Revisiting the Non-Coding Nature of Pospiviroids

Viroids are small, circular, highly structured pathogens that infect a broad range of plants, causing economic losses. Since their discovery in the 1970s, they have been considered as non-coding pathogens. In the last few years, the discovery of other RNA entities, similar in terms of size and structure, that were shown to be translated (e.g., cirRNAs, precursors of miRNA, RNA satellites) as well as studies showing that some viroids are located in ribosomes, have reignited the idea that viroids may be translated. In this study, we used advanced bioinformatic analysis, in vitro experiments and LC-MS/MS to search for small viroid peptides of the PSTVd. Our results suggest that in our experimental conditions, even though the circular form of PSTVd is found in ribosomes, no produced peptides were identified. This indicates that the presence of PSTVd in ribosomes is most probably not related to peptide production but rather to another unknown function that requires further study.

THE FLEXURE OF COMBINED PLATES WITH PIECEWISE VARIABLE THICKNESS. THE SOLUTIONS IN TERMS OF LEGENDRE FUNCTIONS

The work considers the problems of flexure of plates of circular form and consisting of separate parts with different laws of thickness variation. The each part of this plate has the form of a ring. The mentioned separate sections may be made from the same or from the different materials. The material of the piece-wise variable plate parts can be isotropic or orthotropic, homogeneous or nonhomogeneous. In the places of the separate parts conjugation the plate’s thickness can be continuous or discontinuous. The action of symmetric load on piece-wise variable plate is studied. The analytical approach is used, the solutions are obtained in the closed forms in terms of Legendre functions and Legendre polynomials. Rather wide set of plates’ profiles is determined. For the satisfaction of the conditions of the separate sections conjugation the special auxiliary functions are introduced. The computation of the plate, consisting of three sections and subjected to an action of discontinuous loads, is considered as an example.

THE PROBLEMS OF COMPUTATION OF COMBINED PLATES WITH PIECEWISE VARIABLE THICKNESS. SOLUTIONS IN ORTHOGONAL POLYNOMIALS

The work is devoted to the analytical simulation of the combined plates calculation. The mentioned plates have the circular form and they consist of separate parts with differentlaws of thickness variation. These sections may be made from the same or from differentmaterials. The material can be homogeneous or nonhomogeneous, isotropic or anisotropic. In the places of the separate sections conjugation the construction’s thickness can be continuous or discontinuous. The construction under study is subjected to an action of bending loads. Below the analytical method for the similar constructions’ computation is suggested. This method is based on the use of the theory of the special functions, in particular, Lagerr’s orthogonal polynomials.

Ovid’s Dream, or, Byblis and the Circle of Metamorphoses

Chapter 5 explores the role played by the Byblis episode in Ovid’s Metamorphoses as a form of authorial self-portrait. Byblis, placed at what this paper shows to be the poem’s chronological centre, is both the work’s first long-form writer and its first, and only, dreamer of fully human dreams. Where Morpheus in the Metamorphoses’ House of Sleep may serve as model for the poet as shape-shifter and creator, Byblis represents the intimate connection between creativity and self-deception in Ovid’s poetic programme. Through Byblis, this paper argues, Ovid comes to recapitulate Latin literature’s ‘primal scene of instruction’, the Hesiodic and Callimachean dream of Homer that opens Ennius’ Annales. The metempsychotic dimension of Ovid’s representation of his own poetic project, this paper concludes, has important affinities with the circular form of the self-perpetuating fountain into which Byblis is transformed, and with the anthropocentric dreams that make possible Byblis’ metamorphosis, and the circle of Ovid’s Metamorphoses as a whole.

Tinea Corporis: An Evidence-Based Case Report Treated with Homoeopathic Medicine Sepia

Tinea corporis or ringworm is common presenting complaint in daily practice. This disease has great physical and psychological impact on social life. Ringworm spreads in a circular form with central clearing. This is a case of a 48-year-old male having several coin like eruption on chest and widespread on shoulder and back. The homoeopathic medicine Sepia was prescribed in 200 potency on the basis of totality of symptoms and after repertorisation. Case has been followed up to 17 weeks; there was marked improvement in eruption from baseline and other associated complaints.

Biphenyl/PCB Degrading bph Genes of Ten Bacterial Strains Isolated from Biphenyl-Contaminated Soil in Kitakyushu, Japan: Comparative and Dynamic Features as Integrative Conjugative Elements (ICEs)

We sequenced the entire genomes of ten biphenyl/PCB degrading bacterial strains (KF strains) isolated from biphenyl-contaminated soil in Kitakyushu, Japan. All the strains were Gram-negative bacteria belonging to β- and γ-proteobacteria. Out of the ten strains, nine strains carried a biphenyl catabolic bph gene cluster as integrative conjugative elements (ICEs), and they were classified into four groups based on the structural features of the bph genes. Group I (five strains) possessed bph genes that were very similar to the ones in Pseudomonas furukawaii KF707 (formerly Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707), which is one of the best characterized biphenyl-utilizing strains. This group of strains carried salicylate catabolic sal genes that were approximately 6-kb downstream of the bph genes. Group II (two strains) possessed bph and sal genes similar to the ones in KF707, but these strains lacked the bphX region between bphC and bphD, which is involved in the downstream catabolism of biphenyl. These bph-sal clusters in groups I and II were located on an integrative conjugative element that was larger than 110 kb, and they were named ICEbph-sal. Our previous study demonstrated that the ICEbph-sal of Pseudomonas putida KF715 in group II existed both in an integrated form in the chromosome (referred to as ICEbph-salKF715 (integrated)) and in a extrachromosomal circular form (referred to as ICEbph-sal (circular)) (previously called pKF715A, 483 kb) in the stationary culture. The ICEbph-sal was transferred from KF715 into P. putida AC30 and P. putida KT2440 with high frequency, and it was maintained stably as an extrachromosomal circular form. The ICEbph-salKF715 (circular) in these transconjugants was further transferred to P. putida F39/D and then integrated into the chromosome in one or two copies. Meanwhile, group III (one strain) possessed bph genes, but not sal genes. The nucleotide sequences of the bph genes in this group were less conserved compared to the genes of the strains belonging to groups I and II. Currently, there is no evidence to indicate that the bph genes in group III are carried by a mobile element. Group IV (two strains) carried bph genes as ICEs (59–61 kb) that were similar to the genes found in Tn4371 from Cupriavidus oxalacticus A5 and ICEKKS1024677 from the Acidovorax sp. strain KKS102. Our study found that bph gene islands have integrative functions, are transferred among soil bacteria, and are diversified through modification.

A Buddhist monastery revealed by UAV survey and ground-penetrating radar in eastern Mongolia

The site of the Dzuun Khuree monastery in the Upper Kherlen Valley of eastern Mongolia was recently investigated by UAV and ground-penetrating radar. The monastery's highly unusual circular form and layout suggest a foundation earlier than previously suspected.