Arc Extinguishing in the DC and Photovoltaic Networks

In this contribution the various behaviors of arc voltage created with extinguishing system and the influenceon current and energy released behavior in the extinction system are theoretically and experimentallyanalyzed. In the area of photovoltaic it represents the increase of working voltages up to 1500 V. Inthe experimental part the oscilogrammes of DC current interruption with various extinction systems arepresented. For the reliability of current interruption mainly in the photovoltaic (PV) networks it is necessaryto dedicate increased attention to development and design of switch and protection gears

City rankings and the citizens: exposing representational and participatory gaps

Acritical reflection on the purposes, role and performance of city rankings through an holistic communicational approach is at the core of this article. Grounded on a conceptual framework that highlights the contemporary idea of the city—beyond the smart city and more as a co-intelligent, collaborative and co-creative entity, and on the performance outputs of city rankings as territorial and strategic communication tools that actually represent the state of cities, we address the citizens’ presence or contribute—as main city stakeholders—to city rankings. In order to make research tangible with a practical component, an exploratory comparative content analysis of three recognized city rankings: the CBI – City Brands Index 2017, the GCR – 2018 Global Cities Report, and the Global Liveability Index 2018—was carried out. Conclusive notes argue that in order to effectively represent cities, as they are lived, thought and built by their citizens in their everyday, city rankings must rely in more real-time, updated, people’s perception centred data, and embed more citizen participation and insights. Moreover, methodology transparency and accountability should be promoted in order to add trust value to city rankings.(undefined

Reading Ronaldo: contingent whiteness in the football media

Ever since his introduction to the first-­-team at Manchester United FC, Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveiro has been recognised as one of the footballing world’s most stand-­-out football players. In turn, Ronaldo has drawn the attention of scholars working across a number of disciplines. While sports economists and sociologists of sport, amongst others, have contributed to a growing literature about Ronaldo and the social implications of his on and off-­-field behaviour, few critical analyses have considered the racialised aspects of Ronaldo’s representations, or how audiences make sense of his racialised or ethnic identity. Using images of Ronaldo, which we presented to and discussed with self-­-identified physically active white British men, we explore what it is representations and audience interpretations of Ronaldo reveal about the complexities of white male identity formation. We do this to understand better how white male identities can be read and interpreted through and in the context of football. Facilitated by our conception of contingent whiteness, we argue that white British men’s interpretations of Ronaldo’s whiteness are inextricably linked to discourses of ‘race’, masculinities and football

The wheat SnRK1α family and its contribution to Fusarium toxin tolerance

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin produced by phytopathogenic Fusarium fungi in cereal grain and plays a role as a disease virulence factor. TaFROG (Triticum aestivum Fusarium Resistance Orphan Gene) enhances wheat resistance to DON and it interacts with a sucrose non-fermenting-1 (SNF1)-related protein kinase 1 catalytic subunit α (SnRK1α). This protein kinase family is central integrator of stress and energy signalling, regulating plant metabolism and growth. Little is known regarding the role of SnRK1α in the biotic stress response, especially in wheat. In this study, 15 wheat (Triticum aestivum) SnRK1α genes (TaSnRK1αs) belonging to four homoeologous groups were identified in the wheat genome. TaSnRK1αs are expressed ubiquitously in all organs and developmental stages apart from two members predominantly detected in grain. While DON treatment had either no effect or downregulated the transcription of TaSnRK1αs, it increased both the kinase activity associated with SnRK1α and the level of active (phosphorylated) SnRK1α. Down-regulation of two TaSnRK1αs homoeolog groups using virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) increased the DON-induced damage of wheat spikelets. Thus, we demonstrate that TaSnRK1αs contribute positively to wheat tolerance of DON and conclude that this gene family may provide useful tools for the improvement of crop biotic stress resistance.Science Foundation IrelandIrish Department of AgricultureBiotechnological and Biological Sciences Research Council of the United KingdomDesigning Future Wheat (DFW) strategic programmeupdate copyright and citation details during checkdate report - A

Fusarium Species Infection in Wheat: Impact on Quality and Mycotoxin Accumulation

International audienceWheat is the most consumed cereal worldwide and can be processed to different products for human consumption. This crop can be infected by Fusarium species, among them those within the Fusarium graminearum complex causing Fusarium head blight (FHB. The disease can severely reduce grain yield and quality under conditions of high humidity and warm temperatures during anthesis. Moreover the grains can be contaminated with mycotoxin such as trichothecenes, among them deoxynivalenol and their acetyl derivates 3-ADON, 15-ADON and DON-3-glucoside. Some years, depending on the environmental conditions Fusarium proliferatum can also infect the grain and fumonisin contamination can be observed. To understand the way of grain infection by Fusarium species will help to undertake strategies to reduce the problem both at pre-harvest and during processing to select adequate procedures to manage mycotoxin production. Different strategies at different stages of the wheat chain have been proposed to reduce the impact of FHB and mycotoxin accumulation