Fine-root seasonal pattern, production and turnover rate of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands in Italy Prealps: Possible implications of coppice conversion to high forest

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of coppice conversion to high forest on the beech fine-root systems. We compared the seasonal pattern of live and dead fine-root mass (d<2 mm), production and turnover in three beech stands that differed in management practices. Tree density was higher in the 40-year-old coppice stand than in the stands that were converted from coppice to high forest in 1994 and 2004, respectively. We found that a reduction in tree density reduced the total fine-root biomass (Coppice stand, 353.8 g m-2; Conversion 1994 stand, 203.6 g m-2; Conversion 2004 stand, 176.2 g m-2) which continued to be characterised by a bimodal pattern with two major peaks, one in spring and one in early fall. Conversion to high forest may also affect the fine-root soil depth distribution. Both fine-root production and turnover rate were sensitive to management practices. They were lower in the Coppice stand (production 131.5 g m-2 year-1; turnover rate 0.41 year-1) than in the converted stands (1994 Conversion stand: production 232 g m-2 year-1, turnover rate 1.06 year-1; 2004 Conversion stand: production 164.2 g m-2 year-1, turnover rate 0.79 year-1)

Effect of tree density on root distribution in Fagus sylvatica stands: a semi-automatic digitising device approach to trench wall method

5Knowledge of root profiles is essential for measuring and predicting ecosystem dynamics and function. In the present study, the effects of management practices on root (0.5 <= ø < 20 mm) spatial distribution were examined in a 40-year-old coppice stand (CpS 1968) and other two stands converted from coppice to thinned high forest in 1994 (CvS 1994) and 2004 (CvS 2004), respectively. The use of a semi-automatic digitising device approach was compared with a conventional root mapping method in order to estimate the time per person required from fieldwork to the final digital map. In July 2009, six trench walls per stand were established according to tree density, i.e. as equidistant as possible from all surrounding trees. Findings highlighted differences between the stands with CvS 1994 showing a lower number of small roots (2 <= ø < 5 mm), a higher mean cross-sectional area (CSA) of coarse roots (5 <= ø < 20 mm) and different root depth distribution as compared to CpS 1968 and CvS 2004 whose values were close to each other. The three diameter classes selected in this study showed significant relationships in terms of number of roots, scaling down from coarse- to small- and fine-roots. Forest management practices significantly affected only the number of small roots. The number of fine roots (0.5 <= ø < 2 mm) was isometrically related to their root length density (RLD, cm cm-3). No relationship occurred with RLD of very fine roots (ø < 0.5 mm). In conclusion, forest management practices in terms of conversion thinnings significantly affected belowground biomass distribution of beech forest in space and time. In particular, frequency of coarse roots was related to the stand tree density, frequency of small roots was related to the cutting age. Size of coarse roots was related to tree density but only several years after felling. The allometric relationship occurring between fineand small-roots highlighted how fine root number and RLD were only indirectly affected by forest management practices. These findings suggest that future investigations on the effect of forest thinning practices on fine-root traits like number, length and biomass several years after felling cannot ignore those on small roots.openDi Iorio, A.; Montagnoli, A.; Terzaghi, M.; Scippa, G.S.; Chiatante, D.DI IORIO, Antonino; Montagnoli, A.; Terzaghi, M.; Scippa, G. S.; Chiatante, Donat

Spectrally resolved observations of atmospheric emitted radiance in the H2O rotation band

This paper presents the project Earth Cooling by Water Vapor Radiation, an observational programme, which aims at developing a database of spectrally resolved far infrared observations, in atmospheric dry conditions, in order to validate radiative transfer models and test the quality of water vapor continuum and line parameters. The project provides the very first set of far-infrared spectral downwelling radiance measurements, in dry atmospheric conditions, which are complemented with Raman Lidar-derived temperature and water vapor profiles

Poplar woody root proteome during the transition dormancy-active growth

Woody plants living in temperate climates finely regulate their growth and development in relation to seasonal changes; their transition from vegetative to dormancy phase represents an adaptation to their environment. Events occurring in the shoot during onset/release from dormancy have been largely investigated, whereas in woody roots they remain completely unknown. In recent years, we have been interested in understanding the molecular and physiological events occurring in poplar woody root during release from dormancy. Here, we propose the results of a comparative analysis of the proteome of poplar woody root sampled at different time points: T0 (dormancy condition), T1 (release from dormancy), and T2 (full vegetative condition). This study identified proteins that may be involved in the long-term survival of a dormant root or landmarking a specific time point

Constraints on planet X/Nemesis from Solar System's inner dynamics

We put full 3D constraints on a putative planet X by using the dynamics of the inner planets of the solar system. In particular, we compute the mimium distance of X as a function of its heliocentric latitude and longitude for different values of its mass.Comment: LaTex, MNRAS macros. 12 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables. To appear in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS). Some typos fixe

First study on the peptidergic innervation of the brain superior sagittal sinus in humans.

The superior sagittal sinus (SSS) of the mammalian brain is a pain-sensitive intracranial vessel thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine headaches. Here, we aimed to investigate the presence and the potential co-localization of some neurotransmitters in the human SSS. Immunohistochemical and double-labeling immunofluorescence analyses were applied to paraformaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded, coronal sections of the SSS. Protein extraction and Western blotting technique were performed on the same material to confirm the morphological data. Our results showed nerve fibers clustered mainly in large bundles tracking parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sinus, close in proximity to the vascular endothelium. Smaller fascicles of fibers encircled the vascular lumen in a spiral fashion, extending through the subendothelial connective tissue. Isolated nerve fibers were observed around the openings of bridging veins in the sinus or around small vessels extending into the perisinusal dura. The neurotransmitters calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were found in parietal nerve structures, distributed all along the length of the SSS. Overall, CGRP- and TH-containing nerve fibers were the most abundant. Neurotransmitters co-localized in the same fibers in the following pairs: CGRP/SP, CGRP/NOS, CGRP/VIP, and TH/NPY. Western blotting analysis confirmed the presence of such neurosubstances in the SSS wall. Overall our data provide the first evidence of the presence and co-localization of critical neurotransmitters in the SSS of the human brain, thus contributing to a better understanding of the sinus functional role

An extracellular transglutaminase is required for apple pollen tube growth

An extracellular form of the calcium-dependent protein-crosslinking enzyme TGase (transglutaminase) was demonstrated to be involved in the apical growth of Malus domestica pollen tube. Apple pollen TGase and its substrates were co-localized within aggregates on the pollen tube surface, as determined by indirect immunofluorescence staining and the in situ cross-linking of fluorescently labelled substrates. TGase-specific inhibitors and an anti-TGase monoclonal antibody blocked pollen tube growth, whereas incorporation of a recombinant fluorescent mammalian TGase substrate (histidine-tagged green fluorescent protein:His6– Xpr–GFP) into the growing tube wall enhanced tube length and germination, consistent with a role of TGase as a modulator of cell wall building and strengthening. The secreted pollen TGase catalysed the cross-linking of both PAs (polyamines) into proteins (released by the pollen tube) and His6-Xpr-GFP into endogenous or exogenously added substrates. A similar distribution of TGase activitywas observed in planta on pollen tubes germinating inside the style, consistent with a possible additional role for TGase in the interaction between the pollen tube and the style during fertilization

Residual vein thrombosis for assessing duration of anticoagulation after unprovoked deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs: the extended DACUS study.

Abstract The safest duration of anticoagulation after idiopathic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is unknown. We conducted a prospective study to assess the optimal duration of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy considering the risk of recurrence of thrombosis according to residual vein thrombosis (RVT). Patients with a first unprovoked DVT were evaluated for the presence of RVT after 3 months of VKA administration; those without RVT suspended VKA, while those with RVT continued oral anticoagulation for up to 2 years. Recurrent thrombosis and/or bleeding events were recorded during treatment (RVT group) and 1 year after VKA withdrawal (both groups). Among 409 patients evaluated for unprovoked DVT, 33.2% (136 of 409 patients) did not have RVT and VKA was stopped. The remaining 273 (66.8%) patients with RVT received anticoagulants for an additional 21 months; during this period of treatment, recurrent venous thromboembolism and major bleeding occurred in 4.7% and 1.1% of patients, respectively. After VKA suspension, the rates of recurrent thrombotic events were 1.4% and 10.4% in the no-RVT and RVT groups, respectively (relative risk = 7.4; 95% confidence interval = 4.9-9.9). These results indicate that in patients without RVT, a short period of treatment with a VKA is sufficient; in those with persistent RVT, treatment extended to 2 years substantially reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of recurrent thrombosis