Identifying new lead structures to enhance tolerance towards drought stress via high-throughput screening giving crops a quantum of solace.

Novel synthetic lead structures interacting with RCAR/(PYR/PYL) receptor proteins were identified based on the results of a high-throughput screening campaign of a large compound library followed by focused SAR studies of the three most promising hit clusters. Whilst indolinylmethyl sulfonamides 8y,z and phenylsulfonyl ethylenediamines 9y,z showed strong affinities for RCAR/ (PYR/PYL) receptor proteins in wheat, thiotriazolyl acetamides 7f,s exhibited promising efficacy against drought stress in vivo (wheat, corn and canola) combined with confirmed target interaction in wheat and arabidopsis thaliana. Remarkably, binding affinities of several representatives of 8 and 9 were on the same level or even better than the essential plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA).

The effectiveness of Hong Kong's Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme.

The Hong Kong Government introduced the Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme in December 2005 to ensure that disposal of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is properly priced to reduce such waste. The charging scheme is not only intended to provide an economic incentive for contractors and developers to reduce waste but also to encourage reuse and recycling of waste material thereby slowing down the depletion of limited landfill and public filling capacities. This paper examines the effectiveness of the charging scheme 1 year after implementation.