Economic valuation of landscapes: combining landscape ecology and environmental economics methodologies.

Aim of the paper is to outline an integrated methodology for deriving economic values of the different landscape components. Our approach integrates landscape ecology principles and non-market valuation methodologies. Firstly, we identify landscape types and quantify their attributes with ‘metrics’ (i.e., objective components) and use discrete choice experiments to elicit the public’s preferences for these landscapes and their attributes (i.e., subjective components). As a case-study we use the Peninsula of Sorrento in Italy, which is a unique Mediterranean landscape, which is increasingly endangered by urban sprawl and decline of traditional farming. Results show the economic value of different types of landscapes and, importantly, provide convincing support for an interdisciplinary approach for landscape valuation

Synchronized onset of nuclear and cell surface modifications in U937 cells during apoptosis

In this study we investigated the relationship between nuclear and cell surface modifications (i.e. blebbing, phosphatidylserine [PS] and sugar residues exposure) in a monocytic cell line, U937, during apoptosis induced by oxidative stress (1mM H2O2) or inhibition of protein synthesis (10 mg/ml puromycin). Dying cells were simultaneously observed for nuclear modifications, presence of superficial blebs and plasma membrane alterations. Morphological analysis performed by conventional fluorescence microscopy, or by transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed that the courses of nuclear and membrane alterations occured concomitantly, but the phenotype was dependent on the stage of the apoptotic process and the type of apoptogenic inducer used. The progression of apoptosis in U937 cells beyond early stages resulted in the extensive formation of blebs which concomitantly lost some typical markers of apoptosis, such as PS and sugar residues. Therefore, the modality by which the nucleus condenses, or the amount and the pattern of distribution of PS on the cell surface were, for each cell line, strictly related to the apoptogenic inducer. The morphological data reported in the present paper should lead to a more precise quantification of apoptosis by improving the detection of apoptotic cells in vivo (i.e. in tissue, organs), which is a crucial point in the evaluation of efficiency of antiproliferative drugs, such as antiblastic or immunosuppressive compounds

Organization of VIP-like immunoreactive system in the brain, olfactory organ and retina of the Zebrafish

The localization of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-like immunoreactivity was investigated in the brain, olfactory system and retina of the zebrafish, Danio rerio, during development and in juvenile specimens, by using the indirect immunofluorescence and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase methods. In 24 h post fertilization (hpf) embryos, VIP-like immunoreactive cells were present in the olfactory pit, the retina, and several regions of the brain, including the dorsal telencephalon, the diencephalon, the tegmentum of the mesencephalon, the caudal rhombencephalon and the anterior pituitary. In 48 hpf embryos, additional VIP-like immunoreactive cell bodies were found in the ventral telencephalon, whereas in the diencephalon VIP-like immunopositive cells were more concentrated within the ventro-caudal hypothalamus. During the 7 day larval period, a dense plexus of VIP-like immunoreactive fibers first appeared in the olfactory bulbs. In 15-day-old larvae, two new groups of positive cells were observed in the periventricular preoptic nucleus and in the dorsal rhombencephalon. In 1 month/2 months old animals, VIP-like immunoreactive elements were confined to the olfactory organ, the olfactory bulbs, the periventricular preoptic nucleus and the pituitary, pars distalis. At 3 months stage, a large number of cells was observed in the periventricular preoptic nucleus. Western immunoblot analysis confirmed that VIP-like peptides, with molecular weight similar to that of synthetic VIP, are present early during the development of zebrafish. These results show that VIP-like immunoreactive structures appear early during ontogeny both in the olfactory pit, retina and brain. Transient expression of positive cells was found in the retina, telencephalon, diencephalon and brainstem. The location of VIP-like immunoreactivity indicates that, during development, VIP could be involved in several neuromodulatory functions, including the processing of visual and olfactory informations, as well as growth or survival promotion activities. The presence of VIP-like immunopositive cells in the pituitary, pars distalis, suggest that, during development, VIP may influence the secretion of pituitary hormones

Development and Management of a Bio-Energy Supply Chain Through Contract Farming

This paper discusses how to develop and manage integration, coordination and cooperation in bio-energy supply chains. Farmers decisions on whether or not to participate in a contract farming scheme have been investigated, particularly assessing the trade-offs between the contract attributes and their impact on the likelihood to participate. A stated preference model was implemented where respondents were asked to choose between alternative contracts with varying attribute levels to start biomass cultivation. Results show that participation is mainly influenced by minimum price guaranteed, contract length, and re-negotiation before the end of a contract