GRP-3 and KAPP, encoding interactors of WAK1, negatively affect defense responses induced by oligogalacturonides and local response to wounding

Conserved microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) act as danger signals to activate the plant immune response. These molecules are recognized by surface receptors that are referred to as pattern recognition receptors. Oligogalacturonides (OGs), DAMPs released from the plant cell wall homogalacturonan, have also been proposed to act as local signals in the response to wounding. The Arabidopsis Wall-Associated Kinase 1 (WAK1), a receptor of OGs, has been described to form a complex with a cytoplasmic plasma membrane-localized kinase-associated protein phosphatase (KAPP) and a glycine-rich protein (GRP-3) that we find localized mainly in the cell wall and, in a small part, on the plasma membrane. By using Arabidopsis plants overexpressing WAK1, and both grp-3 and kapp null insertional mutant and overexpressing plants, we demonstrate a positive function of WAK1 and a negative function of GRP-3 and KAPP in the OG-triggered expression of defence genes and the production of an oxidative burst. The three proteins also affect the local response to wounding and the basal resistance against the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea. GRP-3 and KAPP are likely to function in the phasing out of the plant immune response

Label-free Raman hyperspectral imaging of single cells cultured on polymer substrates

While Raman hyper-spectral imaging has been widely used for label-free mapping of biomolecules in cells, these measurements require the cells to be cultured on weakly Raman scattering substrates. However, many applications in biological sciences and engineering require the cells to be cultured on polymer substrates that often generate large Raman scattering signals. Here, we discuss the theoretical limits of the signal-to-noise ratio in the Raman spectra of cells in the presence of polymer signals and how optical aberrations may affect these measurements. We show that Raman spectra of cells cultured on polymer substrates can be obtained using automatic subtraction of the polymer signals and demonstrate the capabilities of these methods in two important applications: tissue engineering and in-vitro toxicology screening of drugs. Apart from their scientific and technological importance, these applications are examples of the two most common measurement configurations: 1) cells cultured on an optically thick polymer substrate measured using an immersion/dipping objective; 2) cells cultured on a transparent polymer substrate and measured using an inverted optical microscope. In these examples we show that Raman hyperspectral datasets with sufficient quality can be successfully acquired to map the distribution of common biomolecules in cells, such as nucleic acids, proteins and lipids, as well as detecting the early stages of apoptosis. We also discuss strategies for further improvements that could expand the application of Raman hyperspectral imaging on polymer substrates even further in biomedical sciences and engineering

Synthesis of 19F nucleic acid–polymer conjugates as real-time MRI probes of biorecognition

Polymer–DNA conjugates in which one nucleic acid strand contains fluorine-substituted nucleobases have been prepared and characterised. The efficacy of these novel 19F nucleic acid–polymer conjugates as sensitive and selective in vitro reporters of DNA binding events is demonstrated through a number of rapid-acquisition MR sequences. The conjugates respond readily and in a sequence specific manner to external target oligonucleotide sequences by changes in hybridisation. In turn, these structural changes in polymer–nucleotide conjugates translate into responses which are detectable in fluorine relaxation and diffusion switches, and which can be monitored by in vitro Spin Echo and DOSY NMR spectroscopy. Although complementary to conventional FRET methods, the excellent diagnostic properties of fluorine nuclei make this approach a versatile and sensitive probe of molecular structure and conformation in polymeric assemblies

Water solubility enhancement of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives via miniaturized polymer-drug microarrays

A miniaturized assay was optimized to evaluate the enhanced apparent water solubility of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives used extensively as anticancer drug scaffolds. The applied amount of drugs used in the reported strategy ranged from 5-10 μg per formulation which were dispensed by an inkjet 2D printer directly into a 96-well plate. The selected polymer/drug formulations with high water solubility demonstrated improved cytotoxicity against a human lung adenocarcinoma cancer cell line (A549) compared to the free drugs. We attribute the enhanced efficacy to the improved apparent-solubility of the drug molecules achieved via this methodology. This novel miniaturized method showed promising results in terms of water solubility improvement of the highly hydrophobic pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives, requiring only a few μg of each drug per tested polymeric formulation. In addition, the reported experimental evidence may facilitate identification of suitable polymers for combination with drug leading to investigations on biological properties or mechanisms of action in a single formulation

Task force IRSPM A&A SIG, CIGAR Network, EGPA PSG XII

The IPSAS CP asks the following questions in its REQUEST FOR COMMENTS. The responses prepared by the Task Force IRSPM A&A SIG, CIGAR Network and EGPA PSG XII are presented hereafter. The IRSPM A&A SIG, CIGAR Network and EGPA PSG XII are three research networks that focus on Public Sector Accounting. The Task Force is made up of 16 researchers from these networks. The responses being presented are based on an analysis of the Consultation Paper, the IPSASB Conceptual Framework, relevant IPSAS, and various published research papers on the subject. Following various meetings and discussions, the members of the Task Force have reached the following common conclusions and suggestions. The views expressed in this document represent those of the members of the Task Force and not of the whole research community represented by the networks, and neither of the Institutions/Universities with which they are affiliated

Do networks get emotional? The role of leaders’ emotions for (network) success

Emotions are an important component of human life, influencing dyadic and organization-wide interactions. More specifically, leaders’ emotions affect positively and negatively not only their followers, but also organizational and group outcomes. Through a multiple case study of four collaborative governance networks, this paper explores whether and how leaders’ emotions influence network success. The results show that the emotional states that leaders bring into the network seem to influence its functioning: positive emotions seem to propel its activities and outcomes; negative emotions appear to curb them. Emotions seem also to interact with network identity and trust in affecting network success

Do networks get emotional? The role of leaders’ emotions for (network) success

Emotions are an important component of human life, influencing dyadic and organization-wide interactions. More specifically, leaders’ emotions affect positively and negatively not only their followers, but also organizational and group outcomes. Through a multiple case study of four collaborative governance networks, this paper explores whether and how leaders’ emotions influence network success. The results show that the emotional states that leaders bring into the network seem to influence its functioning: positive emotions seem to propel its activities and outcomes; negative emotions appear to curb them. Emotions seem also to interact with network identity and trust in affecting network success

Aggregazioni e cooperazioni tra enti locali: una review della letteratura

Negli ultimi decenni le aggregazioni e cooperazioni tra enti locali sono state promosse e incentivate in diversi Paesi con l’obiettivo di garantire una maggiore efficienza ed efficacia nello svolgimento delle attività dei comuni di piccole dimensioni. Questi fenomeni hanno attratto l’attenzione degli studiosi dando vita a un vibrante filone d’indagine. In questo contesto, il presente contributo propone un’analisi sistematica della letteratura internazionale con l’obiettivo di i) evidenziare i principali temi che sono stati oggetto di studio; ii) mostrare dove (in termini di rivista e area geografica), in quali anni e con quali approcci teorici e metodi le aggregazioni e le cooperazioni inter comunali sono state studiate; iii) analizzare i risultati e gli impatti generati dalle forme di collaborazione; iv) individuare i principali gap nella letteratura e proporre future linee di ricerca.Local government amalgamations and inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) have been promoted in several countries during the last decades. In most cases, they have been introduced with the aim to overcome institutional boundaries to guarantee ensure effective and efficient fulfilment of municipal tasks. Over the last decades, they have spread and scholars have started to empirically analyse them in many countries, generating a vibrant field of study. Within this backdrop, our paper proposes a literature review on local governments’ amalgamation and inter-municipal cooperation with the aim to i) highlight the main topics that have been studied; ii) explain when, where, how and what of these two issues have been studied; iii) analyse the results and the impacts produced by amalgamations and inter-municipal cooperations; iv) identify the main gaps in the literature and move forward the research agenda