Interfacial depinning transitions in disordered media: revisiting an old puzzle

Interfaces advancing through random media represent a number of different problems in physics, biology and other disciplines. Here, we study the pinning/depinning transition of the prototypical non-equilibrium interfacial model, i.e. the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation, advancing in a disordered medium. We analyze separately the cases of positive and negative non-linearity coefficients, which are believed to exhibit qualitatively different behavior: the positive case shows a continuous transition that can be related to directed-percolation-depinning while in the negative case there is a discontinuous transition and faceted interfaces appear. Some studies have argued from different perspectives that both cases share the same universal behavior. Here, by using a number of computational and scaling techniques we shed light on this puzzling situation and conclude that the two cases are intrinsically different.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figure

Isolation and mapping of a C3'H gene (CYP98A49) from globe artichoke, and its expression upon UV-C stress

Globe artichoke represents a natural source of phenolic compounds with dicaffeoylquinic acids along with their biosynthetic precursor chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoylquinic acid) as the predominant molecules. We report the isolation and characterization of a full-length cDNA and promoter of a globe artichoke p-coumaroyl ester 3¿-hydroxylase (CYP98A49), which is involved in both chlorogenic acid and lignin biosynthesis. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that this gene belongs to the CYP98 family. CYP98A49 was also heterologously expressed in yeast, in order to perform an enzymatic assay with p-coumaroylshikimate and p-coumaroylquinate as substrates. Real Time quantitative PCR analysis revealed that CYP98A49 expression is induced upon exposure to UV-C radiation. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the CYP98A49 gene sequence of two globe artichoke varieties used for genetic mapping allowed the localization of this gene to linkage group 10 within the previously developed map

Secured Credit and Insolvency Law in Argentina and the U.S.: Gaining Insight from a Comparative Perspective

It is not the purpose of this study to argue for or against changes in the secured credit or insolvency law of Argentina or the U.S. The perpetual clash of interested noted by James Madison and the contemporary pressures of the global economy are likely to assure that these areas of law will be subject to continuing scrutiny in both countries. Instead, we first urge that the law governing the creation and enforcement of security devices and the way in which insolvency laws impact these devices be considered together as part of one system of financing. The power which secured credit devices give to the creditor may be either checked or enhanced once the debtor files an insolvency proceeding. Second, by comparing how secured credit and insolvency law interact in Argentina and the U.S., we believe that it is possible to gain insight as to the core values and attitudes embodied in the present legal systems and a helpful viewpoint for evaluating proposed legal changes in either country. Comparison may even tend to free us from the ideological commitments which still seem to dominate discussion of the rights of debtors and creditors

Pain in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a population-based controlled study

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Rasgos anatómicos característicos del hidrosistema de las principales especies arbóreas de la Región Chaqueña Argentina.

Selected wood anatomy characteres of fourty six species of the principal trees of the Chaco Region were studied in order to analyze the hydraulic conductivity and safety of the xylem system, and compared with data from other habitats. Wood microscopic features considered were: ring porosity, vessel arrangement, tangential vessel diameter, number of vessels per mm2, Vulnerability Index, vessel element length, perforation plate, helical thickening and tracheas. A predominance of characters that probably contribute to hydraulic safety was observed: diffuse porous, numerous grouped or multiple vessels of small diameter, short vessel elements, with simple perforation plate. Maytenus vitis-idaea, Rupretchia apetala, Castela coccinea, Parkinsonia aculeata, Jodina rhombifolia species of the driest part of Chaco Region, present the most xerophytic features.Los objetivos de este trabajo son realizar un análisis comparativo de los caracteres anatómicos del leño que componen el sistema hidráulico del xilema de 46 especies arbóreas de la Región Chaqueña, Argentina y determinar las especies que presentan características xeromórficas destacadas de acuerdo a los parámetros escogidos. Los caracteres microscópicos considerados fueron: porosidad, tipo y diámetro de poros, número de poros por mm2, índice de vulnerabilidad, longitud de los miembros de vasos, placa de perforación, presencia de traqueidas y espesamientos espiralados. Las especies estudiadas siguen en el hidrosistema del xilema las tendencias generales observadas en otras regiones de características climáticas similares. Se observó el predominio de especies con caracteres que contribuyen a la seguridad en la conducción, tales como: porosidad difusa, diámetros tangenciales pequeños, vasos numerosos, con predominio de poros con diferentes combinaciones de múltiples cortos. Los elementos vasculares encontrados son cortos, con placas de perforación simple. Maytenus vitis-idaea, Rupretchia apétala, Castela coccinea, Parkinsonia aculeata y Jodinia rhombifolia, especies que habitan en la región más seca del Parque Chaqueño, son las que poseen mayor cantidad de características xeromórficas de acuerdo a los parámetros escogidos

Programa de prevención de inundaciones y drenajes urbanos en las Lagunas Prosperidad - Los Lirios, Resistencia (Chaco), Argentina

La ciudad de Resistencia está ubicada en un área de alto riesgo urbano-ambiental debido a las críticas condiciones hidrológicas, climáticas y topográficas que presenta el sitio en que se emplaza, situación que ha generado a lo largo de los años continuas inundaciones de origen fluvial y pluvial. Este factor, sumado al rápido crecimiento demográfico y su consecuente densificación, en los últimos quince años produjo numerosos asentamientos no planificados, entre ellos los pertenecientes a las lagunas Prosperidad y Los Lirios del barrio Don Bosco. Para mitigar las consecuencias de estos impactos, se ha desarrollado una serie de medidas estructurales y no estructurales en el marco del Programa de Inundaciones y Drenajes Urbanos (PIDU).

First Report of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing in Castanea sativa Mill

CRISPR/Cas9 has emerged as the most important tool for genome engineering due to its simplicity, design flexibility, and high efficiency. This technology makes it possible to induce point mutations in one or some target sequences simultaneously, as well as to introduce new genetic variants by homology-directed recombination. However, this approach remains largely unexplored in forest species. In this study, we reported the first example of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing in Castanea genus. As a proof of concept, we targeted the gene encoding phytoene desaturase (pds), whose mutation disrupts chlorophyll biosynthesis allowing for the visual assessment of knockout efficiency. Globular and early torpedo-stage somatic embryos of Castanea sativa (European chestnut) were cocultured for 5 days with a CRISPR/Cas9 construct targeting two conserved gene regions of pds and subsequently cultured on a selection medium with kanamycin. After 8 weeks of subculture on selection medium, four kanamycin-resistant embryogenetic lines were isolated. Genotyping of these lines through target Sanger sequencing of amplicons revealed successful gene editing. Cotyledonary somatic embryos were maturated on maltose 3% and cold-stored at 4°C for 2 months. Subsequently, embryos were subjected to the germination process to produce albino plants. This study opens the way to the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in European chestnut for biotechnological application