4D Topological Mass by Gauging Spin

We propose a spin gauge field theory in which the curl of a Dirac fermion current density plays the role of the pseudovector charge density. In this field-theoretic model, spin interactions are mediated by a single scalar gauge boson in its antisymmetric tensor formulation. We show that these long range spin interactions induce a gauge invariant photon mass in the one-loop effective action. The fermion loop generates a coupling between photons and the spin gauge boson, which acquires thus charge. This coupling represents also an induced, gauge invariant, topological mass for the photons, leading to the Meissner effect. The one-loop effective equations of motion for the charged spin gauge boson are the London equations. We propose thus spin gauge interactions as an alternative, topological mechanism for superconductivity in which no spontaneous symmetry breaking is involved.Comment: 4 pages, no figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1310.210

Elucidating Mechanisms of Biofluorescence and Bioluminescence in Marine Organisms

Biofluorescence and bioluminescence are two methods of light emission that entail separate mechanisms of action but end at the same process: a colorful display that have tremendous ecological and behavioral benefits, whether it be used to communicate with conspecifics, camouflage into a multicolored background, attract unsuspecting prey, or alert others to a predator. In biofluorescence, higher-energy, shorter wavelength light is absorbed then re-emitted as lower-energy, longer-wavelength light. Bioluminescence on the other hand entails a chemical reaction in which a small molecule is oxidized by an enzyme, creating a high-energy intermediate that sheds the excess energy in the form of visible light. The research presented here will look at separate proteins to uncover their molecular interactions that lead to light generation. We combine transcriptomics, phylogenetics, and biochemical assays to unravel these mysteries. We have studied fluorescent fatty acid binding proteins to discover which residues are important for eel fluorescence (Chapter 2), as well as to reveal a new member of the group from the Muraenidae family (Chapter 3). Additionally, we confirmed that the pyrosome Pyrosoma atlanticum utilizes an endogenous luciferase that reacts with coelenterazine to luminesce (Chapter 5). Our results provide better insight into the two separates forms of light emission, provide new tools for biomedical research, and overturn old paradigms, all while contextualizing these new proteins in an evolutionary perspective

Colletotrichum spp. causing anthracnose on ornamental plants in northern Italy

AbstractSpecies ofColletotrichumare considered among the most important plant pathogens, saprobes and endophytes on a wide range of ornamentals, fruits and vegetables. SeveralColletotrichumspecies have been reported in nurseries and public or private gardens in northern Italy. In this study, the occurrence, diversity and pathogenicity ofColletotrichumspp. associated with several ornamental hosts was explored. Survey were carried out during the 2013–2019 period in Piedmont, Italy. A total of 22Colletotrichumisolates were collected from symptomatic leaves and stems of twoCampanulaspp.,Ceanothus thyrsiflorus,Coreopsis lanceolata,Cyclamen persicum,Hydrangea paniculata,Liquidambar styraciflua,Mahonia aquifoliumandRhyncospermum jasminoides. A multi-locus phylogeny was established based on the basis of three genomic loci (gapdh,actandtub2). The pathogenicity of selected, representative isolates was tested.Colletotrichumisolates were identified as members of four important species complexes: Acutatum,Gloeosporioides,DematiumandDestructivum.Colletotrichum fioriniae,C. nymphaeaeandC. fuscumwere found in association with leaf lesions ofMahonia aquifolium,Campanula rapunculoidesandCoreopsis lanceolata, respectively.Colletotrichum lineola,C. grossumandC. cigarrowere isolated fromCampanula trachelium,Rhyncospermum jasminoidesandLiquidambar styraciflua, respectively.Colletotrichum fructicolawas found to be responsible of anthracnose ofCeanothus thyrsiflorus,Hydrangea paniculata,Cyclamen persicumandLiquidambar styraciflua. All the tested isolates were pathogenic and reproduced identical symptoms to those observed in private gardens and nurseries. The present study improves our understanding ofColletotrichumspp. associated with different ornamental hosts and provides useful information for an effective disease management programme

Working with children who are victims of abuse: Emotions and representations of professionals in residential children's communities

Professionals who work in residential children's communities face many difficulties and, when the hosted children have a history of abuse and maltreatment, the risk of vicarious traumatization and professional burn-out, which has a negative effect on the professional's work and well-being as well as on the effectiveness at work, is very high. This qualitative study aims to explore, via the content analysis of text recorded in some Photolangage® groups, the representations of social workers and educators in residential children's communities on the theme of work management of physical and sexual abuse victims. The participants were 37 social workers from 6 residential communities for 0-6 years old child in the region of Palermo (Italy). The analysis of the discourse revealed four main themes: "emotional responses", "difficulty in coping with emotions related to abuse", "relationship with the institutional network" and "work methods/strategies", which seem to guide and inform the social workers in our daily relationship with children. These results, which are in line with clinical observations, indicate the importance of supporting, through tools such as supervision and analysis of professional practices, professionals who work with maltreated and abused children, the only way to protect their well-being and the "therapeutic role" in the care and protection of children which they fulfil

Phyllosticta citricarpa and sister species of global importance to Citrus.

Several Phyllosticta species are known as pathogens of Citrus spp., and are responsible for various disease symptoms including leaf and fruit spots. One of the most important species is P. citricarpa, which causes a foliar and fruit disease called citrus black spot. The Phyllosticta species occurring on citrus can most effectively be distinguished from P. citricarpa by means of multilocus DNA sequence data. Recent studies also demonstrated P. citricarpa to be heterothallic, and reported successful mating in the laboratory. Since the domestication of citrus, different clones of P. citricarpa have escaped Asia to other continents via trade routes, with obvious disease management consequences. This pathogen profile represents a comprehensive literature review of this pathogen and allied taxa associated with citrus, focusing on identification, distribution, genomics, epidemiology and disease management. This review also considers the knowledge emerging from seven genomes of Phyllosticta spp., demonstrating unknown aspects of these species, including their mating behaviour.TaxonomyPhyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Aa, 1973. Kingdom Fungi, Phylum Ascomycota, Class Dothideomycetes, Order Botryosphaeriales, Family Phyllostictaceae, Genus Phyllosticta, Species citricarpa.Host rangeConfirmed on more than 12 Citrus species, Phyllosticta citricarpa has only been found on plant species in the Rutaceae.Disease symptomsP. citricarpa causes diverse symptoms such as hard spot, virulent spot, false melanose and freckle spot on fruit, and necrotic lesions on leaves and twigs.Useful websitesDOE Joint Genome Institute MycoCosm portals for the Phyllosticta capitalensis (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycap1), P. citriasiana (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycit1), P. citribraziliensis (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phcit1), P. citrichinaensis (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phcitr1), P. citricarpa (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycitr1, https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycpc1), P. paracitricarpa (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phy27169) genomes. All available Phyllosticta genomes on MycoCosm can be viewed at https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phyllosticta

Functional mapping of the interaction between TDP-43 and hnRNP A2 in vivo

Nuclear factor TDP-43 has been reported to play multiple roles in transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, mRNA stability and mRNA transport. From a structural point of view, TDP-43 is a member of the hnRNP protein family whose structure includes two RRM domains flanked by the N-terminus and C-terminal regions. Like many members of this family, the C-terminal region can interact with cellular factors and thus serve to modulate its function. Previously, we have described that TDP-43 binds to several members of the hnRNP A/B family through this region. In this work, we set up a coupled minigene/siRNA cellular system that allows us to obtain in vivo data to address the functional significance of TDP-43-recruited hnRNP complex formation. Using this method, we have finely mapped the interaction between TDP-43 and the hnRNP A2 protein to the region comprised between amino acid residues 321 and 366. Our results provide novel details of protein–protein interactions in splicing regulation. In addition, we provide further insight on TDP-43 functional properties, particularly the lack of effects, as seen with our assays, of the disease-associated mutations that fall within the TDP-43 321-366 region: Q331K, M337V and G348C