Cellulose synthesis in maize: isolation and expression analysis of the cellulose synthase (CesA) gene family

Stalk lodging in maize results in significant yield losses. We have determined that cellulose per unit length of the stalk is the primary determinant of internodal strength. An increase in cellulose concentration in the wall might allow simultaneous improvements in stalk strength and harvest index. Cellulose formation in plants can be perturbed by mutations in the genes involved in cellulose synthesis, post-synthetic cellulose alteration or deposition, N-glycosylation, and some other genes with as yet unknown functions. We have isolated 12 members of the cellulose synthase (CesA) gene family from maize. The genes involved in primary wall formation appear to have duplicated relatively independently in dicots and monocots. The deduced amino acid sequences of three of the maize genes, ZmCesA10–12, cluster with the Arabidopsis CesA sequences that have been shown to be involved in secondary wall formation. Based on their expression patterns across multiple tissues, these three genes appear to be coordinately expressed. The remaining genes show overlapping expression to varying degrees with ZmCesA1, 7, and 8 forming one group, ZmCesA3 and 5 a second group, and ZmCesA2 and 6 exhibiting independent expression of any other gene. This suggests that the varying levels of coexpression may just be incidental except in the case of ZmCesA10–12, which may interact with each other to form a functional enzyme complex. Isolation of the expressed CesA genes from maize and their association with primary or secondary wall formation has made it possible to test their respective roles in cellulose synthesis through mutational genetics or transgenic approaches. This information would be useful in improving stalk strength.     

Environmental certification: a scientific tool for sustainability. Evaluation of possible indicators for the environmental performance evaluation (EPE) of Ravenna province (Italy)

Environmental certification is becoming the main tool for application of sustainable development principles. The European Regulation Emas and the international standard ISO 14001 both require for certification, to perform an environmental management system to prevent environmental impacts and to continuously improve environmental performance. For a good environmental performance evaluation (EPE), certification needs to use scientific methodologies and to interface with scientific research; here we proposed emergy analysis as a valid method for EPE and emergetic environmental performance and condition indicators (EPIs, ECIs) to monitor a territorial system: Ravenna province (Italy). Together with emergy indicators were selected other indicators for a deeper EPE: emitted/adsorbed CO2, energy consumptions, air and water pollution measures. The paper showed that Ravenna system has a good environmental performance and demonstrated how different indicators from the most advanced chemical research (chemical-physical, analytical, etc.) contribute to a complete EPE of a complex territorial system and are useful for environmental certification and sustainable development.     

Ab initio Hartree–Fock approach to the study of polymers: Application to polyacetylenes

An ab initio Hartree–Fock method devoted to the study of polymers is presented, truncation criteria for the exchange and the Coulomb series are discussed, and it is shown that the error in the total energy evaluation can be reduced to below 0.0001 a.u./cell with little computational effort. Results for six polyacetylene isomers are presented and compared with previous ab initio data obtained using the same basis set. In agreement with the experimental findings, the alternating all-trans structure is the most stable.     

A re-statement of the Hohenberg–Kohn theorem and its extension to finite subspaces

Bearing in mind the insight into the Hohenberg–Kohn theorem for Coulomb systems provided recently by Kryachko (Int J Quantum Chem 103:818, 2005), we present a re-statement of this theorem through an elaboration on Lieb’s proof as well as an extension of this theorem to finite subspaces. Contribution to the Serafin Fraga Memorial Issue.     

Supramolecular adducts between macrocyclic Gd(iii) complexes and polyaromatic systems: a route to enhance the relaxivity through the formation of hydrophobic interactions

The set-up of reversible binding interactions between the hydrophobic region of macrocyclic GBCAs (Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents) and SO₃⁻/OH containing pyrene derivatives provides new insights for pursuing relaxivity enhancements of this class of MRI contrast agents. The strong binding affinity allows attaining relaxation enhancements up to 50% at pyrene/GBCA ratios of 3 : 1. High resolution NMR spectra of the Yb-HPDO3A/pyrene system fully support the formation of a supramolecular adduct based on the set-up of hydrophobic interactions. The relaxation enhancement may be accounted for in terms of the increase of the molecular reorientation time (τ_R) and the number of second sphere water molecules. This effect is maintained in blood serum and in vivo, as shown by the enhancement of contrast in T_1w-MR images obtained by simultaneous injection of GBCA and pyrene derivatives in mice.

The set-up of reversible binding interactions between the hydrophobic region of macrocyclic gadolinium based contrast agents and SO₃⁻/OH containing pyrene derivatives provides new insights for pursuing relaxivity enhancement of MRI contrast agents.     

Sorption behavior of Co(II) on γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> in the presence of humic acid

The fate and transport of toxic metal ions and radionuclides in the environment is generally controlled by sorption reactions. The extent of sorption of divalent metal cations is controlled by a number of factors including cosorbing or complexing. In this work, the effects of pH, humic acid HA/Co(II) addition orders, ionic strength, concentration of HA, and foreign cations on the Co(II) sorption on γ-Al₂O₃ in the presence of HA were investigated. The sorption isotherms of Co(II) on γ-Al₂O₃ in the absence and presence HA were also studied and described by using S-type sorption model. The experimental results showed that the Co(II) sorption is strongly dependent on the pH values, concentration of HA, but independent of HA/Co(II) addition orders, ionic strength, and foreign cations in the presence of HA under our experimental conditions. The results also indicated that HA enhanced the Co(II) sorption at low pH, but reduced the Co(II) sorption at high pH. It was hypothesized that the significantly positive influence of HA at low pH on the Co(II) sorption on γ-Al₂O₃ was attributed to strong surface binding of HA on γ-Al₂O₃ and subsequently the formation of ternary surface complexes such as ≡S-OOC-R-(COO⁻) _x Co^2−x . Chemi-complexation may be the main mechanism of the Co(II) sorption on γ-Al₂O₃ in the presence of HA.     

Fairness in ambulance routing for post disaster management

Central European Journal of Operations Research - Disaster management generally includes the post-disaster stage, which consists of the actions taken in response to the disaster damages. These...     

Some results on BZ structures from Hilbertian unsharp quantum physics

Some algebraic structures determined by the class (þ) of all effects of a Hilbert space þ and by some subclasses of (þ) are investigated, in particular de Morgan-Brouwer-Zadeh posets [it is proved that (þ ⁿ )(n<) has such a structure], Brouwer-Zadeh ^* posets (a quite trivial example consisting of suitable effects is given), and Brouwer-Zadeh ³ posets which are both de Morgan and ^*.It is shown that a nontrivial class of effects of a Hilbert space exists which is a BZ ³ poset. An -preclusivity relation on the set of all vectors of þ is introduced, and it is shown that it satisfies the regularity condition also for [1/2, 1].     

On the intrinsic definition of local observables

In a theory of local field algebras satisfying the split property, we introduce an algebra generated by the local energy-momentum operators obtained from the canonical local implementation of translations, and possibly by the local charges operators. We discuss the relations of this algebra to the given algebra of local observables and take some steps toward the characterization of theories where they coincide. In the presence of spontaneously broken symmetries, we present a no-go theorem.     

A theoretical prediction for exclusive decaysB→K(K*)η c

The decay rates for the exclusiveB decaysBK _c andBK* _c are calculated in the context of the heavy quark effective theory. We obtain(BK _c )/ (BK)=1.6±0.2 and(BK* _c )/ (K*)=0.39±0.04. These results lead to estimates BR(BK _c )=(0.11±0.02)% and BR(BK* _c )=(0.05±0.01)% if we use the central current experimental values forB(K, K ^*) branching ratios.