Dynamic buckling of composite mast panels of sail ships

Composite materials are becoming more and more popular, even for large ship and offshore structures. They offer lightweight and adaptable strength and stiffness properties. In case of slender structures, where buckling is the governing limit state, such features are valuable and allow designing high performance assemblies like racing crafts as well as very large sail ships. The case of composite masts of sail ships is rather interesting as, on the one hand, relatively large, stiff but light structures are needed and, on the other hand, their reliability is crucial for ship safety. Hence, complete understanding of structural behaviour is essential to avoid too large safety factors. Indeed, such case is also the paradigm of the dynamic buckling behaviour of slender columns structures, pointing out differences between the widely used quasi-static design approach and the more realistic time domain simulations. An earlier work studied the dynamic buckling behaviour of a metallic mast. Now, the study has been extended to the much more complex case of composite masts, showing some variations due to anisotropic material properties and specific weight values different by an order of magnitude. Comprehensive description of the dynamic buckling of a typical composite mast panel is outlined in this paper and compared to results from a previous investigation on aluminium alloy mast

Influence of Blackberry Plants on the Aroma Profile of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinot Noir

V. vinifera cv. Pinot noir vines were grown in pots together with blackberry plants and the effect of this association on the grape aroma was assessed. Preliminary data showed that vines that cohabited with blackberry had a different aroma profile compared to vine grown alone. The association with blackberry increased the concentration of 30 out 74 free aroma compounds and of 24 out 95 bound ones. No aroma compound was identified exclusively in the treated grapes

Effects of the Fractionation of the Nitrogen Fertilization on Root Nitrate Uptake and Vine Agronomic Performance in Pinot Gris Grapevines in a Temperate Climate

The study aims to investigate at a physiological and molecular level the root absorption of nitrogen (N) during the annual cycle of grapevine. The study was performed on potted Pinot Gris plants grafted on Kober 5BB and grown for two consecutive years in a semi-controlled environment (Northeast, Italy). The study compared the response of plants N-fertilized in spring (T1), or in spring and in post-harvest (T2) or no-N fertilized (C). Results showed that under our climate conditions nitrate was taken up by the grapevines when applied both in spring or in spring and post-harvest. The nitrate acquisition in T1 roots is mediated at molecular and physiological level by a higher activation of high-affinity nitrate-transport system to take up nitrate in comparison to no-fertilized plants. Comparing the two N fertilization managements, the dynamic of nitrate uptake rates showed different patterns with an overall late response of High-Affinity Transport System when the application of part of N-fertilization was delayed to post-harvest (T2) in comparison to T1. Nevertheless, during the 2 years of the trial the fractionation of N fertilization applied in spring and post-harvest did not negatively affect the yield and quality parameters of vines. An increase of N concentration in T2 roots after two consecutive growing seasons may suggest that the fractionation can lead to beneficial effects on long period. Results of this work contribute to improve the comprehension of N acquisition in grapevine in order to optimize the use of N inputs in vineyard

Urea-Doped Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles as Sustainable Nitrogen Nanofertilizers for Viticulture: Implications on Yield and Quality of Pinot Gris Grapevines

In recent years, the application of nanotechnology for the development of new “smart fertilizers” is regarded as one of the most promising solutions for boosting a more sustainable and modern grapevine cultivation. Despite showing interesting potential benefits over conventional fertilization practices, the use of nanofertilizers in viticulture is still underexplored. In this work, we investigated the effectiveness of non-toxic calcium phosphate nanoparticles (Ca3(PO4)2∙nH2O) doped with urea (U-ACP) as a nitrogen source for grapevine fertilization. Plant tests were performed for two years (2019–2020) on potted adult Pinot gris cv. vines grown under semi-controlled conditions. Four fertilization treatments were compared: N1: commercial granular fertilization (45 kg N ha−1); N2: U-ACP applied in fertigation (36 kg N ha−1); N3: foliar application of U-ACP (36 kg N ha−1); C: control, receiving no N fertilization. Plant nitrogen status (SPAD), yield parameters as well as those of berry quality were analyzed. Results here presented clearly show the capability of vine plants to recognize and use the nitrogen supplied with U-ACP nanoparticles either when applied foliarly or to the soil. Moreover, all of the quali–quantitative parameters measured in vine plants fed with nanoparticles were perfectly comparable to those of plants grown in conventional condition, despite the restrained dosage of nitrogen applied with the nanoparticles. Therefore, these results provide both clear evidence of the efficacy of U-ACP nanoparticles as a nitrogen source and the basis for the development of alternative nitrogen fertilization strategies, optimizing the dosage/benefit ratio and being particularly interesting in a context of a more sustainable and modern viticulture.PSR 2014/2020 Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia—Misure 16.1.1, DGR 1313/2018, DC 398/AGFOR 2020—GESOVIT PROJECTFondazione Cariplo, Italy, Grant n. 2016-0648, project: Romancing the stone: size controlled HYdroxyaPATItes for sustainable Agriculture (HYPATIA

Cervical squamous carcinoma cells are resistant to the combined action of tumor necrosis factor-α and histamine whereas normal keratinocytes undergo cytolysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous reports showed that mast cells can typically be found in the peritumoral stroma of cervix carcinomas as well as in many other cancers. Both histamine and TNF-α are potent preformed mast cell mediators and they can act simultaneously after release from mast cells. Thus, the effect of TNF-α and histamine on cervical carcinoma cell lines was studied.</p> <p>Methods and results</p> <p>TNF-α alone induced slight growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in SiHa cells, but increased their migration. Histamine alone had no effect on cells. In addition, TNF-α and histamine in combination showed no additional effect over that by TNF-α alone, although SiHa cells were even pretreated with a protein synthesis inhibitor. Furthermore, TNF-α-sensitive ME-180 carcinoma cells were also resistant to the combination effect of TNF-α and histamine. In comparison, TNF-α or histamine alone induced growth inhibition in a non-cytolytic manner in normal keratinocytes, an effect that was further enhanced to cell cytolysis when both mediators acted in combination. Keratinocytes displayed strong TNF receptor (TNFR) I and II immunoreactivity, whereas SiHa and ME-180 cells did not. Furthermore, cervix carcinoma specimens revealed TNF-α immunoreactivity in peritumoral cells and carcinoma cells. However, the immunoreactivity of both TNFRs was less intense in carcinoma cells than that in epithelial cells in cervical specimens with non-specific inflammatory changes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>SiHa and ME-180 cells are resistant to the cytolytic effect of TNF-α and histamine whereas normal keratinocytes undergo cytolysis, possibly due to the smaller amount of TNFRs in SiHa and ME-180 cells. In the cervix carcinoma, the malignant cells may resist this endogenous cytolytic action and TNF-α could even enhance carcinoma cell migration.</p