Planetary stations and Abyssal Benthic Laboratories: An overview of parallel approaches for long-term investigation in extreme environments

In spite of the apparent great differences between deep ocean and space environment, significant similarities can be recognized when considering the possible solutions and technologies enabling the development of remote automatic stations supporting the execution of scientific activities. In this sense it is believed that mutual benefits shall be derived from the exchange of experiences and results between people and organizations involved in research and engineering activities for hostile environments, such as space, deep sea, and polar areas. A significant example of possible technology transfer and common systematic approach is given, which describes in some detail how the solutions and the enabling technologies identified for an Abyssal Benthic Laboratory can be applied for the case of a lunar or planetary station

Axial xylem architecture of Larix decidua exposed to CO2 enrichment and soil warming at the tree line

1. Trees continuously adjust their axial xylem structure to meet changing needs imposed by ontogenetic and environmental changes. These axial structure\u2013function responses need to be coordinated among competing biophysical constraints to avoid failure of the xylem system. Here, we investigated if ontogeny or experimental manipulation of CO2 and soil temperature influence these structure\u2013function responses. 2. We performed detailed xylem cell anatomical quantification along the axis of 40-year-old Larix decidua trees planted at the Swiss tree line and exposed to a combination of elevated CO2 (+200 ppm) and soil warming (+4\ub0C) between 2001 and 2012. We assessed how mean hydraulic tracheid diameter (Dh), the cell wall reinforcement ((t/b)2), tracheid wall thickness (CWT) and the percent area of ray parenchyma (PERPAR)\u2014proxies for hydraulic efficiency, hydraulic safety, biomechanical support and metabolic xylem functions, respectively\u2014covary along the tree axis. 3. Dh increased from the stem apex to base, strictly following a power function (R2=0.81), independent from ontogeny and experimental treatments. In contrast, axial trends of (t/b)2 and CWT were either influenced by treatment and/or ontogeny, or showed no axial trend (PERPAR). Additionally, we found that a larger Dh only at the stem apex promoted primary and econdary growth. 4. Our approach of analysing xylem anatomical traits along the tree axis and across tree rings provides novel insights into xylem functional architecture and allows reconstructing xylem function over time. We conclude that the maintenance of hydraulic efficiency during ontogeny is very robust, that the tracheid diameter undergoes a strong apical control, and plays a fundamental role for assimilation and tree growth. Instead, the other functional traits more plastically vary with ontogeny and environmental changes

Ultraviolet Astronomy from the Space Station: A case study

69Recent Research Developments in Astronomy & AstrophysicsRecent Research Developments in Astronomy & AstrophysicsnonenoneP.L. BERNACCA; E. ANTONELLO; A. PREITE MARTINEZ; F. BERTOLA; S. CATALANO; M. RODON; R. STALIO; G. TONDELLO; G.E. VILLA; L.M. BUSON; G. NALETTO; S. SCUDERI; P. TRAMPUS; M. USLENGHI; M. BADIALI; G. BONANNO; P. CONCONI; C. FACCHINETTI; E. FANTINO; C. GIACOMUZZO; D. MAGRIN; L. PALETTO; G. BARBARO; D. BETTONI; A. BIANCHINI; A. BRESSA; M. CAPPELLARI; D. CARDINI; A. CASSATELA; O. CITTERIO; G. CHINCARINI; W.J. COUCH; D. DE MARTINO; A. DRESSLER; A. EMANUELE; G. FASANO; A. FRANCESCHINI; M. FRANCHINI; G.L. GRANATO; GREGORIO A.; P. KJRGAARD; A. LANZAFAME; M.L. MALAGNINI; L. MARASCHI; P.M. MARRESE; M. MOLES; A. MONFARDINI; C. MOROSSI; U. MUNARI; S. ORTOLANI; I. PAGANO; N. PANAGIA; G. PARESCHI; B. POGGIANTI; E. PORETTI; R. RAGAZZONI; B. SAGGIN; L. SILVA; H. WU; M. ATTINI; G. BASILE; A. CAVALIERE; B. CIBRARIO; A. GILY; M. MUSCINELLI; W. PRENDIN; N. RATTI; G. SANTANGELO; M. SANTONIP. L., Bernacca; E., Antonello; A., PREITE MARTINEZ; F., Bertola; S., Catalano; M., Rodon; R., Stalio; G., Tondello; G. E., Villa; L. M., Buson; G., Naletto; S., Scuderi; P., Trampus; M., Uslenghi; M., Badiali; G., Bonanno; P., Conconi; C., Facchinetti; E., Fantino; C., Giacomuzzo; D., Magrin; L., Paletto; G., Barbaro; D., Bettoni; A., Bianchini; A., Bressa; M., Cappellari; D., Cardini; A., Cassatela; O., Citterio; G., Chincarini; W. J., Couch; D., DE MARTINO; A., Dressler; A., Emanuele; G., Fasano; A., Franceschini; M., Franchini; G. L., Granato; Gregorio, Anna; P., Kjrgaard; A., Lanzafame; M. L., Malagnini; L., Maraschi; P. M., Marrese; M., Moles; A., Monfardini; C., Morossi; U., Munari; S., Ortolani; I., Pagano; N., Panagia; G., Pareschi; B., Poggianti; E., Poretti; R., Ragazzoni; B., Saggin; L., Silva; H., Wu; M., Attini; G., Basile; A., Cavaliere; B., Cibrario; A., Gily; M., Muscinelli; W., Prendin; N., Ratti; G., Santangelo; M., Santon

Ultraviolet astronomy from the space station: A case study

Recent Research Developments in Astronomy & Astrophysic