Diffusible repression of cytokinin signalling produces endodermal symmetry and passage cells.

In vascular plants, the root endodermis surrounds the central vasculature as a protective sheath that is analogous to the polarized epithelium in animals, and contains ring-shaped Casparian strips that restrict diffusion. After an initial lag phase, individual endodermal cells suberize in an apparently random fashion to produce 'patchy' suberization that eventually generates a zone of continuous suberin deposition. Casparian strips and suberin lamellae affect paracellular and transcellular transport, respectively. Most angiosperms maintain some isolated cells in an unsuberized state as so-called 'passage cells', which have previously been suggested to enable uptake across an otherwise-impermeable endodermal barrier. Here we demonstrate that these passage cells are late emanations of a meristematic patterning process that reads out the underlying non-radial symmetry of the vasculature. This process is mediated by the non-cell-autonomous repression of cytokinin signalling in the root meristem, and leads to distinct phloem- and xylem-pole-associated endodermal cells. The latter cells can resist abscisic acid-dependent suberization to produce passage cells. Our data further demonstrate that, during meristematic patterning, xylem-pole-associated endodermal cells can dynamically alter passage-cell numbers in response to nutrient status, and that passage cells express transporters and locally affect the expression of transporters in adjacent cortical cells

Gender differences in instep soccer kicking biomechanics, investigated through a 3D human motion tracker system

BACKGROUND: This study aims at describing and comparing each other male and female soccer players kicking instep a stationary ball. The different measures we collected by the 3D motion capture system Movit G1 and the High-Speed Camera (240 fps) were considered as dependent variables, whereas the gender was considered as the independent one.METHODS: Twenty soccer well trained non-professional players: 10 men (age: 25.3 +/- 6.5 yrs: height 1.80 +/- 0.07 m; body mass 76.9 +/- 13.2 kg) and 10 women (age: 19 +/- 3.34 yrs; height 1.64 +/- 0.07 m; body mass 58.2 +/- 7.2 kg) volunteered to participate in the study.RESULTS: Gender differences were found, with a statistical significance (P<0.05) or interesting magnitude (Cohen d>0.5). The most relevant ones were the differences in hip extension of the kicking leg when the foot of the supporting one touches the ground, just before the impact on the ball (independent sample t-Test P=0.03; Cohen d=1.64) and the speed of the ball, reached immediately after kicking (P<0.001; d=1.23).CONCLUSIONS: These results, together with the greater pelvic acceleration shown by men compared to women, highlight the need to develop a gender-differentiated training model, in order to customize the kicking technique in women and to reduce the likelihood, currently higher than for men, of kicking related injuries

Transcription factors PRE3 and WOX11 are involved in the formation of new lateral roots from secondary growth taproot in A. thaliana

The spatial deployment of lateral roots determines the ability of a plant to interact with the surrounding environment for nutrition and anchorage. This paper shows that besides the pericycle, the vascular cambium becomes active in Arabidopsis thaliana taproot at a later stage of development and is also able to form new lateral roots. To demonstrate the above, we implemented a two-step approach in which the first step leads to development of a secondary structure in A. thaliana taproot, and the second applies a mechanical stress on the vascular cambium to initiate formation of a new lateral root primordium. GUS staining showed PRE3, DR5 and WOX11 signals in the cambial zone of the root during new lateral root formation. An advanced level of wood formation, characterized by the presence of medullar rays, was achieved. Preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of auxin and two transcription factors (PRE3/ATBS1/bHLH135/TMO7 and WOX11) in the transition of some vascular cambium initials from a role as producers of xylem/phloem mother cells to founder cells of a new lateral root primordium

Report on the methodology applied by EFSA to provide a quantitative assessment of pest-related criteria required to rank candidate priority pests as defined by Regulation (EU) 2016/2031

In agreement with Article 6(2) of the Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against pestsof plants, the European Commission has been tasked by the Council and European Parliament toestablish a list of Union quarantine pests which qualify as priority pests. The prioritisation is based onthe severity of the economic, social and environmental impact that these pests can cause in the Unionterritory. The Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) is in charge of developing a methodologybased on a multi-criteria decision analysis and composite indicators. In this context, EFSA has providedtechnical and scientific data related to these pests, in particular: (i) the potential host range anddistribution of each of these pests in the Union territory at the level of NUTS2 regions; (ii) parametersquantifying the potential consequences of these pests, e.g. crop losses in terms of yield and quality,rate of spread and time to detection. Expert knowledge elicitation methodology has been applied byEFSA in order to provide those parameters in a consistent and transparent manner

Gibberellins promote polar auxin transport to regulate stem cell fate decisions in cambium

Vascular cambium contains bifacial stem cells, which produce secondary xylem to one side and secondary phloem to the other. However, how these fate decisions are regulated is unknown. Here we show that the positioning of an auxin signalling maximum within the cambium determines the fate of stem cell daughters. The position is modulated by gibberellin-regulated, PIN1-dependent polar auxin transport. Gibberellin treatment broadens auxin maximum from the xylem side of the cambium towards the phloem. As a result, xylem-side stem cell daughter preferentially differentiates into xylem, while phloem-side daughter retains stem cell identity. Occasionally, this broadening leads to direct specification of both daughters as xylem, and consequently, adjacent phloem-identity cell reverts to being stem cell. Conversely, reduced gibberellin levels favour specification of phloem-side stem cell daughter as phloem. Together, our data provide a mechanism by which gibberellin regulates the ratio of xylem and phloem production.Auxin is a key regulator in vascular cambium development. This study shows that gibberellins promote polar auxin transport along the root, which leads to broadening of high auxin signalling domain in cambium, and thus, to increased xylem formation.Peer reviewe

Establishing causality between pollution and effects at different levels of biological organization: The VALIMAR project

Triebskorn R, Adam S, Behrens A, et al. Establishing causality between pollution and effects at different levels of biological organization: The VALIMAR project. HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT. 2003;9(1):171-194.The study summarizes the objectives of the VALIMAR project and gives selected examples of biomarker responses that allow causal relationships to be established between exposure and biological effects at different levels of biological organization. In this project, active and passive biomonitoring experiments with brown trout (Salmo trutta f. fario) and stone loach (Barbatula barbatula) were performed in two small streams in southern Germany between 1995 and 1999 in parallel with investigations on contaminant mixtures in the laboratory in order to evaluate the suitability of biomarkers representing different levels of biological organization for the assessment of pollution in small streams. In addition to biomarker studies, the morphology of the test streams was characterized and limnological and chemical parameters were monitored. Early life stage tests and ecological studies of brown trout and stone loach population demography, of the fish assemblages, and the macro- and meiozoobenthos communities in the two test streams were included in the project. Several causality criteria were addressed by means of combined (1) laboratory and field studies, (2) chemical, biological, and statistical investigations, and (3) in vivo and in vitro studies that allowed establishment of cause-effect relationships at different biological levels. The comparison of results obtained at these levels allowed identification of mechanisms responsible for the respective effects (coherence of association, biological plausibility). Finally, individual responses (biomarkers, bioindicators) could be extrapolated to higher biological levels (population, community) thus addressing the criteria of 'time order' and 'coherence of association'

The NEWTON-g Gravity Imager: Toward New Paradigms for Terrain Gravimetry

Knowledge of the spatio-temporal changes in the characteristics and distribution of subsurface fluids is key to properly addressing important societal issues, including: sustainable management of energy resources (e.g., hydrocarbons and geothermal energy), management of water resources, and assessment of hazard (e.g., volcanic eruptions). Gravimetry is highly attractive because it can detect changes in subsurface mass, thus providing a window into processes that involve deep fluids. However, high cost and operating features associated with current instrumentation seriously limits the practical field use of this geophysical method. The NEWTON-g project proposes a radical change of paradigm for gravimetry through the development of a field-compatible measuring system (the gravity imager), able to real-time monitor the evolution of the subsurface mass changes. This system includes an array of low-costs microelectromechanical systems-based relative gravimeters, anchored on an absolute quantum gravimeter. It will provide imaging of gravity changes, associated with variations in subsurface fluid properties, with unparalleled spatio-temporal resolution. During the final ∼2 years of NEWTON-g, the gravity imager will be field tested in the summit of Mt. Etna volcano (Italy), where frequent gravity fluctuations, easy access to the active structures and the presence of a multiparameter monitoring system (including traditional gravimeters) ensure an excellent natural laboratory for testing the new tools. Insights from the gravity imager will be used to i) improve our knowledge of the cause-effect relationships between volcanic processes and gravity changes observable at the surface and ii) develop strategies to best incorporate the gravity data into hazards assessments and mitigation plans. A successful implementation of NEWTON-g will open new doors for geophysical exploration

The Role of Rituximab in Primary Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis of the Adult

Introduction: Primary focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) is a rare, likely immune-mediated disease. Rituximab (RTX) may play a role in management, although data in adults are scanty. Methods: We collected cases of RTX-treated primary FSGS within the Italian Society of Nephrology Immunopathology Working Group and explored response rate (24-hour proteinuria <3.5 g and <50% compared with baseline, stable estimated glomerular filtration rate). Results: A total of 31 patients were followed for at least 12 months; further follow-up (median 17 months, interquartile range [IQR] 15–33.5) was available for 11. At first RTX administration, median creatinine and 24-hour proteinuria were 1.17 mg/dl (IQR 0.83–1.62) and 5.2 g (IQR 3.3–8.81), respectively. Response rate at 3, 6, and 12 months was 39%, 52%, and 42%, respectively. In the first 12 months, creatinine level remained stable whereas proteinuria and serum albumin level improved, with an increase in the proportion of patients tapering other immunosuppressants. There were 6 patients who were retreated with RTX within 12 months, either for proteinuria increase or refractory disease; only the 2 responders to the first RTX course experienced a further response. At univariate analysis, 6-month response was more frequent in steroid-dependent patients (odds ratio [OR] 7.7 [95% CI 1.16–52.17]) and those with proteinuria <5 g/24 h (OR 8.25 [1.45–46.86]). During long-term follow-up, 4 of 5 responders at 12 months maintained a sustained response, either without further immunosuppression (2 of 4) or with pre-emptive RTX (2 of 4); 1 relapsed and responded to RTX retreatment. Conclusion: RTX may be an option in primary FSGS, especially in steroid-dependent patients, with 24-hour proteinuria <5 g and previously responders to RTX. Optimal long-term management for responders is unclear, with some patients experiencing sustained remission and others requiring RTX retreatment, either preemptive or after rising proteinuria