Concentrated versus diffused growth assets: agglomeration economies and regional cohesion

The interest toward the supposed trade-off between efficiency and equity has strongly come back to the fore within the European Union (EU) after the 2008 economic crisis. The worsening of spatial economic imbalances, in fact, opened again the debate whether the European institutions should focus their budget allocations on core areas or on peripheral areas of less developed countries, following concentrated or spatially distributed normative actions. This paper addresses the question by applying an original method to assess the relative importance of urban efficiency with respect to spatially distributed resource endowments in affecting regional inequality. An innovative two-step procedure is applied: that first estimates a regional production function and then makes use of its output through a simulation to assess efficiency versus spatially even distribution of resources on the improvement of regional cohesion. The results show that urban efficiency gains play a relatively minor role in affecting regional disparities if compared with a spatially even distribution of production factors.     

A Nutraceutical Formulation Containing Brown Algae Reduces Hepatic Lipid Accumulation by Modulating Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation in Experimental Models of NAFLD and NASH

Recently, some preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the ability of brown seaweeds in reducing the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Here, we analyzed the beneficial effect of a nutraceutical formulation containing a phytocomplex extracted from seaweeds and chromium picolinate in animal models of liver steatosis of differing severities (rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its complication, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)). This treatment led to a significant drop in hepatic fat deposition in both models (p < 0.01 vs. untreated animals), accompanied by a reduction in plasma inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor α, and C reactive protein, and myeloperoxidase expression in liver tissue. Furthermore, a modulation of the molecular pathways involved in lipid metabolism and storage was demonstrated, since we observed the significant reduction of the mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase, diacylglycerol acyltransferases, the sterol-binding protein SREBP-1, and the lipid transporter perilipin-2, in both treated NAFLD and NASH rats in comparison to untreated ones. In conclusion, this nutraceutical product was effective in reducing liver steatosis and showed further beneficial effects on hepatic inflammation and glycemic control, which were particularly evident in rats characterized by a more severe condition, thus representing a therapeutic option for the treatment of NAFLD and NASH patients.     

A retrospective study on the use of acepromazine maleate in dogs with seizures

Use of acepromazine (i.e., acetylpromazine) maleate in dogs with a history of seizures is reportedly contraindicated because of the risk of decreasing the seizure threshold in these animals. In this retrospective study, acepromazine was administered for tranquilization to 36 dogs with a prior history of seizures and to decrease seizure activity in 11 dogs. No seizures were seen within 16 hours of acepromazine administration in the 36 dogs that received the drug for tranquilization during hospitalization. After acepromazine administration, seizures abated for 1.5 to 8 hours (n=6) or did not recur (n=2) in eight of 10 dogs that were actively seizing. Excitement-induced seizure frequency was reduced for 2 months in one dog.     

A pantropic canine coronavirus genetically related to the prototype isolate CB/05

We report the genetic and biological characterisation of a novel pantropic canine coronavirus (CCoV), strain 450/07, which caused the death of a 60-day-old miniature pinscher. At the genetic level, this virus was strictly related to the prototype strain CB/05, but displayed some unique features. After experimental infection with the new pantropic isolate, most inoculated dogs showed diarrhoea and acute lymphopenia. Gross lesions and histological changes were mainly evident in the gut and lymphoid tissues, although some animals showed remarkable changed also in parenchymatous organs. The viral RNA was detected in the faeces and/or internal organs of most pups. These findings seem to indicate that strain 450/07 is able to spread to internal organs (mainly lymphoid tissues), causing lymphopenia but inducing a mild disease.     

The effects of 1-MCP in cyclodextrin-based nanosponges to improve the vase life of Dianthus caryophyllus cut flowers

The present research investigated the effects of a non-volatile formulation of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) embedded in different cyclodextrin (CD)-based nanosponges (NSs) to extend the postharvest longevity of an ethylene-sensitive carnation cultivar. Cut flowers of Dianthus caryophyllus L. ‘Idra di Muraglia’ were treated with α- and β-CD-based nanosponge-1-MCP complexes (α- and β-NS complexes) in tap water to achieve two different concentrations of active ingredient (0.25 and 0.5 μL L^?1). Treated flowers were compared to cut stems exposed to equivalent concentrations of volatile 1-MCP as well as a tap water control with or without pure α- and β-NS. Identical nanoporous compounds were applied by perfusion to yield a total of 15 treatments. Twenty-four hours after the treatments were applied, the cut flowers were exposed to exogenous ethylene (1 ± 0.2 μL L^?1) for 24 h. The postharvest carnation flower and leaf quality in addition to ethylene production levels were determined daily (beginning 24 h after treatment). None of the α-NS complex applications statistically improved the vase life of cut flowers; however, β-NS complexes were effective in preventing senescence, reducing ethylene production (measured at nearly nil after 11 d), and maintaining original petal color longer. These results were particularly strong at the lowest concentration (0.25 μL L^?1) of β-NS complex. Overall, this method promoted cut flower longevity (loss of ornamental value after 14.7 d; complete damage at day 18.5) better than the commercial 1-MCP gaseous application method.     

FIRST REPORT OF GENUS Cryptosporidium IN CERVIDS SPECIES: Mazama americana,Mazama nana AND Blastocerus dichotomus

Veterinary Research Communications - We analyzed Cryptosporidium spp. in fecal samples of wild cervids (Ozotoceros bezoarticus, Blastocerus dichotomus, Mazama nana, Mazama americana, and Mazama...     

A check on the efficiency of an air-bubble screen using acoustic measurements and an artificial tracer

Purpose

A working group, composed of the University of Genoa (Italy), responsible for monitoring the dredging of the Port of Genoa, and Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (The Netherlands), responsible for the dredging activities, carried out an experiment on closing a landfill area with a double air bubble-screen (ABS) to verify the efficiency both of this method of containing sediment and of the measurement method applied.

Materials and methods

Within the Port of Genoa dredging, which was started in 2009, the dredged material is used to fill two areas between existing quays. To contain the sediment to be placed into a third subbasin without interrupting the passage of the barges which discharge the sediment, the use of an ABS was proposed as a barrier to the spreading of the sediment. The experiment was carried out during a 4-day oceanographic campaign to verify, preliminarily, the results under different weather and sea conditions. An artificial tracer, rhodamine water tracing (RWT), was used in varying concentrations to simulate the spreading of the sediment, and an RWT sensor and an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) were used to measure the RWT distribution and verify the efficiency of the ABS.

Results and discussion

The high turbidity in the port and the high rate of RWT dilution made it relatively difficult to detect the RWT. The RWT sensor sometimes measured higher values than expected probably due to the following: the recirculation of the tracer in current eddies, other sensible suspended matter and adsorption of RWT on suspended matter. The internal ABS could not retain all the RWT, possibly because it was much weaker than the external one, and because mitigating measures, like silt screens or ABSs, are not totally closed and should not be used if complete impermeability is required. The ABS introduction accentuated the natural separation between the basin and the channel water bodies creating a barrier between the two basins.

Conclusions

An ABS installed at the entrance to a confined area with low dynamics results in a circular vertical flow with the potential to retain suspended sediments within an enclosed area. The meteorological variability during the tests showed that a weak ABS could malfunction in the presence of strong wind condition. The results showed that the ADCP is a suitable instrument to highlight the ABS position and its effect on the surrounding hydrodynamics. Further research, using a sediment tracer, is required to study with greater detail the effects of the ABS on the water column.     

Genomic instability in mice lacking histone H2AX

Higher order chromatin structure presents a barrier to the recognition and repair of DNA damage. Double-strand breaks (DSBs) induce histone H2AX phosphorylation, which is associated with the recruitment of repair factors to damaged DNA. To help clarify the physiological role of H2AX, we targeted H2AX in mice. Although H2AX is not essential for irradiation-induced cell-cycle checkpoints, H2AX-/- mice were radiation sensitive, growth retarded, and immune deficient, and mutant males were infertile. These pleiotropic phenotypes were associated with chromosomal instability, repair defects, and impaired recruitment of Nbs1, 53bp1, and Brca1, but not Rad51, to irradiation-induced foci. Thus, H2AX is critical for facilitating the assembly of specific DNA-repair complexes on damaged DNA.