Contrasting Rootstock-Mediated Growth and Yield Responses in Salinized Pepper Plants (Capsicum annuum L.) Are Associated with Changes in the Hormonal Balance

Salinity provokes an imbalance of vegetative to generative growth, thus impairing crop productivity. Unlike breeding strategies, grafting is a direct and quick alternative to improve salinity tolerance in horticultural crops, through rebalancing plant development. Providing that hormones play a key role in plant growth and development and stress responses, we hypothesized that rootstock-mediated reallocation of vegetative growth and yield under salinity was associated with changes in the hormonal balance. To test this hypothesis, the hybrid pepper variety (Capsicum annuum L. “Gacela F1”) was either non-grafted or grafted onto three commercial rootstocks (Creonte, Atlante, and Terrano) and plants were grown in a greenhouse under control (0 mM NaCl) and moderate salinity (35 mM NaCl) conditions. Differential vegetative growth versus fruit yield responses were induced by rootstock and salinity. Atlante strongly increased shoot and root fresh weight with respect to the non-grafted Gacela plants associated with improved photosynthetic rate and K⁺ homeostasis under salinity. The invigorating effect of Atlante can be explained by an efficient balance between cytokinins (CKs) and abscisic acid (ABA). Creonte improved fruit yield and maintained the reproductive to vegetative ratio under salinity as a consequence of its capacity to induce biomass reallocation and to avoid Na⁺ accumulation in the shoot. The physiological responses associated with yield stability in Creonte were mediated by the inverse regulation of CKs and the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid. Finally, Terrano limited the accumulation of gibberellins in the shoot thus reducing plant height. Despite scion compactness induced by Terrano, both vegetative and reproductive biomass were maintained under salinity through ABA-mediated control of water relations and K⁺ homeostasis. Our data demonstrate that the contrasting developmental and physiological responses induced by the rootstock genotype in salinized pepper plants were critically mediated by hormones. This will be particularly important for rootstock breeding programs to improve salinity tolerance by focusing on hormonal traits.     

Transcriptomic Profiles of CD47 in Breast Tumors Predict Outcome and Are Associated with Immune Activation

Targeting the innate immune system has attracted attention with the development of anti- CD47 antibodies. Anti-CD47 antibodies block the inhibition of the phagocytic activity of macrophages caused by the up-regulation of CD47 on tumor cells. In this study, public genomic data was used to identify genes highly expressed in breast tumors with elevated CD47 expression and analyzed the association between the presence of tumor immune infiltrates and the expression of the selected genes. We found that 142 genes positively correlated with CD47, of which 83 predicted favorable and 32 detrimental relapse-free survival (RFS). From those associated with favorable RFS, we selected the genes with immunologic biological functions and defined a CD47-immune signature composed of PTPRC, HLA-E, TGFBR2, PTGER4, ETS1, and OPTN. In the basal-like and HER2+ breast cancer subtypes, the expression of the CD47-immune signature predicted favorable outcome, correlated with the presence of tumor immune infiltrates, and with gene expression signatures of T cell activation. Moreover, CD47 up-regulated genes associated with favorable survival correlated with pro-tumoral macrophages. In summary, we described a CD47-immune gene signature composed of 6 genes associated with favorable prognosis, T cell activation, and pro-tumoral macrophages in breast cancer tumors expressing high levels of CD47.     

Ethylene and Nitric Oxide Involvement in the Regulation of Fe and P Deficiency Responses in Dicotyledonous Plants

Iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) are two essential elements for plant growth. Both elements are abundant in soils but with poor availability for plants, which favor their acquisition by developing morphological and physiological responses in their roots. Although the regulation of the genes related to these responses is not totally known, ethylene (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) have been involved in the activation of both Fe-related and P-related genes. The common involvement of ET and NO suggests that they must act in conjunction with other specific signals, more closely related to each deficiency. Among the specific signals involved in the regulation of Fe- or P-related genes have been proposed Fe-peptides (or Fe ion itself) and microRNAs, like miR399 (P), moving through the phloem. These Fe- or P-related phloem signals could interact with ET/NO and confer specificity to the responses to each deficiency, avoiding the induction of the specific responses when ET/NO increase due to other nutrient deficiencies or stresses. Besides the specificity conferred by these signals, ET itself could confer specificity to the responses to Fe- or P-deficiency by acting through different signaling pathways in each case. Given the above considerations, there are preliminary results suggesting that ET could regulate different nutrient responses by acting both in conjunction with other signals and through different signaling pathways. Because of the close relationship among these two elements, a better knowledge of the physiological and molecular basis of their interaction is necessary to improve their nutrition and to avoid the problems associated with their misuse. As examples of this interaction, it is known that Fe chlorosis can be induced, under certain circumstances, by a P over- fertilization. On the other hand, Fe oxides can have a role in the immobilization of P in soils. Qualitative and quantitative assessment of the dynamic of known Fe- and P-related genes expression, selected ad hoc and involved in each of these deficiencies, would allow us to get a profound knowledge of the processes that regulate the responses to both deficiencies. The better knowledge of the regulation by ET of the responses to these deficiencies is necessary to properly understand the interactions between Fe and P. This will allow the obtention of more efficient varieties in the absorption of P and Fe, and the use of more rational management techniques for P and Fe fertilization. This will contribute to minimize the environmental impacts caused by the use of P and Fe fertilizers (Fe chelates) in agriculture and to adjust the costs for farmers, due to the high prices and/or scarcity of Fe and P fertilizers. This review aims to summarize the latest advances in the knowledge about Fe and P deficiency responses, analyzing the similarities and differences among them and considering the interactions among their main regulators, including some hormones (ethylene) and signaling substances (NO and GSNO) as well as other P- and Fe-related signals.     

Computational modeling of cathodic limitations on localized corrosion of wetted SS 316L at room temperature

The ability of a SS 316L surface wetted with a thin electrolyte layer to serve as an effective cathode for an active localized corrosion site was studied computationally. The dependence of the total net cathodic current, I_net, supplied at the repassivation potential E_rp (of the anodic crevice) on relevant physical parameters including water layer thickness (WL), chloride concentration ([Cl⁻]) and length of cathode (Lc) were investigated using a three-level, full factorial design. The effects of kinetic parameters including the exchange current density (i_o,c) and Tafel slope (β_c) of oxygen reduction, the anodic passive current density (i_p) (on the cathodic surface), and E_rp were studied as well using three-level full factorial designs of [Cl⁻] and Lc with a fixed WL of 25 μm. The study found that all the three parameters WL, [Cl⁻] and Lc as well as the interactions of Lc × WL and Lc × [Cl⁻] had significant impact on I_net. A five-factor regression equation was obtained which fits the computation results reasonably well, but demonstrated that interactions are more complicated than can be explained with a simple linear model. Significant effects on I_net were found upon varying either i_o,c, β_c, or E_rp, whereas i_p in the studied range was found to have little impact. It was observed that I_net asymptotically approached maximum values (I_max) when Lc increased to critical minimum values. I_max can be used to determine the stability of coupled localized corrosion and the critical Lc provides important information for experimental design and corrosion protection.     

In vivo aging of gutta‐percha dental cone

Gutta‐percha cone is the most widely used material for root canal filling. The in vivo aging of this cone focus on the degradation of its main organic component, trans‐1,4‐polyisoprene, was studied. Aged cones (25 samples) from 2 to 30 years of root canal filling were extracted from different patients in the occasion of retreatment by mechanical way. The information about the aging time was given by the patients. Gel‐permeation chromatography (GPC) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were the analytical techniques used. Polyisoprene degrades with time of aging, but in a slow process. Decrease in polymer molar mass from 5.7 × 10⁵ to 1.7 × 10⁵ g/mol was observed in polyisoprene from cone after 30 years of root canal filling and inside a noninfected tooth. In tooth with caries and periodontal infection, the decrease in molar mass is higher (4.6 × 10⁴ g/mol in cone with 10 years of aging). The production of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups in the aged material indicates that the process is oxidative, even in closed teeth. In these cases, the oxygen could be provided from tissue fluid. The degradation mechanism is complex and depends on many factors, besides time of root canal filling. The dental problem caused by the aging could be the production and migration of cytotoxic substances to periodontal ligament and the reduction on the canal sealing property due to the polymer weight loss. Both of them could contribute to the root canal treatment failure. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100:4082–4088, 2006     

Observability of linear systems with commensurate delays and unknown inputs

This paper investigates the observability analysis for linear time systems whose outputs are affected by unknown inputs. Three different definitions of observability are proposed. By introducing the Smith form and comparing the invariant factors, a sufficient condition is deduced for each proposed observability definition. Three examples are given for the purpose of highlighting the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Crystallinity and thermal properties of ethylene-1-decene copolymers

Summary Three copolymers of ethylene and 1-decene, covering a wide range of compositions, have been synthesized with a MgCl₂-supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The analysis by DSC and X-ray shows a great degree of heterogeneity in these copolymers and appreciable levels of crystallinity, corresponding to the orthorhombic lattice of polyethylene, are present even for very high 1-decene contents.     

Strong dependence on pressure of the performance of a Co/SiO2 catalyst in Fischer–Tropsch slurry reactor synthesis

A 10 wt% Co/SiO₂ catalyst was prepared by the incipient wet-impregnation method and tested in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis in a slurry reactor under conditions approaching industrial practice. The catalyst precursor was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS and XRD techniques revealed the presence of a crystalline Co₃O₄ spinel-type phase, while-in addition-TEM and XPS analyses pointed to the formation of another amorphous Co₃O₄ spinel phase, both species interacting weakly with the silica substrate. The influence of total pressure on the conversion, selectivity and stability of the catalyst was studied. Upon increasing the overall pressure from 20 to 40 bar, not only activity increased but also the catalyst are not deactivating. These results are explained in terms of an increase of gases solubility in the solvent, this increment of CO concentration in the liquid phase favours carbonyl species formation and the cobalt particles segregation that implies an increase in the metal surface area.     

Mechanisms of hydrocarbon conversion reactions on heterogeneous catalysts: analogies with organometallic chemistry

Catalysis is central to most industrial processes for chemical manufacturing. As catalytic processes have become more complex and more demanding, selectivity has become the central issue in their design. Selectivity is defined by the relative rates of competing reaction pathways available to crucial intermediates, and can be controlled by subtle changes in the nature of the catalyst, the reactants, and/or the reaction conditions. In order to be able to do this in a systematic manner, a good understanding of the catalytic reaction mechanisms is needed. Here a connection is drawn between the key elementary steps comprising hydrocarbon conversion reactions on surfaces and those known to occur on discrete organometallic complexes. This way, the hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, hydrogenolysis, chain growth, and isomerization reactions typical in heterogeneous catalysis are redefined in terms of hydride elimination, oxidative addition, reductive elimination, migratory insertion, and 1, 2-shift elementary steps, among others. It is suggested that the knowledge already available from organometallic chemistry can be used to further advance the understanding of the surface science involved in heterogeneous catalysis. Thanks to the commonality of the chemistry involved, a better synergy could also be established between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic development. These ideas are discussed in this article in a critical and personal way.*Invited contribution to the special volume entitled The Interface between Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalysis, stemming from contributions at the recent International Symposium on Relations between Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalysis, and dedicated to the memory of Robert L. Burwell.     

Vessel Inspection: A Micro-Aerial Vehicle-based Approach

Vessel maintenance entails periodic visual inspections of the internal and external parts of the hull in order to detect the typical defective situations affecting metallic structures, such as coating breakdown, corrosion, cracks, etc. The main goal of project MINOAS is the automation of the inspection process, currently undertaken by human surveyors, by means of a fleet of robotic agents. This paper overviews an approach to the inspection problem based on an autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) which, as part of this fleet, is in charge of regularly supplying images that can teleport the surveyor from a base station to the areas of the hull to be inspected. The control software approach adopted for the MAV is fully described, with a special emphasis on the self-localization capabilities of the vehicle. Experimental results showing the suitability of the platform to the application are as well reported and discussed.