Mitogen-Activated Protein (MAP) Kinases in Plant Metal Stress: Regulation and Responses in Comparison to Other Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

Exposure of plants to toxic concentrations of metals leads to disruption of the cellular redox status followed by an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS, like hydrogen peroxide, can act as signaling molecules in the cell and induce signaling via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. MAPK cascades are evolutionary conserved signal transduction modules, able to convert extracellular signals to appropriate cellular responses. In this review, our current understanding about MAPK signaling in plant metal stress is discussed. However, this knowledge is scarce compared to research into the role of MAPK signaling in the case of other abiotic and biotic stresses. ROS production is a common response induced by different stresses and undiscovered analogies may exist with metal stress. Therefore, further attention is given to MAPK signaling in other biotic and abiotic stresses and its interplay with other signaling pathways to create a framework in which the involvement of MAPK signaling in metal stress may be studied.     

Operational semantics of rewriting with priorities

We study the semantics of term rewriting systems with rule priorities (PRS), as introduced in Baeten et al. (1989). Three open problems posed in that paper are solved, by giving counter examples. Moreover, a class of executable PRSs is identified. A translation of PRSs into transition system specifications (TSS) is given. This translation introduces negative premises. We prove that the translation preserves the operational semantics.     

The Influence of β-Cyclodextrin on the Solubility of Chlorthalidone and Its Enantiomers

The solubility of chlorthalidone in 16 solvent systems was determined in the absence and presence of different amounts of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Chlorthalidone (CT) was shown to be more soluble in hydrophilic organic solvents, with the highest solubility in ethylacetate (EtOAc) saturated with water. The solubility of CT in water, butanol, octanol, and dichloromethane (DCM) was enhanced by the addition of β-cyclodextrin. The enantioselective partitioning of CT between water and EtOAc, DCM, butan-1-ol, butan-2-ol, and octan-1-ol was determined in the presence of β-CD at pH 5, 7, and 9. According to the results, both the solubility and partition- ing properties of CT are affected by β-CD in aqueous solution. It was also shown that the solubility of the individual enantiomers differs in the presence of β-CD.     

An abstract interpretation toolkit for μCRL

This paper describes a toolkit that assists in the task of generating abstract approximations of process algebraic specifications written in the language μCRL. Abstractions are represented by Modal Labelled Transition Systems, which are mixed transition systems with may and must modalities. The approach permits to infer the satisfaction or refutation of safety and liveness properties expressed in the (action-based) μ-calculus. The tool supports the abstraction of states and action labels, which allows to deal with infinitely branching systems.     

Characteristics of the wire biconical antenna used for EMCmeasurements

The characteristics of a wire biconical antenna that determine its antenna factor were computed by using the method of moments code NEC-2. A fairly extensive validation exercise was conducted from which a suitable computer model was derived. The input impedance, gain, and radiation patterns of the antenna were computed for special cases where the biconical antenna is used above a conducting ground plane for open-field EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) testing. The effects of height above the ground plane and polarization of the antenna on these parameters were found and the antenna factor was corrected for them. The current distribution along the antenna elements was also examined, and it was found that significant pattern distortion can occur at some frequencies when a horizontal wire biconical antenna is used close to the ground. These results will allow this broadband antenna to be used with confidence in applications where previously only resonant dipoles were specified     

Confirming false memories: social construction of "useful" meanings

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a multisystem recessive disease characterized by cerebellar ataxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasias, immunodeficiency and increased risk of cancer. The ATM gene, responsible for A-T, was recently cloned at human chromosome band 11q22-23, a region of frequent alterations in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Children with A-T frequently develop T-ALL. We investigated 18 T-ALL samples for ATM mutations and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the ATM locus. No mutations of ATM were found within the coding region in the 18 T-ALL samples, and LOH at the ATM locus was detected in three. The ATM gene appears to be an infrequently altered tumour suppressor gene in childhood T-ALL.     

Laboratory determination of clay-geotextile interaction

Current design regulations preclude the usage of cohesive backfills in reinforced soil structures regardless of whether the reinforcement is metallic or polymer fabric. The main reasons for this are: firstly, cohesive materials can be expansive; and secondly, the maximum bond strength between the reinforcement and the clay is normally not expected to be more than the undrained strength of the clay, giving no advantage. However, low-plasticity (so-called semi-cohesive) soils are not expansive and could be used in reinforced soil structures provided the reinforcement can give an increase in strength. A large number of shearbox and pull-out tests have been carried out to investigate which are the major factors governing the clay-geotextile interaction in both undrained and drained conditions. Woven and non-woven fabrics and meshes were used in the tests. The results have shown that the shearing strength of clay can be increased by properly selected geotextile reinforcement in both undrained (short-term) and drained (long-term) loading. It has been also shown that the pull-out resistance of the geotextile reinforcement is essentially proportional to the normal stress and for high transmissivity geotextiles or for geogrids it is limited by the tensile strength and relaxation of the material. The low transmissivity however is also a factor obstructing the development of high pull-out resistance in undrained conditions. The results indicate that geotextile reinforced cohesive backfill might be a viable alternative in reinforced soil structures if good-quality granular backfill material is not readily available.