Transcriptional responses of winter barley to cold indicate nucleosome remodelling as a specific feature of crown tissues

We report a series of microarray-based comparisons of gene expression in the leaf and crown of the winter barley cultivar Luxor, following the exposure of young plants to various periods of low (above and below zero) temperatures. A transcriptomic analysis identified genes which were either expressed in both the leaf and crown, or specifically in one or the other. Among the former were genes responsible for calcium and abscisic acid signalling, polyamine synthesis, late embryogenesis abundant proteins and dehydrins. In the crown, the key organ for cereal overwintering, cold treatment induced transient changes in the transcription of nucleosome assembly genes, and especially H2A and HTA11, which have been implicated in cold sensing in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the leaf, various heat-shock proteins were induced. Differences in expression pattern between the crown and leaf were frequent for genes involved in certain pathways responsible for osmolyte production (sucrose and starch, raffinose, γ-aminobutyric acid metabolism), sugar signalling (trehalose metabolism) and secondary metabolism (lignin synthesis). The action of proteins with antifreeze activity, which were markedly induced during hardening, was demonstrated by a depression in the ice nucleation temperature

CONFIRMATION OF A VANISHINGLY SMALL RING-CURRENT MAGNETIC-SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ICOSAHEDRAL C-60

In 1987, Elser and Haddon predicted a vanishingly small pi-electron contribution to the magnetic susceptibility of the icosahedral C60 molecule (buckminsterfullerene). This result runs counter to intuition and was subsequently disputed on the basis of ab initio computations. Following the recent discovery of methods for preparing (and purifying) large quantities of C60, we here report measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, chi, of a solid sample of pure C60 by SQUID magnetometry. The obtained mass value, chi-g = -0.35 x 10(-6), is far below that of graphite or benzene, consistent with the Elser-Haddon picture of accidental cancellation of the diamagnetic and paramagnetic contributions to chi. An estimate of the unusually large paramagnetic contribution is in accord with recent measurements of C60's electronic excitations. The C70 molecule is also measured to have chi-g = -(0.59 +/- 0.05) x 10(-6)

Compassion at Work

Compassion is an interpersonal process involving the noticing, feeling, sensemaking, and acting that alleviates the suffering of another person. This process has recently received substantial attention by organizational researchers and practitioners alike. This article reviews what researchers currently know about compassion as it unfolds in dyadic interactions in work organizations. We begin by reviewing what we know about the benefits of compassion for the person who is suffering, for the provider of compassion, and for third parties who witness or hear about compassion at work. The heart of the article focuses on what research tells us about embedding compassion in the personal, relational, and organizational contexts in which compassion takes place. We conclude by discussing implications for practice and for the future research agenda regarding this vital interpersonal process.Workman1_Compassion_at_Work.pdf: 6182 downloads, before Aug. 1, 2020