Seed transcriptome annotation reveals enhanced expression of genes related to ros homeostasis and ethylene metabolism at alternating temperatures in wild cardoon

The association among environmental cues, ethylene response, ABA signaling, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis in the process of seed dormancy release is nowadays well-established in many species. Alternating temperatures are recognized as one of the main environmental signals determining dormancy release, but their underlying mechanisms are scarcely known. Dry after-ripened wild cardoon achenes germinated poorly at a constant temperature of 20, 15, or 10◦C, whereas germination was stimulated by 80% at alternating temperatures of 20/10◦C. Using an RNA-Seq approach, we identified 23,640 and annotated 14,078 gene transcripts expressed in dry achenes and achenes exposed to constant or alternating temperatures. Transcriptional patterns identified in dry condition included seed reserve and response to dehydration stress genes (i.e., HSPs, peroxidases, and LEAs). At a constant temperature, we observed an upregulation of ABA biosynthesis genes (i.e., NCED9), ABA-responsive genes (i.e., ABI5 and TAP), as well as other genes previously related to physiological dormancy and inhibition of germination. However, the alternating temperatures were associated with the upregulation of ethylene metabolism (i.e., ACO1, 4, and ACS10) and signaling (i.e., EXPs) genes and ROS homeostasis regulators genes (i.e., RBOH and CAT). Accordingly, the ethylene production was twice as high at alternating than at constant temperatures. The presence in the germination medium of ethylene or ROS synthesis and signaling inhibitors reduced significantly, but not completely, germination at 20/10◦C. Conversely, the presence of methyl viologen and salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM), a peroxidase inhibitor, partially increased germination at constant temperature. Taken together, the present study provides the first insights into the gene expression patterns and physiological response associated with dormancy release at alternating temperatures in wild cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. sylvestris).Fil: Huarte, Hector Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora; ArgentinaFil: Puglia, Giuseppe. D.. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Prjibelski, Andrey D.. Academia de Ciencias de Rusia.; RusiaFil: Raccuia, Salvatore A.. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Itali

Assessment and verification of mean effective diameter of internal channels fabricated by laser powder bed fusion

Abstract Channels with small diameters, used for example in conformal cooling, can nowadays be fabricated by laser powder bed fusion. Measurements of the mean effective diameter and surface topography are important to quantify the flow capabilities through the channel. In this paper, a new method using X-ray computed tomography is developed to obtain the mean effective diameter and mean surface topography height. The developed method is verified by determining the mean effective diameter using incompressible turbulent fluid flow simulations, whereupon the determined mean surface topography height is fed as an input to the simulation. The method is proved to offer a non-destructive and relatively fast approach to measure the mean effective diameter and mean surface topography height in circular channels

REXELweb: a tool for selection of ground-motion records from the Engineering Strong Motion database (ESM)

This paper illustrates REXELweb, an updated online version of REXEL, which is a tool for the automatic selection and scaling of spectrum-compatible ground- motions for dynamic analysis of structures. REXELweb allows to define target spectra according to user-definition or design provisions (Eurocode 8 and Italian building code), as well as to uniform hazard spectra (UHS) based on a European hazard model. REXELweb implements all functionalities and options of REXEL through web-services that are accessible either via a MATHWORKS-MATLAB script or a user-friendly web-interface. The program selects records from the Engineering Strong Motion database (ESM), which is a daily-updated Pan-European repository of high-quality ground-motion records. These features make REXELweb a potentially useful tool for researchers and practitioners.Associazione Geotecnica ItalianaPublishedRome5T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismic

An exploratory study of short-term camping in Antarctica: Hormonal and mood states changes

Long-term Antarctic expedition’s studies indicated harmful or positive behavioral and psychophysiological adaptive changes that arise from adversities in isolated, confined, and extreme environments. Whereas most of the published studies focused on overwintering situations, most Brazilian Antarctic Program summer expeditions consist of short-term stays. We evaluated the influence of a permanence in Antarctic short-term (13-day) summer camp on the hormonal responses and mood states in eight volunteers. Data collection was carried out at the beginning (initial measure, days 3 to 5) and the end (final measurement, days 10 to 12) of the camping. Morning and evening samples of saliva were obtained to measure the testosterone and cortisol concentrations. Morning blood drops were used to determine thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) concentration. The volunteers also answered a mood states questionnaire. During the short-term camp, T4 (3.92 ± 0.75 vs 2.21 ± 0.71 μg.dL-1) and T4/TSH (3.16 ± 0.97 vs 1.79 ± 0.74 AU) reduced, without concomitant changes in TSH (1.28 ± 0.17 vs 1.30 ± 0.09 μU.mL-1), and salivary cortisol increased (2,392 ± 1,153 vs 4,440 ± 1,941 pg.mL-1) resulting in greater cortisol amplitude (calculated from the difference between morning and evening measurement, 1,400 ± 1,442 vs 3,230 ± 2,046). In men, testosterone increased as well (26.2 ± 12.5 vs 67.8 ± 45.8, all differences with P<0.05). There was a moderate effect in mood states evidenced by increased anger and fatigue, and reduced vigor. At the end of the camp, the change in cortisol correlated with anger, and the final cortisol values with anger and tension. We concluded that staying in a short-term summer camp in Antarctica induced endocrine and mood state changes, indicators of stress reaction

New direct measurement of the 10 B(p,α) 7 Be reaction with the activation technique

Boron plays an important role in astrophysics and, together with lithium and beryllium, is a probe of stellar structure during the pre-main sequence and main-sequence phases. In this context, the 10 B(p, α ) 7 Be reaction is of particular interest.The literature data show discrepancies in the energy range between 100 keV and 2 MeV. This also poses a normalization problem for indirect data obtained with the Trojan Horse Method.A new measurement of the 10 B(p, α ) 7 Be reaction cross section was performed at Legnaro National Laboratories (LNL). At LNL, the cross section was determined with the activation technique by measuring the activated samples at a low-background counting facility. The analysis of that experiment is now complete and the results are here presented

Temporary dense seismic network during the 2016 Central Italy seismic emergency for microzonation studies

In August 2016, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Central Italy, starting a devastating seismic sequence, aggravated by other two events of magnitude 5.9 and 6.5, respectively. After the first mainshock, four Italian institutions installed a dense temporary network of 50 seismic stations in an area of 260 km2. The network was registered in the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks with the code 3A and quoted with a Digital Object Identifier ( https://doi.org/10.13127/SD/ku7Xm12Yy9 ). Raw data were converted into the standard binary miniSEED format, and organized in a structured archive. Then, data quality and completeness were checked, and all the relevant information was used for creating the metadata volumes. Finally, the 99 Gb of continuous seismic data and metadata were uploaded into the INGV node of the European Integrated Data Archive repository. Their use was regulated by a Memorandum of Understanding between the institutions. After an embargo period, the data are now available for many different seismological studies.Publishedid 1825T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaJCR Journa

The 10B(p,α)7Be S(E)-factor from 5 keV to 1.5 MeV using the Trojan Horse Method

The 10 B(p, α ) 7 Be reaction is the main responsible for the 10 B destruction in stellar interior [1]. In such environments this p-capture process occurs at a Gamow energy of 10 keV and takes places mainly through a resonant state (Ex = 8.701 MeV) of the compound 11 C nucleus. Thus a resonance right in the region of the Gamow peak is expected to significantly influence the behavior of the astrophysical S(E)-factor. The 10 B(p, α ) 7 Be reaction was studied via the Trojan Horse Method (THM) applied to the 2 H( 10 B, α 7 Be)n in order to extract the astrophysical S(E)-factor in a wide energy range from 5 keV to 1.5 MeV

Percutaneous treatment of patients with heart diseases: selection, guidance and follow-up. A review

Aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation, patent foramen ovale, interatrial septal defect, atrial fibrillation and perivalvular leak, are now amenable to percutaneous treatment. These percutaneous procedures require the use of Transthoracic (TTE), Transesophageal (TEE) and/or Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). This paper provides an overview of the different percutaneous interventions, trying to provide a systematic and comprehensive approach for selection, guidance and follow-up of patients undergoing these procedures, illustrating the key role of 2D echocardiography

New direct measurement of the 10

Boron plays an important role in astrophysics and, together with lithium and beryllium, is a probe of stellar structure during the pre-main sequence and main-sequence phases. In this context, the 10B(p,α)7 Be reaction is of particular interest. The literature data show discrepancies in the energy range between 100 keV and 2 MeV. This also poses a normalization problem for indirect data obtained with the Trojan Horse Method. A new measurement of the 10B(p,α)7 Be reaction cross section was performed at Legnaro National Laboratories (LNL). At LNL, the cross section was determined with the activation technique by measuring the activated samples at a low-background counting facility. The analysis of that experiment is now complete and the results are here presented