Optical microscopy on agrobacterium-mediated transient transformated arabidopsis nahg plants

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transient transformation has demonstrated to be an invaluable tool in plant cell biology. However, low efficiency and inconsistency of this method in Arabidopsis has forced the implementation of Nicotiana benthamiana as a surrogate system, limiting applicability. Previous results suggested that hormone-mediated defence responses against bacteria might be responsible for the low efficiency of Agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation in Arabidopsis. In this work, we evaluate the efficiency of Agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation in Arabidopsis genotypes affected in JA perception or signalling (coi1, jin1), or with low SA or JA content (sid2, NahG, aos). We demonstrate that expression of the NahG transgene dramatically improves this process. Arabidopsis NahG plants can be efficiently used for transient expression-based optical microscopy assays routinely performed in N. benthamiana, such as determination of subcellular localization of GFP-fused proteins or analysis of protein-protein interactions by Bimolecular Fluorescent Complementation. Considering the wide-spread use of Agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation, this system can enormously facilitate research in the model plant Arabidopsis, allowing for an efficient use of the full potential of the numerous tools and resources currently available to the community.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Comportamiento mecánico de cerramientos de fábrica de ladrillo no portante

Las fachadas de fábrica de ladrillo no portantes son uno de los cerramientos más utilizados en la arquitectura residencial actual en España. Se trata de una tipología con siglos de historia pero que todavía sigue vigente debido a la tradición de la industria cerámica y su facilidad de ejecución y mantenimiento. Este tipo de cerramiento se construye tradicionalmente en España apoyando su hoja exterior en los forjados del edificio, lo cual conlleva problemas de estabilidad de esta hoja, problemas de aislamiento térmico y de estanquidad frente al agua. Se han encontrado multitud de edificios con estas lesiones clasificándolas en función de su origen. Para suplir estos inconvenientes surge la fachada autoportante, heredera del cavity wall, que se separa de los forjados dejando una cámara de aire continua. Esta fachada transmite las cargas verticales, debidas al peso propio, directamente a cimentación, y transmite las cargas horizontales, debidas al viento, a la estructura del edificio mediante anclajes metálicos. El objetivo de esta tesis es realizar un estudio sobre el comportamiento mecánico de los cerramientos de ladrillo para proponer mejoras que eviten los problemas de estabilidad y resistencia. Para ello se estudia la normativa actual, se analizan los modelos de comportamiento y ensayos realizados. Después de analizar los modelos de comportamiento de la fábrica existentes se emplea el método de los elementos finitos. Con este modelo se estudia el comportamiento del cerramiento, tanto del cerramiento tradicional como del cerramiento autoportante continuo por delante de la estructura. Se realiza una investigación sobre su comportamiento frente a acciones horizontales observando la influencia del tamaño de los huecos, la geometría de los anclajes, el efecto de cargas verticales y la posible colaboración de la hoja interior. Este método permite prever la aparición de fisuras con objeto de evitarlas mediante el refuerzo de la fábrica, comprobando además la eficacia de los refuerzos. Una vez realizado el estudio, se proponen soluciones constructivas para ejecutar los cerramientos resolviendo los requisitos de estabilidad y resistencia, evitando la aparición de fisuras, y teniendo en cuenta otros aspectos como el aislamiento y la impermeabilización.Cubel Arjona, FJ. (2013). Comportamiento mecánico de cerramientos de fábrica de ladrillo no portante [Tesis doctoral]. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/28855TESI

Possible effects of climate change on the early development of pea, broad bean, maize and sunflower in Mediterranean areas.

In Mediterranean-type climates crop yield depends strongly on the early development of individual plants. Extreme variations of soil temperature close to the surface of bare soils and fast changes of soil water content due to irregular rainfall and high evaporative demand reduce the success of germination, emergence and early leaf production, reducing crop productivity. According to IPCC Fourth Assesment report, climate change in Southern Europe “is projected to worsen hygrometric and thermal conditions (high temperature and drought) and to reduce water availability” and, consequently, to decrease general crop productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the thermal conditions in the top soil layer under different climate change scenarios, and their effects on the early development of some representative crops of Mediterranean agriculture (pea, broad bean, maize and sunflower). For this purpose, soil temperatures near the surface of a Luvisol and a Vertisol during the usual sowing season of winter (October) and summer crops (April) were compared to those recorded in the air above ground, to forecast future values. The impact of simulations on the speed, size and dispersion of germination, emergence and early leaf production was estimated using values of bioclimatic parameters of the crops (cardinal temperatures and thermal times for different phases of establishment) found in the literature. In both seasons, monthly mean temperatures at soil top layer were significantly greater (*P<0.05) than those found in the air above ground. However, the relationships between air and top soil temperatures were different in both soils and in both seasons. Summer crops seem to be less affected by an increase in temperature than winter crops. Otherwise, the former seem to be more affected by a decrease in soil water availability than the later. In addition, final emergence, speed of emergence and leaf production of the different species will be more affected by global warming than the dispersion around the most likely thermal times. The magnitude of these effects depends also on the magnitude of warming

A General, Sound and Efficient Natural Language Parsing Algorithm based on Syntactic Constraints Propagation

This paper presents a new context-free parsing algorithm based on a bidirectional strictly horizontal strategy which incorporates strong top–down predictions (deriva- tions and adjacencies). From a functional point of view, the parser is able to propagate syntactic constraints reducing parsing ambiguity. From a computational perspective, the algorithm includes different techniques aimed at the improvement of the manipu- lation and representation of the structures used

Leaf area expansion and dry matter accumulation during establishment of broad bean and sorghum at different temperatures and soil water contents in two types of soil in mediterranean Portugal

Crop establishment is a major factor determining crop productivity in the field and is strongly controlled by soil temperature and soil moisture. Fast leaf expansion and dry matter accumulation during crop establishment are required for an adequate establishment. Leaf area expansion and accumulation of dry matter during the establishment of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and sorghum (Sorghum vulgare L.) were studied at different soil temperatures and soil moisture contents in a Vertisol (Lisboa) and a Luvisol (Évora) from November 1993 to November 1996. Soil temperature was measured at 2 and 4 cm depth with thermocouples, air temperature was measured with a ventilated psychrometer and soil moisture was measured using the gravimetric method. Leaf area was estimated non-destructively. Above ground seedling dry matter was weighed after oven drying at 65ºC. Data analysis was based on the thermal time concept. For each crop no significant differences were found on leaf area at establishment in both soils under favourable water conditions, but significant differences were found on seedling dry matter. In moist soils, leaf area of both species increased linearly with accumulated temperature and dry matter increased exponentially with accumulated temperature. Low soil water during establishment reduced leaf expansion and dry matter accumulation of both crops, mainly if it occurred before seedling emergence. In mediterranean type climates meteorological extremes of low rainfall associated to high temperatures are expected to be more frequent on the wake of global climate change, reducing crop establishment and productivity

Algebro-Geometric Solutions of the Generalized Virasoro Constraints

We will describe algebro-geometric solutions of the KdV hierarchy whose $\tau$-functions in addition satisfy a generalization of the Virasoro constraints (and, in particular, a generalization of the string equation). We show that these solutions are closely related to embeddings of the positive half of the Virasoro algebra into the Lie algebra of differential operators on the circle. Our results are tested against the case of Witten-Kontsevich $\tau$-function. As by-products, we exhibit certain links of our methods with double covers of the projective line equipped with a line bundle and with ${\rm Gl}(n)$-opers on the punctured disk

Litter layer influence on the thermal regime of a sandy soil under a pine forest in mediterranean Portugal

Decomposition of needle litter is a relevant process in applied ecology, namely in the nutrient dynamics of forested ecosystems. Soil temperature strongly influences soil microbian activity. Temperature profiles of a sandy soil (Haplic Podzol) under a pine forest were measured at several depths down to 16 cm, with and without litter layer. Daily cycles were analysed by means of Fourier series. Daily cycles were studied based on data from four days defined according to soil water content. The daily periodic variations of soil temperature follow closely the time-course of solar irradiance. Daily course of soil temperature is generally well described by the two first Fourier harmonics. The litter layer acts as a thermal insulator, reducing soil temperature gradients and amplitudes and increasing damping depth, particularly in dry soil

Property, construction process and environment. Three elements of legal structure which regulate our right to housing : a strange causal link

32 páginas.Trabajo de Curso de Experto Universitario en Derecho Español Impartido en Inglés: Estudio de Conjunto (2014/15). The fundamental object of analysis of the Project presented here is the relationship between Property and Environment, and the obvious manifestation of this Environment in the Natural Parks; specifically, in the Andalusian region. In order to thoroughly know the inner workings of such protected natural areas, we have also analyzed its Sustainable Development Plans; and the various threats that fall directly onto the sustainability and effective protection of Natural Resources and how affect this environmental idea in construction process. Keywords: Property; Rights; Construction Process, Environment; Protected Natural Areas; Natural Parks; Natural Resources; Quality of Life; Responsibility; Social Awareness

IMF arrangements, politics and the timing of stabilizations

This paper analyses the effects of International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrangements on the timing of inflation stabilization programs. Essentially, we test the hypothesis that IMF aid accelerates stabilization using probit and proportional hazards models. As in theoretical models, results are mixed: larger withdrawals of the amounts agreed to seem to hasten stabilization, but there is weak evidence that IMF arrangements lead to greater delays. Concerning other effects, greater fragmentation of the political system delays stabilization while higher inflation tends to hasten it. Other political and economic variables do not seem to have significant effects on the timing of stabilizations.IMF, stabilization, timing, politics.