Characterization of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase-Oxygenase Activase (Rca) Genes in Durum Wheat

Durum wheat is one of the most widely cultivated cereal crop in the Mediterranean area. Its production has been triggered by drought and rising temperature, both affecting the photosynthetic machinery. Rubisco is one of the most important enzymes in plants. Despite its major role in the control of carbon cycle it has a very low efficiency, which is restored by the action of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase (Rca), a protein belonging to the AAA+ family. The main objective of our work was to isolate and characterize Rca genes in durum wheat and determine their phylogeny with other main crops and model species. Besides a genetic and physical position of Rca1 gene was allowed in a RIL mapping population previously developed. In silico analysis, performed in order to understand whether Rca1 gene was differentially expressed under stress condition, highlighted that homoeologous Rca1 genes have different expression levels especially after infections by Zymoseptoria, powdrey mildew and fusarium. A deeper knowledge of Rca genes structures as well as a better understanding of their physiological role in durum wheat might be of greater importance in panning future modern breeding programs to improve crop yield in adverse environmental condition.

Corrosion Monitoring of RC Structures (Assessment and Interpretation)

Reinforced Concrete structure system is more durable and capable from a various adverse environmental condition. Their excellent tensile strength and ductility make them perfect for construction of building structures. Structures are always susceptible to environmental changes. No building will ever be the same once the environmental changes kick in. Out of all the changes, the most serious and devastating in corrosion. Each and every structure needs valuable inspection and proper examination for checking the reinforcement corrosion. There are required assessing and techniques to evaluate and interprets the condition of structures. One can identify the strength of a structure by monitoring techniques and can prevent problem in the structures before it becomes crucial. In this review paper all the non destructive techniques from the point of view of corrosion assessment and application to building and other civil engineering structures are being discussed

Identification and expression analysis of GRAS transcription factors in the wild relative of sweet potato Ipomoea trifida

Background GRAS gene is an important transcription factor gene family that plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, adaptation to adverse environmental condition. Sweet potato is an important food, vegetable, industrial raw material, and biofuel crop in the world, which plays an essential role in food security in China. However, the function of sweet potato GRAS genes remains unknown. Results In this study, we identified and characterised 70 GRAS members from Ipomoea trifida, which is the progenitor of sweet potato. The chromosome distribution, phylogenetic tree, exon-intron structure and expression profiles were analysed. The distribution map showed that GRAS genes were randomly located in 15 chromosomes. In combination with phylogenetic analysis and previous reports in Arabidopsis and rice, the GRAS proteins from I. trifida were divided into 11 subfamilies. Gene structure showed that most of the GRAS genes in I. trifida lacked introns. The tissue-specific expression patterns and the patterns under abiotic stresses of ItfGRAS genes were investigated via RNA-seq and further tested by RT-qPCR. Results indicated the potential functions of ItfGRAS during plant development and stress responses. Conclusions Our findings will further facilitate the functional study of GRAS gene and molecular breeding of sweet potato.

Metal Coated Coir Fiber for Smart Textile Applications

Thermo regulated textiles attracted attention in cold countries for outdoor activities in extreme winter conditions. Temperature regulation of textiles for use in adverse environmental condition can be achieved by integrating heat regulated natural fibers into textile construction. Coir being an abundantly available, cheap and biodegradable natural fiber seems to be a material worthy of investigation. Light weight and insulation of coir fiber add to the comfort of the wearer in textile application. In this study, coir surface is made conductive by metal coating and temperature regulation is achieved by applying a small voltage. Copper, aluminium and silver metals are used for coating the coir fiber surface. Thin film coating on one side of coir fiber is done by vacuum deposition technique. Temperature regulation of upto 12 degrees is found to be possible by the application of a potential of about 1 Volt. Analysis of variance is used to compare the effect of thickness of coating and type of coating material on heat production with respect to voltage. Metal coating on coir fiber is found to provide a versatile combination of physical, thermal and optical properties and can be subjected to textile processing without any problem for the development of smart textiles.

Evaluating the quality of the Digital Elevation Models produced from ASTER stereoscopy for topographic mapping in the Brazilian Amazon Region

Brazilian Amazon is a vast territory rich in natural renewable and non-renewable resources. Due to the adverse environmental condition (rain, cloud, dense vegetation) and difficult access, topographic information is still poor, and when available needs to be up-dated or remapped. In this paper, the feasibility of using elevation generated from orbital ASTER- stereo-pairs images for topographic mapping was investigated for the mountainous relief in the Serra dos Carajás, Pará. The quality of information derived from these optical images was evaluated regarding field altimetric measurements. Precise topographic field information acquired from Global Positioning System (GPS) was used as Ground Control Points (GCPs) for the modeling of the stereoscopic Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and as Independent Check Points (ICPs) for the calculation of elevation accuracies. The analysis was performed following two approaches: (1) the use of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and (2) calculations of trend analysis and accuracy. The investigation has shown that the altimetric accuracy from ASTER fulfilled the Brazilian Map Accuracy Standards elevation requirements for 1:100,000 A Class. In addition, ASTER can provide up-dated planimetric information that is also necessary for cartographic production. Thus, when the environment condition allows the acquisition of stereo-pairs, the use of ASTER can be considered an alternative for semi-detailed topographic mapping in similar environments of the Brazilian Amazon.

Remote Connection and Disconnection Device for Mooring Lines KSDIN32, KS40 and KS50 Hook and Its Modelling for Structural Finite Elements

With the new sceneries of oil exploration in ultra deep waters that move forward to 3000 m, it has been putting for the companies that accepted this technological challenge significant border of the techno-scientific knowledge. Therefore, in this cases of ultra deep waters, where the use of the polyester synthetic rope in the Petrobras Floating Production Units, is present, it can appears the need replace. THE NEED TO LOOK FOR A SOLUTION FOR THE RELATIVE PROBLEMS THE CHANGES OF THE POLYESTER ROPE IN THE PRODUCTION PLATFORMS WITHOUT THE CHANGE OF THE EXTENSION OF BOTTOM AND OF ITS FUNDATION (FIXED POINT). THEREFORE, APPEARS THE KS HOOK AND ITS OTIMIZATION UNDER THE OPTICS OF THE CONCEPTS OF THE MECHANICS OF THE FRACTURE AND OF THE TOOLS EXISTENT COMPUTACIONAIS (MEF AND MOORING SOFTWARE). This way it was needed to make available for the Mooring System a connection Device and remote disconnection for permanent use in production and drilling units. This device, already approved for the classifying society, it is the hook KS32/40/50, one of the first open device used in permanent mooring systems in the world. This device presents as fundamental characteristic, the easy installation for at adverse environmental condition in Campos’ Basin, where the sea is Bimodal and Bi-directional (sea in development).

AGRONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE SUNFLOWER 7-HYDROXYLATED SIMPLE COUMARINS / ASPECTOS AGRONÓMICOS DE LAS CUMARINAS SIMPLES 7- HIDROXILADAS EN GIRASOL / ASPECTS AGRONOMIQUES DE 7 COUMARINES HYDROXYLES SIMPLES CHEZ LE TOURNESOL

SUMMARY Sunflower and other Helianthus ssp. produced, among other secondary metabolites, the coumarins scopoletin, scopolin and ayapin. In the most general sense they can be defined as stress metabolites, their synthesis being induced in response to adverse environmental condition, both biotic and abiotic. The pattern of coumarin synthesis and accumulation depends on plant variety, it is tissue dependent and developmentally regulated. Coumarin synthesis in sunflower seems to be part of the defence strategy against microorganisms, insect and parasitic plants. From an agricultural point of view the defensive potential of these compounds can be exploited in order to develop resistant varieties (either by classical plant breeding or by biotechnology) or crop protection strategies involving the use of chemicals which induced coumarin synthesis.