1,131 research outputs found

    PROMOTION POLICY FOR CORPORATE CLIENTS

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    Protective effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharides in the grapevine- Agrobacterium vitis interaction

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    Cell-associated lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were extracted by the phenol-chloroform-petroleum ether extraction method (PCP) from a nopaline strain of Agrobacterium vitis, purified by treatment with DNase/RNase, proteinase K and dialysis, characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and bioassayed on grapevine shoot nodal segments. LPS preparation used for the experiments in planta was a mixture of rough-type LPS, obtained from precipitation with water after PCP-extraction, and some smooth- and rough-type LPS from the remaining phenol phase. Infiltration of an aqueous dispersion of the mixture in concentrations of 25-1000 µ g.ml-1 did not cause grapevine tissue necrosis, and callus formed within one month. When the LPS dispersions were infiltrated in the grapevine nodal segments, 24 h before challenge inoculation with A. vitis (5x102 cells per 5 µ l droplet), they prevented tumorgenesis and tissue necrosis; but, when the pathogen was inoculated at a higher concentration (5x105 cells per 5 CII droplet), these LS applications were active in protecting plant tissue from necrosis and did not prevent tumor induction. The potential role of LPS as candidate molecules in the protection of grapevine from A. vitis infection is discussed

    Absorption et désorption du dioxyde de souffre par des gouttes d'eau de fort diamètre en chute. 

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    Cet article concerne l’absorption et la désorption du SO2 par des gouttes d’eau de diamètre supérieur à 1mm en chute libre dans un mélange air-SO2 à faible et moyenne concentrations. Dans ce cas, le transfert résulte du couplage des résistances interne et externe à la goutte. Dans la phase liquide, un modèle local basé sur la vitesse de frottement inter faciale et le diamètre de la goutte permet le calcul du coefficient de transfert interne kl. Le coefficient de transfert externe kg dans la phase gazeuse est déterminé à l’aide d’une expression plus classiqueAfin de valider le modèle, des investigations expérimentales sont menées en absorption et en désorption sur une colonne de 2.3 m de hauteur dans laquelle le temps de séjour des gouttes est de l’ordre de la seconde. Le présent modèle simule fort bien l’ensemble de ces expériences réalisées pour différents diamètres de goutte [2.04 ; 4.31] mm et différentes concentrations [100 ; 2000] ppm. Le modèle proposé est aussi comparé avec succès à des résultats expérimentaux de la littérature à faible et moyenne concentrations pour des temps de contact beaucoup plus grands.Son domaine d’application couvre donc désormais l’absorption et la désorption du SO2 pour des concentrations comprises entre quelques ppm et quelque %.Mass transfer in dispersed media is of interest to fields such as nuclear engineering, process engineering and environmental engineering. It occurs when two phases, not under chemical equilibrium, are in contact. Knowledge of mass transfer mechanisms in the case of gas absorption from and/or into droplets is necessary to understand the scavenging of trace gases in clouds, rain and wet scrubbers. Our studies focus on absorption and desorption phenomena involving free falling water droplets in a mixture of air and gas. For example, acid rain is formed when a drop of rain falls through an atmosphere contaminated with gaseous acid precursors. A similar phenomenon occurs in specific atmospheric scrubbers, where pollution is trapped at the source. In all cases, the transfer of trace gases from the air into the falling droplets is controlled by molecular diffusion and by convection outside and inside the drops.For droplets, falling inside a soluble gas medium, the main transfer resistance is located in the gas phase. A survey of published studies shows that a number of good numerical models exist, as well as experimental correlations for predictions of the mass transfer coefficient in the gas film. For the liquid phase controlled resistance, Saboni (1991) proposed a model based on local scales, interfacial liquid friction velocity and drop diameter. The model was validated experimentally by Amokrane et al. (1994). The experimental study and model validation in the case of sulfur dioxide absorption by water droplets falling through air with a high gas concentration (few %) has been described previously in detail by Amokrane et al. (1994).The purpose of the present article was to extend our previous model to predict SO2 absorption and desorption by droplets (1-5 mm) falling in air with a low gas concentration. In the liquid phase, a model based on local scales, interfacial liquid friction velocity and droplet size diameter was used. In the continuous gas phase a more classical model was applied. To support the model, two types of experiments were carried out. The first type was adapted to measure the absorption of gas by droplets of known diameter. A second set of experiments gave the desorption rate from droplets with an initial concentration of sulfur dioxide falling through SO2 -free air. Absorption occurred during the fall through a 2.3 m long column for various gas concentrations and for various droplet diameters. A sketch of the experimental equipment is presented schematically in Figure 1. It consists of a cylindrical column 2.3 m in height and 0.104 m in diameter. Before each experiment, a gas mixture with the desired SO2 concentration in air, ranging between 100 and 2000 ppm, was introduced into the column. The SO2 concentration was set at the desired value by regulating the volumetric flow rates of sulfur dioxide and air with calibrated rotameters. The gas concentration in the column was measured continuously by a chemical cell analyzer. The air temperature and humidity were continually measured at the top, in the middle and at the bottom of the column. They ranged from 18°C to 20°C and from 40% to 50%, respectively. Droplets were generated using a specific injector consisting of a demineralized water tank at the base of which identical thin needles were placed. In the case of the smallest droplets, seven needles, 300 µm in diameter, were used. For the largest droplets, one needle of about 1 mm was used. The artificial rain was started by exerting an overpressure in the tank and it was stopped by exerting a depression. This device allowed the generation of almost identical water drops at a controlled rate. Droplets fell with zero initial velocity. Their diameters were determined by collecting a known number of droplets and weighing them on a precision balance. The droplets were collected in a special glass cup placed at the bottom of the rain shaft. This collector initially contained a known volume of kerosene. The presence of this organic compound allowed the creation of a film to prevent additional absorption of SO2 during the experiment and natural desorption of sulfur after the experiment. An experiment consisted of dropping 10 to 20 mL of rain. This amount is enough to precisely measure the sulfur concentration.For reversible desorption, experimentation was undertaken directly in a lab atmosphere. For these experiments, the 4.31 mm diameter droplets free fall occurred over 16.3 m. Three intermediate levels were also examined with falling times varying from 0.7 to 2.4 s. The ambient temperature was measured in the surrounding area of both the injector and the collector and the maximum variation was 2°C. Various initial sulfurous acid concentrations were obtained as a result of various contact times of demineralized water with air-SO2 mixtures. Initial concentrations ranged from 0.5 10-3 mol·L-1 to 1.8 10-3 mol·L-1. In this case, the collector initially contained a known volume of hydrogen peroxide to immediately convert sulfurous acid into sulfuric acid. This avoided additional desorption of sulfurous acid during and after the experiments. In this case, the presence of the organic film was not necessary.The results achieved with the theoretical model were compared to the experimental results. The present model was successful in correlating the experimental results carried out for various droplet diameters ranging between 2.04 and 4.31 mm, and gas concentrations ranging between 100 and 2000 ppm. The model also compared successfully with experimental results from the literature in the case of much longer contact times. The applicability of the model thus covers the absorption and desorption of SO2 for concentrations ranging between ppm to a few %

    Biological control of Agrobacterium vitis using non-tumorigenic agrobacteria

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    The potential use of non-tumorigenic agrobacteria for the biological control of grapevine crown gall in Italy was investigated. Four Agrobacterium strains belonging to the species radiobacter and vitis were used to protect the susceptible cv. Malvasia Istriana grafted on the rootstock 420 A. Moreover, the effect of each treatment on grapevine vitality and growth was assessed, including the percentage of marketable vines, as determined by industry standards. Treatments with the antagonists clearly reduced tissue colonization by the pathogen, with a drop of more than 100-fold in pathogen populations in the samples collected at the graft point. Another important effect was the reduction of internal necrosis possibly induced by the high concentration of the nopaline strain CG 49 used in the experiments. According to viticultural and commercial parameters, treatments with the antagonists improved the quality of the vines, with fewer discards and a high percentage of marketable material. Therefore, these antagonists can be considered beneficial for grapevine

    Evaluation of the elastic properties and topography of leukocytes’ surface in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using atomic force microscope

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    The aim of study was to examine some morphometrical parameters (height, diameter) of the leukocytes (white blood cells - WBCs), their specific surface morphology (globular prominences and depression in WBCs) as well as their local elastic properties (Young’s modulus) in healthy persons and in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by means of the atomic force microscopy (AFM). Morphological and morphometrical parameters of human leukocytes were evaluated by AFM in tapped mod

    Optical absorption in boron clusters B6_{6} and B6+_{6}^{+} : A first principles configuration interaction approach

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    The linear optical absorption spectra in neutral boron cluster B6_{6} and cationic B6+_{6}^{+} are calculated using a first principles correlated electron approach. The geometries of several low-lying isomers of these clusters were optimized at the coupled-cluster singles doubles (CCSD) level of theory. With these optimized ground-state geometries, excited states of different isomers were computed using the singles configuration-interaction (SCI) approach. The many body wavefunctions of various excited states have been analysed and the nature of optical excitation involved are found to be of collective, plasmonic type.Comment: 22 pages, 38 figures. An invited article submitted to European Physical Journal D. This work was presented in the International Symposium on Small Particles and Inorganic Clusters - XVI, held in Leuven, Belgiu

    Dynamical Bonding Driving Mixed Valency in a Metal Boride

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    Samarium hexaboride is an anomaly, having many exotic and seemingly mutually incompatible properties. It was proposed to be a mixed-valent semiconductor, and later - a topological Kondo insulator, and yet has a Fermi surface despite being an insulator. We propose a new and unified understanding of SmB6_6 centered on the hitherto unrecognized dynamical bonding effect: the coexistence of two Sm-B bonding modes within SmB6_6, corresponding to different oxidation states of the Sm. The mixed valency arises in SmB6_6 from thermal population of these distinct minima enabled by motion of B. Our model simultaneously explains the thermal valence fluctuations, appearance of magnetic Fermi surface, excess entropy at low temperatures, pressure-induced phase transitions, and related features in Raman spectra and their unexpected dependence on temperature and boron isotope

    Aromaticity in a Surface Deposited Cluster: Pd4_4 on TiO2_2 (110)

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    We report the presence of \sigma-aromaticity in a surface deposited cluster, Pd4_4 on TiO2_2 (110). In the gas phase, Pd4_4 adopts a tetrahedral structure. However, surface binding promotes a flat, \sigma-aromatic cluster. This is the first time aromaticity is found in surface deposited clusters. Systems of this type emerge as a promising class of catalyst, and so realization of aromaticity in them may help to rationalize their reactivity and catalytic properties, as a function of cluster size and composition.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
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