Frost Avoidance: Sodium Alginate + CaCl2 Can Postpone Flowering of ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ Peach Trees

The objective of this study was to investigate whether treatment with sodium alginate and CaCl2 treatment in the 2nd (swollen bud) blooming stage could delay peach flowers as a strategy to avoid frost. Regarding the expression rate at the 3rd (calyx green) stage, the control treatment (CT, distilled water) showed a sharp increase from 8 days after treatments (DAT), reaching the maximum at 14 DAT. However, the 5AG group (5% sodium alginate + 100 mM CaCl2) and the 7AG group (7% sodium alginate + 100 mM CaCl2) recorded the maximum expression rate at 17 DAT. After the maximum expression, CT showed a sharply diminishing trend, whereas 5AG and 7AG showed gentle decreases. At the 4th (calyx red) stage, CT, 5AG, and 7AG reached the peak expression at 20 DAT (43.5%, 31.9%, and 40.2%, respectively). However, maximum expression levels of all treatments were below ~50%. The 5th (first pink) stage was first expressed in all treatments when the expression rate at the 4th stage peaked in all groups at 20 DAT. Maximum expression was 50.7% in CT, 33.7% in 5AG, and 49.2% in 7AG. This tendency was similar to that at the 4th stage. Particularly, expression in 5AG diminished more slowly than that in CT and 7AG at 3rd, 4th, and 5th stages. CT group bloomed first at 20 DAT, reaching full bloom at 81.4%, ahead of AG treatments at 28 DAT, while 7AG and 5AG groups bloomed fully at 34 and 37 DAT, respectively. Our results suggest that 5AG treatment is suitable to delay peach flowering when phenological development of the flower buds reaches the 2nd stage.

Innovation in Basilicata agriculture: From tradition to digital

The 4.0 technologies are changing agricultural production processes and with them the agro-food supply chains, fundamental for the competitiveness of the Made in Italy and Basilicata, a region of southern Italy. It has invested in modernization and restructuring of agricultural, agri-food and forestry farms by rural development policies, which address respect for sustainability and to reduction of renewable and non-renewable resources, preserving quality and the link with the territory.   Some Lucanian agricultural entrepreneurs, interested in experimenting with innovative and sustainable agriculture, has intensified relations with the local scientific world, the advisors, training institutions and with small and medium-sized agro-industrial enterprises, setting up clusters. Then European Partnerships for Innovation have formed inside them.   This paper analyses the eleven Operational Groups of the Lucanian European Partnerships which represent the incubators for the digitalization of agri-food 4.0. From the analysis it emerged that the maximum expression of digitization in Basilicata is Precision Farming, as evidenced by the establishment of a specific operating group, AgrotechBasilicata. However, the other Lucanian OGs can also be classified as digital because they are interested by information collection systems, software and data analysis, as well as robotics and automation.

A construção simbólica do “mártir da caminhada latino-americana”

O presente artigo visa identificar na Ata de martírio do padre João Bosco Penido Burnier, produzida pelo bispo Pedro Casaldáliga, os elementos simbólicos que configuram um assassinado como Mártir da Caminhada Latino-Americana. Diferentemente dos mártires por causa da fé, estes – chamados mártires da justiça, ou jesuânicos – são identificados a Jesus e morrem como ele, em defesa das causas d’Ele: a vida, a justiça, a liberdade, os direitos humanos e etc. Por meio da análise de registros literários e plásticos acerca do martírio na teologia latino-americana, especialmente naquela ligada à Prelazia de São Félix do Araguaia, confrontados com teorias acerca do simbólico, pudemos apontar algumas conclusões. A saber: os elementos simbólicos empregados na caracterização do mártir da caminhada por Casaldáliga na ata de martírio de Burnier parecem ser intencionais. Mas, quais são suas intenções? Entre outras possibilidades, pode-se responder: animar as lutas pelas quais muitos morreram, manter viva a memória dos mortos, transpor as lutas do campo material para o campo religioso e condensar coletivos em torno da memória de uma liderança assassinada. Do ponto de vista religioso, a doação da vida é a expressão máxima da configuração de uma vida a Jesus em anúncio do Reino de Deus e em denúncia do antirreino. Abstract: This article aims to identify in the minutes of martyrdom of Father João Bosco Penido Burnier, produced by Bishop Pedro Casaldáliga, the symbolic elements that make up a murderer as a Martyr of the Latin American Walk. Unlike martyrs because of faith, these – called martyrs of justice, or jesuanic – are identified with Jesus and die like him, in defense of His causes: life, justice, freedom, human rights and so on. Through the analysis of literary and plastic records about martyrdom in Latin American theology, especially that related to the Prelature of São Félix do Araguaia, confronted with theories about the symbolic, we were able to point out some conclusions. Namely: the symbolic elements used in the characterization of the martyr of the walk by Casaldáliga in the minutes of Burnier’s martyrdom seem to be intentional. But what are your intentions? Among other possibilities, it can be answered: animate the struggles for which many died, keep the memory of the dead alive, transpose the struggles from the material field to the religious field and condense collectives around the memory of a murdered leadership. From the religious point of view, the giving of life is the maximum expression of the configuration of a life to Jesus in announcing the Kingdom of God and in denouncing the anti-kingdom.

Daytime Restricted Feeding Modifies the Temporal Expression of CYP1A1 and Attenuated Damage Induced by Benzo[a]pyrene in Rat Liver When Administered before CYP1A1 Acrophase

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that heterodimerizes with the AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) to modulate CYP1A1 expression, a gene involved in the biotransformation of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). The AhR pathway shows daily variations under the control of the circadian timing system. Daytime restricted feeding (DRF) entrains the expression of genes involved in the processing of nutrients and xenobiotics to food availability. Therefore, we evaluate if temporal AhR, ARNT, and CYP1A1 hepatic expression in rats are due to light/dark cycles or fasting/feeding cycles promoted by DRF. Our results show that AhR oscillates throughout the 24 h period in DRF and ad libitum feeding rats (ALF), showing maximum expression at the same time points. DRF modified the peak of ARNT expression at ZT5; meanwhile, ALF animals showed a peak of maximum expression at ZT17. An increased expression of CYP1A1 was linked to the meal time in both groups of animals. Although a high CYP1A1 expression has been previously associated with BaP genotoxicity, our results show that, compared with the ALF group, DRF attenuated the BaP-CYP1A1 induction potency, the liver DNA-BaP adducts, the liver concentration of unmetabolized BaP, and the blood aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities when BaP is administered prior to the acrophase of CYP1A1 expression. These results demonstrate that DRF modifies the ARNT and CYP1A1 expression and protects from BaP toxicity.

Brevi cenni sul rapporto tra turismo e letteratura italiana

"Brief notes on the relationship between tourism and Italian literature. Using literary sources, the essay covers three points in the relationship between Italians and holidays: the first is the transition from vacation to tourism; the second from summer vacation as a moment of rest (mainly in the countryside) to vacation as an opportunity for fun (mostly at the seaside). In addition to these two, we have a third point: in the second half of the Twentieth century, holidays become a mass phenomenon, no longer elitist as they had been until the first half of the same century. They become something possible for most Italians who, especially in August, leave the cities empty. This historical-sociological parable is revisited through literary testimonies that go back to the roots of the mother literature, the Latin one and then it resumes its path, interrupted in the High Middle Ages, around 1300 in conjunction with the first literary testimonies (the triad Dante, Petrarca, Boccaccio). The vacation phenomenon, intended as staying for the summer months in a villa more or less outside the city walls, finds its maximum expression starting from the 16th century with the Renaissance villas of the aristocracy, until it meets the aspirations of the small nobility and of the upper middle class in the 18th and 19th centuries. Crucial testimony is Carlo Goldoni's “Vacation Trilogy”, a triptych of three comedies that actually constitute a single text portraying the vacation phenomenon as a status symbol far from the motivations of previous centuries (vacation as a moment of peace, ‘’otium’’, rest). During the Nineteenth century, holidays are associated with tourism (especially in the thermal baths and in the mountains), while from the Twentieth century, the favourite option is the seaside. However, another change will characterize the use of leisure in the Twentieth century: the birth of mass tourism. With brief literary notes, we try to explain how in Italy holidays have now turned into something with anxiety-inducing traits, especially among young people and not only, in an almost spasmodic search for fun (with Dionysian and Bacchic traits) at the expense of original motivations (rest, leisure, “otium”) in a relationship in which the “horror vacui” seems to have ousted the “horror pleni”. Keywords: vacation, tourism, holidays, literature, Italy. "

Fundamentos para a prática clínica na terapia ocupacional: a visão de lactentes em foco/ Fundamentals for clinical practice in Occupational Therapy: the view of infants in focus

A atuação do terapeuta ocupacional no campo da saúde ocular e visual para a promoção do desenvolvimento infantil e prevenção de deficiências, requer conhecimento amplo e sólido sobre a complexidade da fundamentação teórica que norteia e sustenta a prática clínica. Ao mesmo tempo, necessita de um olhar individualizado para as potências, comportamentos e características de cada criança, especialmente nos primeiros anos de vida. O presente editorial busca contextualizar conceitos fundamentais sobre processos de plasticidade e maturação neurológica, desenvolvimento ocular e de funções visuais/visuomotoras, relacionar saberes da saúde e educação com níveis de prevenção com base no conhecimento científico. Objetiva minimizar divergências teóricas e conceituais no campo em questão e oferecer suporte teórico para a clínica de terapeutas ocupacionais no processo de intervenção oportuna e habilitação visual de bebês e crianças com diagnóstico ou em risco para alterações no desenvolvimento da visão, a fim de potencializar experiências para a máxima expressão do desenvolvimento infantil.Palavras-chave: Terapia Ocupacional. Saúde Ocular. Prevenção de Doenças. AbstractThe work of the occupational therapist in the field of eye and visual health to promote child development and prevent disabilities requires broad and solid knowledge about the complexity of the theoretical foundation that guides and sustains clinical practice. At the same time, it needs an individualized look at the powers, behaviors and characteristics of each child, especially in the first years of life. This editorial seeks to contextualize fundamental concepts about processes of neurological plasticity and maturation, ocular development and visual/ visomotor functions and to relate health and education knowledge to prevention levels based on scientific knowledge. It aims to minimize theoretical and conceptual divergences in the field in question, and offer theoretical support to the clinic of occupational therapists in the process of timely intervention and visual enabling of babies and children diagnosed or at risk for changes in vision development, in order to enhance experiences for the maximum expression of child development. Keywords: Occupational Therapy; Eye Health; Disease Prevention.ResumenEl rol del terapeuta ocupacional en el campo de la salud ocular y visual para promover el desarrollo infantil y prevenir discapacidades requiere un conocimiento amplio y sólido sobre la complejidad del fundamento teórico que guía y sustenta la práctica clínica. Al mismo tiempo, necesita una mirada individualizada a los poderes, comportamientos y características de cada niño, especialmente en los primeros años de vida. Este editorial busca contextualizar conceptos fundamentales sobre plasticidad y procesos de maduración neurológica, desarrollo ocular y funciones visuales / visuomotoras y relacionar el conocimiento en salud y educación con niveles de prevención basados en el conocimiento científico. Tiene como objetivo minimizar las divergencias teóricas y conceptuales en el campo en cuestión, y ofrecer apoyo teórico a la clínica de terapeutas ocupacionales en el proceso de intervención oportuna y habilitación visual de bebés y niños diagnosticados o en riesgo de cambios en el desarrollo de la visión, con el fin de potenciar las experiencias para la máxima expresión del desarrollo infantil.Palabras clave: Terapia Ocupacional. Salud Ocular. Prevención de Enfermedades.

IMPLICATION OF SIRTUINS AND KISSPEPTIN IN OVARIAN AGING

Цель работы - исследование экспрессии сируинов-1 и -6 и кисспептина в ткани яичников человека, взятых в разные периоды онтогенеза - от формирования пула фолликулов в антенатальном периоде до угасания функции яичников в постменопаузе. Выявлено, что сиртуины экспрессируются в ткани яичника человека во всех возрастных группах. Максимальный уровень экспрессии SIRT1 в ткани яичника наблюдали в периоды внутриутробного развития и перименопаузы, SIRT6 - в репродуктивный период и перименопаузу. Показано участие SIRT1 в пренатальном отборе ооцитов у плодов человека, так как именно в этой группе выявлена повышенная экспрессия данного маркера. Уровень экспрессии маркера кисспептина растет по мере формирования яичников и включения репродуктивной функции, пик экспрессии наблюдается в период перед наступлением климакса. Проведенное исследование по выявлению экспрессии этих белков в яичнике человека расширяет представление о регуляции фолликулярного резерва яичников и репродуктивном старении. The aim of the work was to study the expression of sirtuins 1 and 6 and kisspeptin in human ovarian tissue taken in different periods of ontogenesis: from the formation of a pool of follicles in the antenatal period to the extinction of ovarian function in postmenopausal women. It was revealed that sirtuins are expressed in human ovary tissue in all age groups. The maximum expression level of SIRT1 in ovarian tissue was observed during intrauterine development and during the perimenopause, SIRT6 during the reproductive period and perimenopause. The participation of SIRT1 in prenatal selection of oocytes in human fetuses was shown, since it was in this group that increased expression of this marker was revealed. The expression level of the kisspeptin marker increases with the formation of the ovaries and the inclusion of reproductive function; the peak of expression is observed in the period before the onset of menopause. The study conducted to identify the expression of these proteins in the human ovary expands the understanding of the regulation of the ovarian follicular reserve and reproductive aging.

Harnessing the central dogma for stringent multi-level control of gene expression

Strictly controlled inducible gene expression is crucial when engineering biological systems where even tiny amounts of a protein have a large impact on function or host cell viability. In these cases, leaky protein production must be avoided, but without affecting the achievable range of expression. Here, we demonstrate how the central dogma offers a simple solution to this challenge. By simultaneously regulating transcription and translation, we show how basal expression of an inducible system can be reduced, with little impact on the maximum expression rate. Using this approach, we create several stringent expression systems displaying >1000-fold change in their output after induction and show how multi-level regulation can suppress transcriptional noise and create digital-like switches between ‘on’ and ‘off’ states. These tools will aid those working with toxic genes or requiring precise regulation and propagation of cellular signals, plus illustrate the value of more diverse regulatory designs for synthetic biology.

Applied geoethics: CITI199’s essays from the Austral University of Chile

<p>Geoethics is a term that describes the internal knowledge of values ​​which must be reflected in the interaction with other people and with the physical and biological environment that surrounds us.</p><p>When talking about ethics or specifically geoethics, exact definitions are sought which always seem to be short and very difficult to write in a sentence. One of the reasons may be is that it is about minimizing a life process to a noun, adjective or adverb. "It is a life process," is an awareness of the maximum expression of that part that we call human, internal, which maintains a balanced posture. This self-awareness is essential since it allows to relate to the environment (including peers) in the same way, tolerant, dignified, respectful humanly and environmentally speaking</p><p>In 2020, during the pandemic, we have undertaken a challenge at our University by teaching a course on Geoethics in Earth Sciences (CITI199). This course was designed following the general guidelines of IAPG. The adaptation to the Chilean reality was given by the same students. After assimilating the bases of ethics, values ​​and moral principles, through the interventions of anthropologists, sociologists, geographers and native peoples, we have generated 2 unpublished activities in Chile, a student survey on the state of knowledge of geoethics in the School of Geology and applied the geoethical foundations in the daily life of Chile.</p><p>In this series of presentations we report the results and analysis of the survey and recommendations to continue with the process of offering the university community the value of having an initial geoethical position in professional development. Later in the session, 4 situations in which society interacts with the environment from a geoethical perspective are evaluated and analyzed: 1) degradation and use of soils, 2) massive production of exotic salmon, 3) use of fresh water and 4 ) privatization of the common heritage of humanity in international waters.</p>

Parallel evolution of placental calcium transfer in the lizard Mabuya and eutherian mammals

ABSTRACTAn exceptional case of parallel evolution between lizards and eutherian mammals occurs in the evolution of viviparity. In the lizard genus Mabuya, viviparity provided the environment for the evolution of yolk-reduced eggs and obligate placentotrophy. One major event that favored the evolution of placentation was the reduction of the eggshell. As with all oviparous reptiles, lizard embryos obtain calcium from both the eggshell and egg yolk. Therefore, the loss of the eggshell likely imposes a constraint for the conservation of the egg yolk, which can only be obviated by the evolution of alternative mechanisms for the transport of calcium directly from the mother. The molecular and cellular mechanisms employed to solve these constraints, in a lizard with only a rudimentary eggshell such as Mabuya, are poorly understood. Here, we used RT-qPCR on placental and uterine samples during different stages of gestation in Mabuya, and demonstrate that transcripts of the calcium transporters trpv6, cabp28k, cabp9k and pmca are expressed and gradually increase in abundance through pregnancy stages, reaching their maximum expression when bone mineralization occurs. Furthermore, CABP28K/9K proteins were studied by immunofluorescence, demonstrating expression in specific regions of the mature placenta. Our results indicate that the machinery for calcium transportation in the Mabuya placenta was co-opted from other tissues elsewhere in the vertebrate bodyplan. Thus, the calcium transportation machinery in the placenta of Mabuya evolved in parallel with the mammalian placenta by redeploying the expression of similar calcium transporter genes.