Coastal adaptation through urban land reclamation: Exploring the distributional effects

Land reclamation and urban redevelopment is currently underway in coastal regions around the world, as urbanization continues rapidly, and high-value coastal urban land becomes more scarce. Yet coastal hazards will also continue to increase due to sea-level rise, and building flood risk reduction measures into such land reclamation projects appears to be low cost compared to the potential benefits generated. Moreover, land reclamation in high-value urban areas that incorporates such adaptation can generate substantial revenue attractive to governments, particularly in developing countries, which struggle to finance coastal adaptation measures. Yet revenue generation in these projects depends on including some degree of high-value and high-priced developments, giving rise to potential distributional effects. This paper surveys three current coastal urban redevelopment projects incorporating flood risk reduction in the Maldives, Germany and Nigeria, illustrating different modes of urban development projects and the distributional effects that can arise for each of these. The paper explores the equity implications of such projects that arise in planning processes and in implementation. The examples illustrate that inequalities can arise through incentives for corruption, budget imperatives leading to developments that result in gentrification, and shifting of physical risks on to neighboring communities. Finally, I reflect on policy and project design instruments that can address these inequalities, and draw out implications for future research to ensure sustainable and inclusive development of coastal cities in the context of sea-level rise

Petites écoles et régents dans la base de données Muséfrem

Note de travail publiée dans le cadre du projet Cantus Scholarum (http://www.cantus-scholarum.univ-tours.fr/publications/essais-et-notes-de-travail/petites-ecoles-musefrem/).Cette note a pour objet la circulation d'individus qui, entre églises paroissiales et monde capitulaire, assumèrent simultanément ou successivement des fonctions de musiciens (chantres, organistes, serpentistes) et de régents d'écoles. Au travers de cette étude, il s'agit également de mettre en valeur le potentiel de la base de données Muséfrem actuellement en cours de développement

Regulation of a Geminivirus Coat Protein Promoter by AL2 Protein (TrAP): Evidence for Activation and Derepression Mechanisms

AbstractTomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV) is a bipartite member of the subgroup III Geminiviridae. Like all geminiviruses, TGMV replicates in the nucleus of susceptible cells by rolling circle replication (RCR). Double-stranded replicative form DNA generated during RCR serves as template for the transcription of viral genes by RNA polymerase II and the associated cellular transcription machinery. Previous studies in tobacco protoplasts andNicotiana benthamianaleaf discs have shown that the viralAL2gene product transactivates expression of the coat protein (CP) andBR1movement protein genes, and that activation occurs at the level of transcription. Because of its function and properties, we propose the name TrAP, transcriptional activator protein, for theAL2gene product. Using transgenes consisting of complete and truncated versions of theCPpromoter fused to the GUS reporter gene, we show in the studies presented here that TrAP is required forCPgene expression in both mesophyll and phloem tissues. Surprisingly, TrAP appears to induceCPexpression by different mechanisms in different cell types: it may activate theCPpromoter in mesophyll cells, and acts to derepress the promoter in phloem tissue. In addition, TrAP is clearly capable of inducing the expression of responsive chromosomal promoters and could, in principle, activate host genes. Distinct viral sequence elements mediate expression and derepression in phloem and activation in mesophyll, suggesting that TrAP interacts with different components of the cellular transcription machinery to accomplishCPgene expression in different cell types, and underscoring the intricacy and complexity of virus–host interactions

Reactive oxygen species generated in chloroplasts contribute to tobacco leaf infection by the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play fundamental roles in plant responses to pathogen infection, including modulation of cell death processes and defense-related gene expression. Cell death triggered as part of the hypersensitive response enhances resistance to biotrophic pathogens, but favors the virulence of necrotrophs. Even though the involvement of ROS in the orchestration of defense responses is well established, the relative contribution of specific subcellular ROS sources to plant resistance against microorganisms with different pathogenesis strategies is not completely known. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of chloroplastic ROS in plant defense against a typical necrotrophic fungus, Botrytis cinerea. For this purpose, we used transgenic Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) lines expressing a plastid-targeted cyanobacterial flavodoxin (pfld lines), which accumulate lower chloroplastic ROS in response to different stresses. Tissue damage and fungal growth were significantly reduced in infected leaves of pfld plants, as compared with infected wild-type (WT) counterparts. ROS build-up triggered by Botrytis infection and associated with chloroplasts was significantly decreased (70–80%) in pfld leaves relative to the wild type. Phytoalexin accumulation and expression of pathogenesis-related genes were induced to a lower degree in pfld plants than in WT siblings. The impact of fungal infection on photosynthetic activity was also lower in pfld leaves. The results indicate that chloroplast-generated ROS play a major role in lesion development during Botrytis infection. This work demonstrates that the modulation of chloroplastic ROS levels by the expression of a heterologous antioxidant protein can provide a significant degree of protection against a canonical necrotrophic fungus.Fil: Rossi, Franco Rubén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas ; ArgentinaFil: Krapp, Adriana del Rosario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Bisaro, Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; Argentina. The Queens University of Belfast; IrlandaFil: Maiale, Santiago Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas ; ArgentinaFil: Pieckenstain, Fernando Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas ; ArgentinaFil: Carrillo, Nestor Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; Argentin

Institutional analysis in climate change adaptation research : A systematic literature review

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu MdM-2015-0552Appropriate institutions are essential for climate change adaptation. Yet diverse approaches to institutional analysis are available, encompassing different ontological and epistemological assumptions, and thus yielding insights on very different aspects of institutions in adaptation. Therefore, efforts to expand knowledge in this domain can be usefully informed by an assessment of approaches to institutional analysis in the adaptation literature, which is to date lacking. We address this gap by conducting a systematic review of the adaptation literature addressing institutions. Our review characterises approaches to institutional analysis by identifying methodological choices and the philosophy of science underpinning them. We then analyze the distribution of approaches to institutional analysis across different adaptation situations, contextualizing our results within methodological debates in adaptation research regarding the appropriateness of positivist, interpretative, or post-normal approaches. We find that institutional analysis of adaptation is now engaging with 'how' and 'why' questions, beyond descriptive questions that characterise the adaptation 'barriers' literature, that diverse philosophies of science drive methodological choice, and that post-normal approaches, e.g. co-design approaches, hardly address institutions. We conclude that support for interpretative approaches, and for institutional analysis in post-normal approaches is needed. The latter is important for adaptation planning processes in developing countries under the UNFCCC

Plants Expressing Tomato Golden Mosaic Virus AL2 or Beet Curly Top Virus L2 Transgenes Show Enhanced Susceptibility to Infection by DNA and RNA Viruses

AbstractThe AL2 gene of the geminivirus tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV) encodes a transcriptional activator protein (TrAP) that is required for efficient expression of the viral coat protein (CP) and BR1 gene promoters. In contrast, L2, the positional homolog of AL2 in the related beet curly top virus (BCTV), is not required for CP expression, raising questions about the functional relationship between the AL2 and L2 gene products. In this study, transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana and N. tabacum var. Samsun plants expressing a truncated AL2 gene (AL21–100, lacking the activation domain) or full-length L2 were prepared. These transgenic plants showed a novel enhanced susceptibility (ES) phenotype following inoculation with TGMV, BCTV, or tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), an unrelated RNA virus. ES is characterized by a reduction in the mean latent period (from 1 to 9 days) and by a decrease in the inoculum concentration required to infect transgenic plants (ID50 reduced 6- to 60-fold). However, ES does not result in an enhancement of disease symptoms, and viral nucleic acids do not accumulate to substantially greater levels in infected transgenic plants. That both viral transgenes condition ES suggests that their products share the ability to suppress a host stress or defense response that acts against DNA and RNA viruses. The data further indicate that the transcriptional activation activity of AL2 protein is not required for suppression. The nature of the response targeted by the AL2 and L2 gene products is discussed

Implementación de un plan operativo para el área de mantenimiento de flota de vehículos de una empresa prestadora de servicios

La flota de vehículos tiene una base firme tanto en la industria fabril como en la de servicios. En este caso se analiza una flota de vehículos de una empresa de servicios que en la actualidad mantiene un sistema de mantenimiento correctivo. La gestión de mantenimiento juega un papel importante en el crecimiento de una organización. El mantenimiento de la flota de vehículos es fundamental en términos de costo, disponibilidad y satisfacción del cliente. La principal causa de los retrasos son los procedimientos de mantenimiento ineficaces e ineficientes. Esta investigación propuso un sistema de mantenimiento que integra el flujo de información incorporando diferentes estrategias de mantenimiento. El análisis se realiza sobre la base de la estructura de costos de mantenimiento sugeridos en relación con los desembolsos bajo la estructura actual. El análisis de cinco por qué se utiliza para identificar la causa raíz. El modelo incorpora el método de inspección mediante el uso de listas de verificación y programas de mantenimiento. Se integra también algunos indicadores o KPi que permitirán realizar auditorías regulares y ajustes en caso de requerirlos.Bisaro, Baltazar. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Estadística; Argentin

A typology for analysing mitigation and adaptation win-win strategies

A sustainability transition in line with achieving global climate goals requires the implementation of win-win strategies (WWS), i.e. socioeconomic activities that enable economic gains while simultaneously contributing to climate change mitigation or adaptation measures. Such strategies are discussed in a variety of scientific communities, such as sustainability science, industrial ecology and symbiosis and circular economy. However, existing analyses of win-win strategies tend to take a systems perspective, while paying less attention to the specific actors and activities, or their interconnections, which are implicated in win-win strategies. Moreover, they hardly address adaptation WWS. To address these gaps and support the identification and enhancement of WWS for entrepreneurs and policy-makers, we propose a typology of WWS based on the concept of a value-consumption chain, which typically connects several producers with at least one consumer of a good or service. A consideration of these connections allows an evaluation of economic effects in a meso-economic perspective. We distinguish 34 different types of WWS of companies, households and the state, for which 23 real-world examples are identified. Further, contrary to prevailing views on the lack of a business case for adaptation, we do identify real-world adaptation WWS, though they remain underrepresented compared with mitigation WWS. Our typology can be used as an entry point for transdisciplinary research integrating assessment of individual transformative socioeconomic activities and highly aggregated approaches assessing, e.g. the macro-economic effects of WWS.Horizon 2020 Framework Programme ()Peer Reviewe

Climate finance and disclosure for institutional investors: why transparency is not enough

The finance sector’s response to pressures around climate change has emphasized disclosure, notably through the recommendations of the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The implicit assumption—that if risks are fully revealed, finance will respond rationally and in ways aligned with the public interest—is rooted in the “efficient market hypothesis” (EMH) applied to the finance sector and its perception of climate policy. For low carbon investment, particular hopes have been placed on the role of institutional investors, given the apparent matching of their assets and liabilities with the long timescales of climate change. We both explain theoretical frameworks (grounded in the “three domains”, namely satisficing, optimizing, and transforming) and use empirical evidence (from a survey of institutional investors), to show that the EMH is unsupported by either theory or evidence: it follows that transparency alone will be an inadequate response. To some extent, transparency can address behavioural biases (first domain characteristics), and improving pricing and market efficiency (second domain); however, the strategic (third domain) limitations of EMH are more serious. We argue that whilst transparency can help, on its own it is a very long way from an adequate response to the challenges of ‘aligning institutional climate finance’

La institucionalización de la psicoterapia Gestalt en el campo de la psicología de Córdoba

El presente trabajo propone un abordaje cualitativo para indagar el proceso de institucionalización de la Psicoterapia de la Gestalt (PG), como corriente de la Psicología de Córdoba. Se utilizó un diseño exploratorio que contó con la revisión de distintas fuentes históricas: documentos, publicaciones académicas y entrevistas a informantes clave. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas a 15 psicoterapeutas gestálticos de distintas generaciones, residentes en Córdoba, que desde sus inicios hasta la actualidad participaron activamente en la institucionalización de la PG, tanto en el campo académico como profesional de la psicología. Se observó que a lo largo del tiempo, la PG desarrolló un abundante crecimiento en el campo profesional logrando, en menor medida, una paulatina inserción en el campo académico, proceso que actualmente se encuentra activo. En el entrecruzamiento de ambos campos, los agentes desplegaron distintas estrategias, posiciones y relaciones al interior del campo y frente a otras corrientes de la psicología. Finalmente, se advierte que el desarrollo de la Gestalt en Córdoba aún se encuentra en crecimiento, permitiendo la consolidando del enfoque y, al mismo tiempo, originando nuevas posturas integradoras.Fil: Bisaro, Elvira M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina.Otras Psicologí