54 research outputs found
Constraints on the quantum gravity scale from kappa - Minkowski spacetime
We compare two versions of deformed dispersion relations (energy vs momenta
and momenta vs energy) and the corresponding time delay up to the second order
accuracy in the quantum gravity scale (deformation parameter). A general
framework describing modified dispersion relations and time delay with respect
to different noncommutative kappa -Minkowski spacetime realizations is firstly
proposed here and it covers all the cases introduced in the literature. It is
shown that some of the realizations provide certain bounds on quadratic
corrections, i.e. on quantum gravity scale, but it is not excluded in our
framework that quantum gravity scale is the Planck scale. We also show how the
coefficients in the dispersion relations can be obtained through a
multiparameter fit of the gamma ray burst (GRB) data.Comment: 9 pages, final published version, revised abstract, introduction and
conclusion, to make it clear to general reade
A new intra-specific and high-resolution genetic map of eggplant based on a ril population, and location of QTLS related to plant anthocyanin pigmentation and seed vigour
Eggplant is the second most important solanaceous berry-producing crop after tomato. Despite mapping studies based on bi-parental progenies and GWAS approaches having been performed, an eggplant intraspecific high-resolution map is still lacking. We developed a RIL population from the intraspecific cross ‘305E40’, (androgenetic introgressed line carrying the locus Rfo-Sa1 conferring Fusarium resistance) x ‘67/3’ (breeding line whose genome sequence was recently released). One hundred and sixty-three RILs were genotyped by a genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) approach, which allowed us to identify 10,361 polymorphic sites. Overall, 267 Gb of sequencing data were generated and ~773 M Illumina paired end (PE) reads were mapped against the reference sequence. A new linkage map was developed, including 7249 SNPs assigned to the 12 chromosomes and spanning 2169.23 cM, with iaci@liberoan average distance of 0.4 cM between adjacent markers. This was used to elucidate the genetic bases of seven traits related to anthocyanin content in different organs recorded in three locations as well as seed vigor. Overall, from 7 to 17 QTLs (at least one major QTL) were identified for each trait. These results demonstrate that our newly developed map supplies valuable information for QTL fine mapping, candidate gene identification, and the development of molecular markers for marker assisted selection (MAS) of favorable alleles
The endophytic microbiota of Citrus limon is transmitted from seed to shoot highlighting differences of bacterial and fungal community structures
Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F. is an important evergreen fruit crop whose rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbiota have been characterized, while seed microbiota is still unknown. Bacterial and fungal endophytes were isolated from C. limon surface-sterilized seeds. The isolated fungiâbelonging to Aspergillus, Quambalaria and Bjerkandera generaâand bacteriaâbelonging to Staphylococcus genusâwere characterized for indoleacetic acid production and phosphate solubilization. Next Generation Sequencing based approaches were then used to characterize the endophytic bacterial and fungal microbiota structures of surface-sterilized C. limon seeds and of shoots obtained under aseptic conditions from in vitro growing seedlings regenerated from surface-sterilized seeds. This analysis highlighted that Cutibacterium and Acinetobacter were the most abundant bacterial genera in both seeds and shoots, while Cladosporium and Debaryomyces were the most abundant fungal genera in seeds and shoots, respectively. The localization of bacterial endophytes in seed and shoot tissues was revealed by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization coupled with Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy revealing vascular bundle colonization. Thus, these results highlighted for the first time the structures of endophytic microbiota of C. limon seeds and the transmission to shoots, corroborating the idea of a vertical transmission of plant microbiota and suggesting its crucial role in seed germination and plant development
Relative-locality distant observers and the phenomenology of momentum-space geometry
We study the translational invariance of the relative-locality framework
proposed in arXiv:1101.0931, which had been previously established only for the
case of a single interaction. We provide an explicit example of boundary
conditions at endpoints of worldlines, which indeed ensures the desired
translational invariance for processes involving several interactions, even
when some of the interactions are causally connected (particle exchange). We
illustrate the properties of the associated relativistic description of distant
observers within the example of a -Poincar\'e-inspired momentum-space
geometry, with de Sitter metric and parallel transport governed by a non-metric
and torsionful connection. We find that in such a theory simultaneously-emitted
massless particles do not reach simultaneously a distant detector, as expected
in light of the findings of arXiv:1103.5626 on the implications of non-metric
connections. We also show that the theory admits a free-particle limit, where
the relative-locality results of arXiv:1102.4637 are reproduced. We establish
that the torsion of the -Poincar\'e connection introduces a small (but
observably-large) dependence of the time of detection, for
simultaneously-emitted particles, on some properties of the interactions
producing the particles at the source.Comment: 45 pages, 10 figure
On the true nature of renormalizability in Horava-Lifshitz gravity
We argue that the true nature of the renormalizability of Horava-Lifshitz
gravity lies in the presence of higher order spatial derivatives and not in the
anisotropic Lifshitz scaling of space and time. We discuss the possibility of
constructing a higher order spatial derivatives model that has the same
renormalization properties of Horava-Lifshitz gravity but that does not make
use of the Lifshitz scaling. In addition, the state-of-the-art of the Lorentz
symmetry restoration in Horava-Lifshitz-type theories of gravitation is
reviewed.Comment: Latex file in Revtex style, 5 pages, no figures. v2: references
added, version accepted for publication in Foundations of Physic
High-throughput 18K SNP array to assess genetic variability of the main grapevine cultivars from Sicily
The viticulture of Sicily, for its vocation, is one of the most important and ancient forms in Italy. Autochthonous grapevine cultivars, many of which known throughout the world, have always been cultivated in the island from many centuries. With the aim to preserve this large grapevine diversity, previous studies have already started to assess the genetic variability among the Sicilian cultivars by using morphological and microsatellite markers. In this study, simple sequence repeat (SSR) were utilized to verify the true-to-typeness of a large clone collection (101) belonging to 21 biotypes of the most 10 cultivated Sicilian cultivars. Afterwards, 42 Organization Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) descriptors and a high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping array (Vitis18kSNP) were applied to assess genetic variability among cultivars and biotypes of the same cultivar. Ampelographic traits and high-throughput SNP genotyping platforms provided an accuracy estimation of genetic diversity in the Sicilian germplasm, showing the relationships among cultivars by cluster and multivariate analyses. The large SNP panel defined sub-clusters unable to discern among biotypes, previously classified by ampelographic analysis, belonging to each cultivar. These results suggested that a very large number of SNP did not cover the genome regions harboring few morphological traits. Genetic structure of the collection revealed a clear optimum number of groups for K = 3, clustering in the same group a significant portion of family-related genotypes. Parentage analysis highlighted significant relationships among Sicilian grape cultivars and Sangiovese, as already reported, but also the first evidences of the relationships between Nero dâAvola and both Inzolia and Catarratto. Finally, a small panel of highly informative markers (12 SNPs) allowed us to isolate a private profile for each Sicilian cultivar, providing a new tool for cultivar identification
Quantum gravity phenomenology at the dawn of the multi-messenger era-A review
The exploration of the universe has recently entered a new era thanks to the multi-messenger paradigm, characterized by a continuous increase in the quantity and quality of experimental data that is obtained by the detection of the various cosmic messengers (photons, neutrinos, cosmic rays and gravitational waves) from numerous origins. They give us information about their sources in the universe and the properties of the intergalactic medium. Moreover, multi-messenger astronomy opens up the possibility to search for phenomenological signatures of quantum gravity. On the one hand, the most energetic events allow us to test our physical theories at energy regimes which are not directly accessible in accelerators; on the other hand, tiny effects in the propagation of very high energy particles could be amplified by cosmological distances. After decades of merely theoretical investigations, the possibility of obtaining phenomenological indications of Planck-scale effects is a revolutionary step in the quest for a quantum theory of gravity, but it requires cooperation between different communities of physicists (both theoretical and experimental). This review, prepared within the COST Action CA18108 "Quantum gravity phenomenology in the multi-messenger approach", is aimed at promoting this cooperation by giving a state-of-the art account of the interdisciplinary expertise that is needed in the effective search of quantum gravity footprints in the production, propagation and detection of cosmic messengers. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe
Quantum gravity phenomenology at the dawn of the multi-messenger era -- A review
The exploration of the universe has recently entered a new era thanks to the
multi-messenger paradigm, characterized by a continuous increase in the
quantity and quality of experimental data that is obtained by the detection of
the various cosmic messengers (photons, neutrinos, cosmic rays and
gravitational waves) from numerous origins. They give us information about
their sources in the universe and the properties of the intergalactic medium.
Moreover, multi-messenger astronomy opens up the possibility to search for
phenomenological signatures of quantum gravity. On the one hand, the most
energetic events allow us to test our physical theories at energy regimes which
are not directly accessible in accelerators; on the other hand, tiny effects in
the propagation of very high energy particles could be amplified by
cosmological distances. After decades of merely theoretical investigations, the
possibility of obtaining phenomenological indications of Planck-scale effects
is a revolutionary step in the quest for a quantum theory of gravity, but it
requires cooperation between different communities of physicists (both
theoretical and experimental). This review is aimed at promoting this
cooperation by giving a state-of-the art account of the interdisciplinary
expertise that is needed in the effective search of quantum gravity footprints
in the production, propagation and detection of cosmic messengers
CNTN6 mutations are risk factors for abnormal auditory sensory perception in autism spectrum disorders
Contactin genes CNTN5 and CNTN6 code for neuronal cell adhesion molecules that promote neurite outgrowth in sensory-motor neuronal pathways. Mutations of CNTN5 and CNTN6 have previously been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but very little is known on their prevalence and clinical impact. In this study, we identified CNTN5 and CNTN6 deleterious variants in individuals with ASD. Among the carriers, a girl with ASD and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was carrying five copies of CNTN5. For CNTN6, both deletions (6/1534 ASD vs 1/8936 controls; P=0.00006) and private coding sequence variants (18/501 ASD vs 535/33480 controls; P=0.0005) were enriched in individuals with ASD. Among the rare CNTN6 variants, two deletions were transmitted by fathers diagnosed with ASD, one stop mutation CNTN6W923X was transmitted by a mother to her two sons with ASD and one variant CNTN6P770L was found de novo in a boy with ASD. Clinical investigations of the patients carrying CNTN5 or CNTN6 variants showed that they were hypersensitive to sounds (a condition called hyperacusis) and displayed changes in wave latency within the auditory pathway. These results reinforce the hypothesis of abnormal neuronal connectivity in the pathophysiology of ASD and shed new light on the genes that increase risk for abnormal sensory perception in ASD
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