Observational Equivalence and Full Abstraction in the Symmetric Interaction Combinators

The symmetric interaction combinators are an equally expressive variant of Lafont's interaction combinators. They are a graph-rewriting model of deterministic computation. We define two notions of observational equivalence for them, analogous to normal form and head normal form equivalence in the lambda-calculus. Then, we prove a full abstraction result for each of the two equivalences. This is obtained by interpreting nets as certain subsets of the Cantor space, called edifices, which play the same role as Boehm trees in the theory of the lambda-calculus

A new perspective on the role of CuZn superoxide dismutase (SOD1)

Abstract The CuZn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), a member of a group of isoenzymes involved in the scavenger of superoxide anions, is a dimeric carbohydrate free protein, mainly localized in the cytosol. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in many pathophysiological events correlated with mutagenesis, cancer, degenerative processes and aging. In the first part of this mini-review the well known role of SOD1 and ROS are briefly summarized. Following, a potential novel biological action that SOD1 could exert is described, based on the recent researches demonstrating the secretion of this enzyme in many cellular lines. Moreover, the role of impaired mutant SOD1 secretion, associated with cytoplasmic toxic inclusion, which occurs in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is summarized. In addition, a depolarization-dependent release of SOD1 in pituitary GH3 cells and in rat synaptosomes through a calcium and SNARE-dependent mechanism is reported

In vitro fruit trees rooting by Agrobacterium rhizogenes wild type infection

Agrobacterium rhizogenes infection at the base of microcuttings in vitro can improve the rooting of some fruit species. A study was carried out comparing rooting of almond, apple, plum, Pyrus pyraster and two hybrid rootstocks, when infected with A. rhizogenesstrain 1855, with and without the addition of hormones. Three responses occurred: genotypes rooted without auxins; genotypes rooted only with auxins; genotypes rooted only after infection. All genotypes rooted after bacterial infection. In the first group the auxins increased rooting percentages. No substantial differences were found with and without infection in hormone free media, while the rooting percentages tended to decrease with the combination auxin/infection. In the second group, infection on hormone free media increased rooting; in addition there was a synergistic effect between auxins and infection in pears. In the third group only infection induced rooting. A random sample of roots obtained from infection was molecularly analysed. Amplification of the sequences of rolB and vir genes was done using PCR. Roots non-transgenic and confirmed as transgenic were, respectively, 67 % and 6.8 % respectively. In the remaining 26.2% both genes appeared, thus it was not possible to confirm their transgenic nature. Some microcuttings showed both transformed and non-transformed roots

New tree monitoring systems: from Industry 4.0 to Nature 4.0

Recently, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have grown rapidly and represent now a unique opportunity to improve our environmental monitoring capabilities at extremely low costs. IoT is a new system of thinking in which objects, animals or people are equipped with unique identifiers and transfer data a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. IoT has evolved from the convergence of wireless technologies, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and the Internet. The development of these technologies in environmental monitoring domains allows real-time data transmission and numerous low-cost monitoring points. We have designed a new device, the TreeTalker©, which is capable of measuring water transport in trees, diametrical growth, spectral characteristics of the leaves and microclimatic parameters and transmit data in semi-real time. Here we introduce the device’s features, provide an example of monitored data from a field test site and discuss the application of this new technology to tree monitoring in various contexts, from forest to urban green infrastructures management and ecological research

Differential effects of coconut oil- and fish oil-enriched diets on tricarboxylate carrier in rat liver mitochondria

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The Cholinergic and ACE-2-Dependent Anti-Inflammatory Systems in the Lung: New Scenarios Emerging From COVID-19

The renin angiotensin system and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway have been recently shown to modulate lung inflammation in patients with COVID-19. We will show how studies performed on this disease are starting to provide evidence that these two anti-inflammatory systems may functionally interact with each other, a mechanism that could have a more general physiological relevance than only COVID-19 infection

Gastric leiomyosarcoma: case report and review of literature

True smooth muscle neoplasms of the wall of digestive tract are rare, in particular in the stomach, and the benign ones are prevalent. We report a case of gastric leiomyosarcoma (LMS) that we observed, diagnosed to a 71 years-old man, with important comorbidities, who had already underwent the amputation of the right lower limb. In consequence of the discovery of anaemia and melaena he underwent an endoscopy of the upper GI tract and CT scan, which showed the presence of a neoformation of the gastric wall, but because of the thrombosis of the common iliac artery and the occurrence of the clinical picture of critical ischaemia, at first the patient underwent the amputation of the left lower limb e only then an intervention of atypical gastroresection. Despite the neoplastic infiltration of the resection margins and the impossibility to undertake an adjuvant chemotherapy, the follow-up at 6, 12 and 28 months did not show a recurrence of the disease that remained in phase of clinical remission