Proline, Cysteine and Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Abiotic Stress Response of Land Plants and Microalgae

Proteinogenic amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and plants synthesize all of them. In addition to their importance in plant growth and development, growing evidence underlines the central role played by amino acids and their derivatives in regulating several pathways involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses. In the present review, we illustrate (i) the role of amino acids as an energy source capable of replacing sugars as electron donors to the mitochondrial electron transport chain and (ii) the role of amino acids as precursors of osmolytes as well as (iii) precursors of secondary metabolites. Among the amino acids involved in drought stress response, proline and cysteine play a special role. Besides the large proline accumulation occurring in response to drought stress, proline can export reducing equivalents to sink tissues and organs, and the production of H2S deriving from the metabolism of cysteine can mediate post-translational modifications that target protein cysteines themselves. Although our general understanding of microalgae stress physiology is still fragmentary, a general overview of how unicellular photosynthetic organisms deal with salt stress is also provided because of the growing interest in microalgae in applied sciences

Environmental firms' better attitude towards nature in the context of corporate compliance

The recent publishing of the Criminal Code Reform, known as the Corporate Governance Code and by which companies are prosecuted for the crimes they have committed, is contributing towards improving the management of companies involved in using natural resources. This study explores the disposition of environmental companies towards respect for nature in the context of the new Spanish Criminal Code 1/2015. Over 916 companies, including 104 environmental companies, have been asked about their knowledge of the code and the consequences it has for them through a survey. The paper explores the influence of regulatory compliance, coercive enforcement and cooperative actions on environmental companies to develop better attitudes towards nature. Partial Least Squares (PLS) Path Modelling was used to build an interaction model among variables. The results of the research reveal how environmental companies are more inclined to developing organizational standards (Cooperative Environmental Protocols) and to improving compliance with environmental law (coercive regulation). The model has a moderate predictive effect, explaining 54.1% of environmental companies’ Better Attitude towards Nature. The findings may have important implications for environmental authorities when deterring environmental crimes

Physiological feedback for remediation of persistent /r/: four case summaries

The purpose of this study was to assess physiological-based feedback in the context of clients presenting persistent r-production problems. The subject-clients were not able to resolve their speech production errors in traditional auditory-based interventions. The intervention employed\ud in the current study was developed around near real-time feedback using spectral displays and kinematic sensations (movement, vocal tract constriction). Subjects produced 100-250 trials of syllable releasing and arresting target stimuli in each therapy session. Kinematic evaluation\ud accompanied assessment of formant trajectories for of each articulatory attempt. All subjects improved accuracy of performance during the intervention. One of four subjects demonstrated considerable change. Her performance was maintained over time and thus considered to be clinically significant. Results are discussed with reference to the relation between intervention and speech production regulating systems

Banche, ambiente e sviluppo sostenibile. L'adesione degli istituti finanziari al Regolamento EMAS

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Orpheus Ensemble presents Scenes from Franceso Cavalli's La Calisto January 8, 2016

Concert ProgramOrpheus Ensemble presents Scenes from Francesco Cavalli's La Calisto January 8, 201