Monarch

Winter 2016 issue of Monarch, the Old Dominion University Magazine. Subtitled: Arts in the Districthttps://digitalcommons.odu.edu/monarchmag/1000/thumbnail.jp

Proline and glycine betaine accumulation in two succulent halophytes under natural and experimental conditions

[EN] Proline (Pro) and glycine betaine (GB) contents were determined in two Mediterranean halophytes, Plantago crassifolia and Inula crithmoides, to assess their possible role in salt tolerance of both taxa. Plant material was collected in a littoral salt marsh under different environmental conditions, and from plants subjected to salt treatments in a growth chamber. Relative growth inhibition by NaCl indicated that I. crithmoides is more salt-tolerant than P. crassifolia, in agreement with the distribution of the two species in nature. Field and laboratory data confirmed GB as the major osmolyte responsible for osmotic adjustment in I. crithmoides, but with only a minor role if any as osmoprotectant in the salt tolerance of P. crassifolia. Under natural conditions, Pro contents were very low in both taxa, but increased to levels high enough to contribute significantly to osmotic balance when plants were artificially treated with 450 600mM NaCl higher salt concentrations than those they would normally encounter in their natural habitats. These data suggest that halophytes possess built-in mechanisms, such as accumulation of additional osmolytes, to rapidly adapt to increasing salinity levels in their natural ecosystems; for example, those expected to be caused by climate change in salt marshes in the Mediterranean region.This work was funded by a grant to O.V. from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CGL2008-00438/BOS), with contribution from the European Regional Development Fund. COST Action FA0901: "Putting Halophytes to work - From Genes to Ecosystems" supported M. N. Grigore for his stay in Valencia within the frame of a Short-Term Scientific Mission. A. Tifrea was funded by the Erasmus fellowship programme for her stay in Valencia to carry out her Master Thesis.Pardo-Domenech, L.; Tifrea, A.; Grigore, M.; Boscaiu, M.; Vicente, O. (2016). Proline and glycine betaine accumulation in two succulent halophytes under natural and experimental conditions. Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology. 150(5):904-915. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2014.990943S904915150

Working capital management of small and medium enterprises in Cebu

This paper aims to assess the necessity to have an efficient working capital management within SMEs. In reality, SMEs practically focus only on its cash receipts together with its bank account position. Majority of SMEs lack an established standard credit policy, many of it also have a least concern for working capital and financial position. It was revealed that various components in working capital management like cash flow and accounts receivable management, accounts payable and inventory management greatly affect the liquidity and profitability of SMEs. Due to the mismanagement of its working capital, some SMEs struggle in order to survive in the industry. It is advisable for SMEs to give credit on its working capital management by conducting and implementing a customary credit policy to ensure better internal control and financial control system. Hence, the significance of working capital management promotes stable, liquid and profitable SMEs

Towards a Metropolitan City Centre for Brussels

Between 2015 and 2020, the city centre of Brussels witnessed the creation of its first major pedestrian zone, one of the largest urban projects in recent decades. Has the Brussels city centre finally done away with the car hegemony? Can the city centre be extended to become the centre of the Brussels metropolis where everyone can find his or her own place? This book presents scientific background to the issue and brings together in words and images the research carried out over the past four years by the Brussels Centre Observatory

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their complex cargo, can reflect the state of their cell of origin and change the functions and phenotypes of other cells. These features indicate strong biomarker and therapeutic potential and have generated broad interest, as evidenced by the steady year-on-year increase in the numbers of scientific publications about EVs. Important advances have been made in EV metrology and in understanding and applying EV biology. However, hurdles remain to realising the potential of EVs in domains ranging from basic biology to clinical applications due to challenges in EV nomenclature, separation from non-vesicular extracellular particles, characterisation and functional studies. To address the challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) updates its 'Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles', which was first published in 2014 and then in 2018 as MISEV2014 and MISEV2018, respectively. The goal of the current document, MISEV2023, is to provide researchers with an updated snapshot of available approaches and their advantages and limitations for production, separation and characterisation of EVs from multiple sources, including cell culture, body fluids and solid tissues. In addition to presenting the latest state of the art in basic principles of EV research, this document also covers advanced techniques and approaches that are currently expanding the boundaries of the field. MISEV2023 also includes new sections on EV release and uptake and a brief discussion of in vivo approaches to study EVs. Compiling feedback from ISEV expert task forces and more than 1000 researchers, this document conveys the current state of EV research to facilitate robust scientific discoveries and move the field forward even more rapidly

Sus scrofa scrofa in southern France and seed dispersion by this animal

The fate of the seeds consumed in summer time by the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa scrofa L.) in Hérault (Southern France) is discussed, following the examination of 105 faeces. Most of the seeds eaten, mainly acorns of the Holm oak (Quercus ilex) and wheat seeds (Triticum vulgare) are large-sized and destroyed when eaten. The percentage of other seeds in the diet was appreciable only in the more open environments. The percentage of seeds destroyed during digestion decreases with their size. For example, 75 % of the 40 small see ds from dry fruits (diameter < 4 mm) were found undamaged in Wild Boar faeces. Although the Wild Boar basically remains a seed predator, the hypothesis is put forward that it can also play some role in plant dispersa