Wired warfare 3.0: protecting the civilian population during cyber operations

As a general matter, international humanitarian law is up to the task of providing the legal framework for cyber operations during an armed conflict. However, two debates persist in this regard, the resolution of which will determine the precise degree of protection the civilian population will enjoy during cyber operations. The first revolves around the meaning of the term “attack” in various conduct of hostilities rules, while the second addresses the issue of whether data may be considered an object such that operations destroying or altering it are subject to the prohibition on attacking civilian objects and that such effects need be considered when considering proportionality and the taking of precautions in attack. Even if these debates were to be resolved, the civilian population would still face risks from the unique capabilities of cyber operations. This article proposes two policies which parties to a conflict should consider adopting in order to ameliorate such risks. They are both based on the premise that military operations must reflect a balance between military concerns and the interest of States in prevailing in the conflict

Robot-Assisted Image-Guided Interventions

Image guidance is a common methodology of minimally invasive procedures. Depending on the type of intervention, various imaging modalities are available. Common imaging modalities are computed tomography, magnetic resonance tomography, and ultrasound. Robotic systems have been developed to enable and improve the procedures using these imaging techniques. Spatial and technological constraints limit the development of versatile robotic systems. This paper offers a brief overview of the developments of robotic systems for image-guided interventions since 2015 and includes samples of our current research in this field

Regulation of root development and architecture by strigolactones under optimal and nutrient deficiency conditions

Strigolactones (SLs) constitute a group of plant hormones which are involved in multiple aspects of plant growth and development. Beside their role in shoot and root development and plant architecture in general, SLs are also involved in plant responses to nutrient deficiency by promoting interactions with symbiotic organisms and via promotion of root elongation. Recent observations on the cross talk between SLs and other hormones demonstrate that the inhibition of adventitious root formation by ethylene is independent of SLs. Additionally, it was shown that root exposure to SLs leads to the accumulation of secondary metabolites, such as flavonols or antioxidants. These data suggest pleiotropic effects of SLs, that influence root development. The discovery that the commonly used synthetic SL analogue racGR24 might also mimic the function of other plant growth regulators, such as karrikins, has led us to consider the previously published publications under the new aspects. This review summarizes present knowledge about the function of SLs in shaping root systems under optimal and nutrient deficiency conditions. Results which appear inconsistent with the various aspects of root development are singled out.Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższeg

Arabidopsis senescence-associated protein DMP1 is involved in membrane remodeling of the ER and tonoplast

Background: Arabidopsis DMP1 was discovered in a genome-wide screen for senescence-associated membrane proteins. DMP1 is a member of a novel plant- specific membrane protein family of unknown function. In rosette leaves DMP1 expression increases from very low background level several 100fold during senescence progression. Results: Expression of AtDMP1 fused to eGFP in Nicotiana benthamiana triggers a complex process of succeeding membrane remodeling events affecting the structure of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the vacuole. Induction of spherical structures (“bulbs”), changes in the architecture of the ER from tubular to cisternal elements, expansion of smooth ER, formation of crystalloid ER, and emergence of vacuolar membrane sheets and foamy membrane structures inside the vacuole are proceeding in this order. In some cells it can be observed that the process culminates in cell death after breakdown of the entire ER network and the vacuole. The integrity of the plasma membrane, nucleus and Golgi vesicles are retained until this stage. In Arabidopsis thaliana plants expressing AtDMP1-eGFP by the 35S promoter massive ER and vacuole vesiculation is observed during the latest steps of leaf senescence, whereas earlier in development ER and vacuole morphology are not perturbed. Expression by the native DMP1 promoter visualizes formation of aggregates termed “boluses” in the ER membranes and vesiculation of the entire ER network, which precedes disintegration of the central vacuole during the latest stage of senescence in siliques, rosette and cauline leaves and in darkened rosette leaves. In roots tips, DMP1 is strongly expressed in the cortex undergoing vacuole biogenesis. Conclusions: Our data suggest that DMP1 is directly or indirectly involved in membrane fission during breakdown of the ER and the tonoplast during leaf senescence and in membrane fusion during vacuole biogenesis in roots. We propose that these properties of DMP1, exacerbated by transient overexpression, may cause or contribute to the dramatic membrane remodeling events which lead to cell death in infiltrated tobacco leaves

Citrus tristeza virus in Hawaii

This article describes the citrus tristeza virus in Hawai‘i, the pathogen, diseases and disease symptoms caused by the virus, insect vectors and transmission, diagnosis and detection, management, and quarantine, certification and suppression/eradication programs

Arabinogalactan proteins are involved in root hair development in barley

The arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are involved in a range of plant processes, including cell differentiation and expansion. Here, barley root hair mutants and their wild-type parent cultivars were used, as a model system, to reveal the role of AGPs in root hair development. The treatment of roots with different concentrations of βGlcY (a reagent which binds to all classes of AGPs) inhibited or totally suppressed the development of root hairs in all of the cultivars. Three groups of AGP (recognized by the monoclonal antibodies LM2, LM14, and MAC207) were diversely localized in trichoblasts and atrichoblasts of root hair-producing plants. The relevant epitopes were present in wild-type trichoblast cell walls and cytoplasm, whereas in wild-type atrichoblasts and in all epidermal cells of a root hairless mutant, they were only present in the cytoplasm. In all of cultivars the higher expression of LM2, LM14, and MAC207 was observed in trichoblasts at an early stage of development. Additionally, the LM2 epitope was detected on the surface of primordia and root hair tubes in plants able to generate root hairs. The major conclusion was that the AGPs recognized by LM2, LM14, and MAC207 are involved in the differentiation of barley root epidermal cells, thereby implying a requirement for these AGPs for root hair development in barley

Robot-Assisted Image-Guided Interventions

Image guidance is a common methodology of minimally invasive procedures. Depending on the type of intervention, various imaging modalities are available. Common imaging modalities are computed tomography, magnetic resonance tomography, and ultrasound. Robotic systems have been developed to enable and improve the procedures using these imaging techniques. Spatial and technological constraints limit the development of versatile robotic systems. This paper offers a brief overview of the developments of robotic systems for image-guided interventions since 2015 and includes samples of our current research in this field

Asymmetric growth of root epidermal cells is related to the differentiation of root hair cells in Hordeum vulgare (L.)

The root epidermis of most vascular plants harbours two cell types, namely trichoblasts (capable of producing a root hair) and atrichoblasts. Here, in vivo analysis, confocal laser-scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, histological analysis, and three-dimensional reconstruction were used to characterize the cell types present in the barley root epidermis and their distribution in the tissue. Both trichoblasts and atrichoblasts were present in the wildtype cultivars and could be distinguished from one another at an early stage. Trichoblast/atrichoblast differentiation depended on asymmetric cell expansion after a period of symmetrical cell division. After asymmetric growth, only the shorter epidermal cells could produce root hairs, whereas the longer cells became atrichoblasts. Moreover, the root epidermis did not develop root hairs at all if the epidermal cells did not differentiate into two asymmetric cell types. The root hairless phenotype of bald root barley (brb) and root hairless 1.b (rhl1.b) mutants was caused by a mutation in a gene related to the asymmetric expansion of the root epidermal cells. Additionally, the results showed that the mechanism of trichoblast/atrichoblast differentiation is not evolutionally conserved across the subfamilies of the Poaceae; in the Pooideae subfamily, both asymmetric division and asymmetric cell expansion have been observed

Energetic valorisation of agricultural by‐products in the sub‐Saharan zone: Biomass pre‐conditioning via flash pyrolysis

Sub-Saharan West Africa lacks of natural resources, especially for energy production. By-products of agro-industry as cashew nut shells (CNS), jatropha (Jc) and shea (Sc) press cakes were identified as available resources for energetic valorisation. These biomasses are characterised by high extractive contents (cashew nut shell liquid/CNSL or triglycerides) which are the reason for toxic fumes during combustion. The thesis investigated the feasibility of flash pyrolysis as alternative process for these resources, more specifically the impact of the extractives on yields, the composition and the stability of flash pyrolysis oils. The feedstock were derived into samples covering the whole range of extractive contents (from de-oiled press cakes, ~0 wt%; to pure extractives, 100 wt%) which were characterised and pyrolysed in two laboratory devices (TGA and tubular furnace), then by applying flash pyrolysis conditions in a fluidised bed reactor. No significant interaction in-between the solid matrix and the extractives during pyrolysis were observed but different products were identified. CNSL volatises between 250 and 320°C, several phenolic compounds and typical compounds of crude CNSL were found to be present in the pyrolysis oil. In contrast, triglycerides are entirely decomposed at 380 to 420°C to give linear hydro-carbon chains. Some interaction products of the triglycerides with proteins were identified. Additionally, the experiments with the pilot plant have shown operational difficulties in the fluidised bed, which are linked to specific properties of the press cakes. Thus, further optimisations of process conditions are suggested. To overcome the observed phase separation of the pyrolysis oils mixtures with other biofuels were studied. The obtained emulsions are more homogeneous but the physical stability is still insufficient despite the addition of surfactants. (Résumé d'auteur