analysis of viral fragments showed the presence of six different begomoviruses: two virus isolated from Lantana camara, Desmodium sp. and Amaranthus dubius were previously described as potato yellow mosaic virus (PYMV) and passionfruit leaf distortion virus (PLDV), respectively; other four virus which were isolated from L. camara, A. dubius, Rivina humilis, Desmodium sp., Rhynchosia minima, Hybanthus attenuatus, Verbena sp., Croton hirtus and Caesalpinia sp., showed its highest nucleotide sequence identity (89%) with bean chlorotic mosaic virus (BChMV), datura leaf distortion virus (DaLDV) and rhynchosia golden mosaic Yucatan virus (RhGMYV). Cloned viruses fragments from these weeds could be new begomoviruses not previously reported before, this in accordance with the ICTV species demarcation criterion for the genus Begomovirus (≥91 % sequence identity). Mixed infections of begomoviruses in Desmodium sp. and A. dubius weeds also was found in this analysis. Finally, this paper reports by the first time to three alternative begomoviruses weeds hosts that infect tomato and passion fruit crops: A. dubius for PYMV, and L. camara and Desmodium sp. for PLDV, respectively.

Media-Discourse Poetics: Linguocognitive Grounds for Pun and Wordplay Demarcation (Based on the Material of English Language Press)

Pun and wordplay are to be regarded as some of the most striking linguistic means of creating expressiveness and forming media discourse poetics. However, despite the significant amount of previous research into these devices, many aspects of their formation and functioning still remain unclear. First and foremost, it concerns the definition of pun and wordplay, and their respective demarcation. This article, in addition to the widespread formal (structural) demarcation criterion, considers the linguo-cognitive grounds for such a division. The study was conducted on the material of English-language media headlines based on the frame analysis method. The research has identified three frame models of pun and wordplay formation: two frames overlapping on the basis of (a) common terminal(s) (M1), one frame expanding due to the emergence of a new frame focus (M2), and conceptual integration of two frames (M3). Based on the analysis of examples of these models actualized in Englishlanguage mass media headlines, it has been concluded that the frequency of a particular form of realization of a stylistic device based on the corresponding structural and frame (linguo-cognitive) model may indicate whether it is an instance of the pun or wordplay.