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Abstract In the last few years, an intense R &D activity on particle detectors for future HEP applications has been carried on with the aim of developing new techniques as well as studying the performance of already existing detectors when operated in a high rate environment. As for Resistive Plate Chamber detectors, the main challenges to face are the improvement of their detection capabilities and longevity at very high-rates, and the search for new eco-friendly gasmixtures free from greenhouse components. Results obtained in the framework of the RPC ECOGas@GIF++ Collaboration on a thin-Resistive Plate Chamber exposed at the CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility and operated with eco-friendly gas mixtures based on Tetrafluoropropene and Carbon dioxide will be discussed in this paper.

Abstract Results obtained by the RPC ECOgas@GIF++ Collaboration, using Resistive Plate Chambers operated with new, eco-friendly gas mixtures, based on tetrafluoropropene and carbon dioxide, are shown and discussed in this paper. Tests aimed to assess the performance of this kind of detectors in high-irradiation conditions, analogous to the ones foreseen for the coming years at the Large Hadron Collider experiments, were performed, and demonstrate a performance basically similar to the one obtained with the gas mixtures currently in use, based on tetrafluoroethane, which is being progressively phased out for its possible contribution to the greenhouse effect. Long term aging tests are also being carried out, with the goal to demonstrate the possibility of using these eco-friendly gas mixtures during the whole High Luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider.

Background: Gongolaria barbata is a canopy-forming brown macroalga that thrives in the intertidal and subtidal habitats of the warm-temperate Mediterranean Sea, which is particularly exposed to environmental changes due to its peculiar geographical location and exposure to both global and local stressors. Testing whether this species is featured by specific functional, eco-physiological and biochemical traits allowing an efficient use of habitat resources and adaptation to environmental stress, and whether this potential might change with population growth, is essential for predicting the performance of the algae under different environmental abiotic variables ( e.g. , temperature, nutrient availability, light) and biotic interactions (such as grazing)., Methods: Young (juveniles) and adult thalli of G. barbata were sampled in the winter season from the Venice Lagoon, Italy, featured by high environmental changes (temperature, salinity) and analyzed for thallus dry matter content (TDMC), photosynthetic activity, photosynthetic pigment and protein content, and antioxidant capacity to assess if thallus age may be considered a significant driver in determining the ecological responses of this species to environmental changes., Results: Our results showed that TDMC was higher in adults than juveniles. At the functional level, rapid light curves indicated an elevated photosynthetic efficiency in juveniles compared to adults highlighted by the higher quantum yield of PSII electron transport, electron transport rate, and Rubisco content observed in juveniles. On the contrary, adults exhibited a higher non-photochemical quenching and total pigment concentration. No difference in maximum PSII photochemical efficiency and D1 protein content between the two thalli groups was found. Along with better photosynthesis, juveniles also displayed a higher amount of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, and a stronger antioxidant capacity compared to adults., Conclusions: Our findings revealed significant differences in the eco-physiological characteristics of G. barbata at different growth stages. It was observed that young thalli, allocate more energy to photosynthesis and chemical defenses by increasing the production of antioxidant compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins. With growth, thalli likely adopt a more conservative strategy, reducing photosynthesis and promoting structural biomass accumulation to mitigate the potential risks associated with prolonged exposure to environmental stressors, such as the wavy way. Although our study focused on a single phase of G. barbata life cycle under winter settings, it offers preliminary insights into this species eco-physiological traits and auto-ecology. Future research could explore the potential implications of these findings, evaluating the species' resilience to environmental changes at the population level., Competing Interests: Carmen Arena is an Academic Editor for PeerJ., (©2024 Pica et al.)

Cold stress represents one of the major constraints for agricultural systems and crops productivity, inducing a wide range of negative effects. Particularly, long-term cold stress affects lipid metabolism, modifying the lipids/proteins ratio, the levels of phospholipids and glycolipids, and increasing lipids' unsaturation in bio-membranes. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) reported prominent roles as NADPH suppliers in response to oxidative perturbations. Cytosolic G6PDH was suggested as the main isoform involved in cold stress response, while a down-regulation of the chloroplastic P1-G6PDH was observed. We thus investigated an Arabidopsis mutant defective for the P1-G6PDH (KO-P1) using integrated approaches to verify a possible role of this isoform in low temperature tolerance. KO-P1 genotype showed an improved tolerance to cold stress, highlighting a better photosynthetic efficiency, a reduction in stress markers content and a different regulation of genes involved in stress response. Intriguingly, the lack of P1-G6PDH induced modification in the levels of the main fatty acid and lipid species affecting the morphology of chloroplasts and mitochondria, which was restored under cold. Globally, these results indicate a priming effect induced by the absence of P1-G6PDH able to improve the tolerance to abiotic stress. Our results suggest novel and specific abilities of P1-G6PDH, highlighting its central role in different aspects of plant physiology and metabolism., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rhizobacteria play a crucial role in plant growth and yield, stimulating primary production and improving stress resistance. Climate change has several consequences worldwide that affect arable land and agriculture. Studies on plant-soil-microorganism interactions to enhance plant productivity and/or resistance to abiotic stress may open new perspectives. This strategy aims to make agricultural-relevant plant species able to complete their biological cycle in extreme soils with the help of inoculated or primed plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). We provide an overview of the evolution of interest in PGPR research in the last 30 years through: (i) a quantitative search on the Scopus database; (ii) keyword frequencies and clustering analysis, and (iii) a keyword network and time-gradient analysis. The review of scientific literature on PGPR highlighted an increase in publications in the last 15 years, and a specific time gradient on subtopics, such as abiotic stresses. The rise in PGPR as a keyword co-occurring with salinity and drought stresses aligns with the growing number of papers from countries directly or partly affected by climate change. The study of PGPR, its features, and related applications will be a key challenge in the next decades, considering climate change effects on agriculture. The increased interest in PGPR leads to deeper knowledge focused specifically on researching agriculturally sustainable solutions for soils affected by salinity and drought., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: To systematically identify, synthesize and critically summarize the available scientific evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding whether short (≤6 mm) perform as well as long (≥10 mm) implants regarding implant survival, marginal bone loss, and biologic and prosthetic complications in different clinical scenarios., Materials and Methods: Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool and the GRADE approach were applied. Results were synthesized using random-effects meta-analyses assessed by trial sequential analyses., Results: Forty reports on 19 RCTs comprising 2214 (1097 short; 1117 long) implants were included. Moderate/high certainty/quality evidence demonstrated similar 5-year survival rates for ≤6-mm and ≥10-mm implants in non-augmented bone and full-mouth rehabilitation in either jaw, and for 6-mm implants in the maxilla instead of sinus lift. Nevertheless, the evidence for 5-year survival rates remains inconclusive or insufficient for the remaining combinations of implant lengths and clinical scenarios. They include 4-mm and 5-mm implants as alternatives to sinus lift as well as placing all implant lengths ≤6 mm instead of vertical ridge augmentation with long implants. Marginal bone level and short- and long-term biologic or prosthetic complications were similar., Conclusions: Based on moderate/high certainty/quality evidence from 5-year RCTs, implants ≤6 mm may be viable alternatives to ≥10-mm implants in either jaw in native bone and full-arch rehabilitation, and 6-mm implants may be used as an alternative to sinus lift., Trial Registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42021254365., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Periodontology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: The goal of this study was to partner with community organizations to understand the research experiences of communities who speak languages other than English (LOE)., Methods: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews in Spanish, Nepali, Mandarin, French, or Kizigua with LOE community members and community leaders who completed recruitment and data collection. Audio-recordings of the interviews were transcribed and translated. We conducted qualitative coding using a mixed deductive-inductive analysis approach and thematic analyses using three rounds of affinity clustering. This study occurred in partnership with an established community-academic collaboration., Results: Thirty community members and six community leaders were interviewed. 83% of LOE participants were born outside of the US and most participants (63%) had never participated in a prior research study. Six themes emerged from this work. Many participants did not understand the concept of research, but those that did thought that inclusion of LOE communities is critical for equity. Even when research was understood as a concept, it was often inaccessible to LOE individuals, particularly because of the lack of language services. When LOE participants engaged in research, they did not always understand their participation. Participants thought that improving research trust was essential and recommended partnering with community organizations and disseminating research results to the community., Conclusion: This study's results can serve as an important foundation for researchers seeking to include LOE communities in future research to be more inclusive and scientifically rigorous., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.