The Importance of Sustainability in the Fashion Sector: ADIDAS Case Study

In a society such as the present, characterized by an extremely consumerist lifestyle, the issue of socia

Gender Diversity and Governance: Analysis of Italian Listed Companies

In recent years, many countries have adopted different legislative and self-regulatory initiatives to be able to tackle the problem of the underrepresentation of women on boards. Also, Italy with Law No. 120/2011 introduced the gender issue adopting the normative that 1/3 of the elected members would be women. In this job, a primary aim was to study over the period 2016/2018 the impact of female presence on boards of 50 companies listed on the Italian Stock Exchange. In depth, our results confirm that Italian Law has produced significant effects on the composition of the corporate board. The result of our study shows that women positively influence corporate performance, this is perfectly in line with the literature on gender diversity. The contribution of the work is that the empirical study conducted on the 50 companies listed on the Milan Stock Exchange allows confirming what has been claimed in the literature and that is the importance of the female presence on the boards. An immediate reading of the data allows us to confirm that the female presence in corporate governance has a positive impact on corporate performance and productivity

Synthesis and characterization of RNA containing a rigid and nonperturbing cytidine-derived spin label.

The nitroxide-containing nucleoside Çm is reported as the first rigid spin label for paramagnetic modification of RNA by solid-phase synthesis. The spin label is well accommodated in several RNA secondary structures as judged by its minor effect on the thermodynamic stability of hairpin and duplex RNA. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic characterization of mono-, bi-, and trimolecular RNA structures shows that Çm will be applicable for advanced EPR studies to elucidate structural and dynamic aspects of folded RNA

The ‘hidden side’ of spin labelled oligonucleotides: Molecular dynamics study focusing on the EPR-silent components of base pairing

© 2021 Elsevier Inc. Nitroxide labels are combined with nucleic acid structures and are studied using electron paramagnetic resonance experiments (EPR). As X-ray/NMR structures are unavailable with the nitroxide labels, detailed residue level information, down to atomic resolution, about the effect of these nitroxide labels on local RNA structures is currently lacking. This information is critical to evaluate the choice of spin label. In this study, we compare and contrast the effect of TEMPO-based (NT) and rigid spin (Ç) labels (in both 2′-O methylated and not-methylated forms) on RNA duplexes. We also investigate sequence- dependent effects of NT label on RNA duplex along with the more complex G-quadruplex RNA. Distances measured from molecular dynamics simulations between the two spin labels are in agreement with the EPR experimental data. To understand the effect of labelled oligonucleotides on the structure, we studied the local base pair geometries and global structure in comparison with the unlabelled structures. Based on the structural analysis, we can conclude that TEMPO-based and Ç labels do not significantly perturb the base pair arrangements of the native oligonucleotide. When experimental structures for the spin labelled DNA/RNA molecules are not available, general framework offered by the current study can be used to provide information critical to the choice of spin labels to facilitate future EPR studies.Max Planck Society and Volkswagen Foundation grant 8394

Pathogenicity of Armillaria Isolates Inoculated on Five Quercus Species at Different Watering Regimes

One of three fungal isolates of Armillaria mellea (Vahl: Fr.) P. Kummer, A. gallica Marxm. et Romagn. and A. tabescens (Scop.: Fr.) Emel. was inoculated on 1,440 three-year-old potted seedlings of five Quercus species (Q. cerris L., Q. ilex L., Q. pubescens Willd., Q. robur L. and Q. trojana Webb.) grown at different watering regimes in a greenhouse. Inoculum was represented by a piece of an oak branch colonised with the fungus (or sterile, as a control), which was attached to the unwounded main root of each oak seedling. During the growing season, differences in water availability among seedlings were measured monthly using minimum water potential assessments on noninoculated seedlings receiving an equal amount of water. Although all three Armillaria isolates induced infection, the A. mellea isolate was most pathogenic in all cases, while the A. gallica isolate showed a statistically equal degree of pathogenicity only on the least watered seedlings. Of the Quercus species, Q. ilex showed the greatest number of infected seedlings, Q. robur the smallest. Reducing the water supply to potted oak seedlings could be a useful indicator for detecting differences in pathogenicity between Armillaria species

Novos arranjos institucionais para o fortalecimento da agricultura familiar: uma abordagem territorial.

O artigo contextualiza uma ação de articulação institucional voltada para o fortalecimento da agricultura familiar e para a institucionalização da identidade em três territórios rurais ? Sisal (BA), Nordeste Paraense (PA) e Grande dourados (MS) ? projetada para o período de 2006 a 2011 e apresenta os principais resultados da iniciativa, até então obtidos, bem como os respectivos impactos na dinâmica dos territórios atendidos

Occurrence and distribution of Armillaria gallica genets in a declining oak stand of southern Italy

Outbreaks of Armillaria root rot in conifer plantations and declining oak stands are frequently due to the spread of the fungus in the soil over long periods. This paper examines the occurrence and distribution of Armillaria genets in a declining mixed oak stand of southern Italy. Samples of rhizomorphs, mycelial mats and fruit bodies of Armillaria were collected from the soil, stumps, and living and dead trees. A total of 111 Armillaria isolates were collected, all belonging to the species A. gallica. They were grouped in 28 genets by somatic incompatibility. The largest genet covered an area of about 2.6 ha with a linear extent of 300 m. On the basis of an estimated 0.5 m annual growth in the soil, its age was assumed to be about 3 centuries. The results confirm the ability of A. gallica to remain alive and stable in a large area over a long time

Notulae to the Italian flora of algae, bryophytes, fungi and lichens: 12

In this contribution, new data concerning bryophytes, fungi and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records, confirmations or exclusions for the bryophyte genera Acaulon, Campylopus, En-tosthodon, Homomallium, Pseudohygrohypnum, and Thuidium, the fungal genera Entoloma, Cortinarius, Mycenella, Oxyporus, and Psathyrella and the lichen genera Anaptychia, Athallia, Baeomyces, Bagliettoa, Calicium, Nephroma, Pectenia, Phaeophyscia, Polyblastia, Protoparmeliopsis, Pyrenula, Ramalina, and San-guineodiscus

Notulae to the Italian flora of algae, bryophytes, fungi and lichens: 9

In this contribution, new data concerning bryophytes, fungi, and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the bryophyte genera Encalypta, Grimmia, and Riccia, for the fungal genera Hericium, Inocybe, Inocutis, Pluteus, and Russula, and for the lichen genera Bryoria, Farnoldia, Hypocenomyce, Lecania, Paracollema, Peltigera, Sarcogyne, and Teloschistes