Telecom Italia: Merging five companies into one

This article reports the results of an in-depth study of the merger integration process involving five operating companies in the Italian telecommunications industry. The article has important implications for research and practice. Specifically, it suggests that mergers and acquisitions results are related to the quality of the post-acquisition restructuring and integration process. The article also describes how the Italian Telecom merger was carried out and shows that integration and business redesign took place simultaneously. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Molecular diversity of anthracnose pathogen populations associated with UK strawberry production suggests multiple introductions of three different Colletotrichum species.

Fragaria × ananassa (common name: strawberry) is a globally cultivated hybrid species belonging to Rosaceae family. Colletotrichum acutatum sensu lato (s.l.) is considered to be the second most economically important pathogen worldwide affecting strawberries. A collection of 148 Colletotrichum spp. isolates including 67 C. acutatum s.l. isolates associated with the phytosanitary history of UK strawberry production were used to characterize multi-locus genetic variation of this pathogen in the UK, relative to additional reference isolates that represent a worldwide sampling of the diversity of the fungus. The evidence indicates that three different species C. nymphaeae, C. godetiae and C. fioriniae are associated with strawberry production in the UK, which correspond to previously designated genetic groups A2, A4 and A3, respectively. Among these species, 12 distinct haplotypes were identified suggesting multiple introductions into the country. A subset of isolates was also used to compare aggressiveness in causing disease on strawberry plants and fruits. Isolates belonging to C. nymphaeae, C. godetiae and C. fioriniae representative of the UK anthracnose pathogen populations showed variation in their aggressiveness. Among the three species, C. nymphaeae and C. fioriniae appeared to be more aggressive compared to C. godetiae. This study highlights the genetic and pathogenic heterogeneity of the C. acutatum s.l. populations introduced into the UK linked to strawberry production

Electrophysiology of glioma: a Rho GTPase-activating protein reduces tumor growth and spares neuron structure and function

Background. Glioblastomas are the most aggressive type of brain tumor. A successful treatment should aim at halting tumor growth and protecting neuronal cells to prevent functional deficits and cognitive deterioration. Here, we exploited a Rho GTPase-activating bacterial protein toxin, cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1), to interfere with glioma cell growth in vitro and vivo. We also investigated whether this toxin spares neuron structure and function in peritumoral areas. Methods. We performed a microarray transcriptomic and in-depth proteomic analysis to characterize the molecular changes triggered by CNF1 in glioma cells. We also examined tumor cell senescence and growth in vehicle-and CNF1-treated glioma-bearing mice. Electrophysiological and morphological techniques were used to investigate neuronal alterations in peritumoral cortical areas. Results. Administration of CNF1 triggered molecular and morphological hallmarks of senescence in mouse and human glioma cells in vitro. CNF1 treatment in vivo induced glioma cell senescence and potently reduced tumor volumes. In peritumoral areas of glioma-bearing mice, neurons showed a shrunken dendritic arbor and severe functional alterations such as increased spontaneous activity and reduced visual responsiveness. CNF1 treatment enhanced dendritic length and improved several physiological properties of pyramidal neurons, demonstrating functional preservation of the cortical network. Conclusions. Our findings demonstrate that CNF1 reduces glioma volume while at the same time maintaining the physiological and structural properties of peritumoral neurons. These data indicate a promising strategy for the development of more effective antiglioma therapies

Management of Post-Harvest Anthracnose: Current Approaches and Future Perspectives

Anthracnose is a severe disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. on several crop species. Fungal infections can occur both in the field and at the post-harvest stage causing severe lesions on fruits and economic losses. Physical treatments and synthetic fungicides have traditionally been the preferred means to control anthracnose adverse effects; however, the urgent need to decrease the use of toxic chemicals led to the investigation of innovative and sustainable protection techniques. Evidence for the efficacy of biological agents and vegetal derivates has been reported; however, their introduction into actual crop protection strategies requires the solutions of several critical issues. Biotechnology-based approaches have also been explored, revealing the opportunity to develop innovative and safe methods for anthracnose management through genome editing and RNA interference technologies. Nevertheless, besides the number of advantages related to their use, e.g., the putative absence of adverse effects due to their high specificity, a number of aspects remain to be clarified to enable their introduction into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols against Colletotrichum spp. disease

Study of MDT calibration constants using H8 testbeam data of year 2004

In year 2004 Atlas performed a long campaign of test beam data taking at the H8 Cern beam. Two sectors of the barrel and endcap regions of the Muon Spectrometer were exposed to the beam and large amount of data were collected in well defined and controlled operating conditions. This allowed a careful study on MDT drift properties. A better understanding of the calibration constants, of their definition and determination and of the criteria for their acceptance has been obtained. Systematic effects and time stability of the constants have also been studied

Attack of the clones: Population genetics reveals clonality of Colletotrichum lupini, the causal agent of lupin anthracnose

Colletotrichum lupini, the causative agent of lupin anthracnose, affects lupin cultivation worldwide. Understanding its population structure and evolutionary potential is crucial to design successful disease management strategies. The objective of this study was to employ population genetics to investigate the diversity, evolutionary dynamics, and molecular basis of the interaction of this notorious lupin pathogen with its host. A collection of globally representative C. lupini isolates was genotyped through triple digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing, resulting in a data set of unparalleled resolution. Phylogenetic and structural analysis could distinguish four independent lineages (I–IV). The strong population structure and high overall standardized index of association (r̅d) indicates that C. lupini reproduces clonally. Different morphologies and virulence patterns on white lupin (Lupinus albus) and Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) were observed between and within clonal lineages. Isolates belonging to lineage II were shown to have a minichromosome that was also partly present in lineage III and IV, but not in lineage I isolates. Variation in the presence of this minichromosome could imply a role in host–pathogen interaction. All four lineages were present in the South American Andes region, which is suggested to be the centre of origin of this species. Only members of lineage II have been found outside South America since the 1990s, indicating it as the current pandemic population. As a seedborne pathogen, C. lupini has mainly spread through infected but symptomless seeds, stressing the importance of phytosanitary measures to prevent future outbreaks of strains that are yet confined to South America

Structure and nuclear quadrupole coupling interaction in hydroxylamines: The rotational spectrum of N,N-diethyl(2H)hydroxylamine

The ground-state rotational spectrum of N,N-diethyl(2H)hydroxylamine (C2H5-NOD-C2H5) was measured by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Six rotational transition lines were assigned to the most stable conformer with the alkyl chain in the trans arrangement and the hydroxyl trans to the bisector of the CNC angle, that is, with the NOD frame in the bc-symmetry plane. Rotational constants are A= 7210.938(2), B= 2018.628(1), and C= 1739.696(1) MHz. These data together with those previously determined for the parent species and 13C and 15N isotopologues, were used to determine a partial r0 structure. The hyperfine structure due to the nuclear quadrupole coupling (NQC) interaction of both 14N and D nuclei was disentangled allowing to obtain the diagonal NQC-constants. On the basis of the determined geometry, the NQC-tensor values in the electric field-gradient principal axis system were determined (χxxN= 0.71, χyyN= 5.90, χzzN= −6.61 MHz; χxxD= −0.11, χyyD= −0.15, χzzD= 0.26 MHz). Comparison with other amines shows that using ammonia as reference, χzzN can be estimated with an additive model: +0.4 and +1.7 MHz from hydrogen to alkyl and hydroxyl substitution, respectively. From the analysis of the available data on the 1:1 water complex of N,N-diethylhydroxylamine, a 8% electric field gradient decrease at the nitrogen nucleus due to the formation of the hydrogen bond involving the nitrogen lone pair was found

Kinetic study of the reaction of thiophene-tocopherols with peroxyl radicals enlightenings the role of O ̇⋯S noncovalent interactions in H-atom transfer

Three new alpha-tocopherol thiophene derivatives were efficiently synthesized, characterized and used for the first time as chain-breaking antioxidants for the inhibition of the autoxidation of reference oxidizable substrates. The rate constant of the reaction with alkylperoxyl (ROO center dot) radicals and the stoichiometry of radical trapping (n) for the thiophene-tocopherol compounds were determined by measuring the oxygen consumption during the autoxidation of styrene or isopropylbenzene, using a differential pressure transducer. The measurement of the reaction with ROO center dot radicals in an apolar solvent at 30 degrees C showed inhibition rate constants (kinh) in the order of 104 M-1 s-1. To rationalise the kinetic results, the effect of the thiophene ring on the H-atom donation by O-H groups of the functionalized tocopherols was investigated by theoretical calculations. The importance of noncovalent interactions (including an unusual O-center dot & ctdot;S bond) for the stability of the conformers has been shown, and the O-H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE(OH)) of these derivatives was determined. Finally, the photophysical properties of these new compounds were investigated to understand if the addition of thiophene groups changes the absorption or emission spectra of the tocopherol skeleton for their possible application as luminescent molecular probes.Three alpha-tocopherol thiophene derivatives were efficiently synthesized and used as chain-breaking antioxidants for the inhibition of the autoxidation of oxidizable substrates

How Water Interacts with the NOH Group: The Rotational Spectrum of the 1:1 N,N-diethylhydroxylamine·Water Complex

The rotational spectrum of the 1:1 N,N-diethylhydroxylamine-water complex has been investigated using pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in the 6.5–18.5 GHz frequency region. The most stable conformer has been detected as well as the (Formula presented.) C monosubstituted isotopologues in natural abundance and the (Formula presented.) O enriched water species, allowing to determine the nitrogen nuclear quadrupole coupling constants and the molecular structure in the vibrational ground state. The molecule has a (Formula presented.) symmetry and the water lies in the (Formula presented.) symmetry plane forming two hydrogen bonds with the NOH frame with length: (Formula presented.) = 1.974 Å and (Formula presented.) = 2.096 Å. From symmetry-adapted perturbation theory calculations coupled to atoms in molecule approach, the corresponding interaction energy values are estimated to be 24 and 13 kJ·mol (Formula presented.), respectively. The great strength of the intermolecular interaction involving the nitrogen atom is in agreement with the high reactivity of hydroxylamine compounds at the nitrogen site

Chromosome-level analysis of the Colletotrichum graminicola genome reveals the unique characteristics of core and minichromosomes

The fungal pathogen Colletotrichum graminicola causes the anthracnose of maize (Zea mays) and is responsible for significant yield losses worldwide. The genome of C. graminicola was sequenced in 2012 using Sanger sequencing, 454 pyrosequencing, and an optical map to obtain an assembly of 13 pseudochromosomes. We re-sequenced the genome using a combination of short-read (Illumina) and long-read (PacBio) technologies to obtain a chromosome-level assembly. The new version of the genome sequence has 13 chromosomes with a total length of 57.43 Mb. We detected 66 (23.62 Mb) structural rearrangements in the new assembly with respect to the previous version, consisting of 61 (21.98 Mb) translocations, 1 (1.41 Mb) inversion, and 4 (221 Kb) duplications. We annotated the genome and obtained 15,118 predicted genes and 3,614 new gene models compared to the previous version of the assembly. We show that 25.88% of the new assembly is composed of repetitive DNA elements (13.68% more than the previous assembly version), which are mostly found in gene-sparse regions. We describe genomic compartmentalization consisting of repeat-rich and gene-poor regions vs. repeat-poor and gene-rich regions. A total of 1,140 secreted proteins were found mainly in repeat-rich regions. We also found that ~75% of the three smallest chromosomes (minichromosomes, between 730 and 551 Kb) are strongly affected by repeat-induced point mutation (RIP) compared with 28% of the larger chromosomes. The gene content of the minichromosomes (MCs) comprises 121 genes, of which 83.6% are hypothetical proteins with no predicted function, while the mean percentage of Chr1–Chr10 is 36.5%. No predicted secreted proteins are present in the MCs. Interestingly, only 2% of the genes in Chr11 have homologs in other strains of C. graminicola, while Chr12 and 13 have 58 and 57%, respectively, raising the question as to whether Chrs12 and 13 are dispensable. The core chromosomes (Chr1–Chr10) are very different with respect to the MCs (Chr11–Chr13) in terms of the content and sequence features. We hypothesize that the higher density of repetitive elements and RIPs in the MCs may be linked to the adaptation and/or host co-evolution of this pathogenic fungus