The political consequences of green policies: evidence from Italy

For many governments, enacting green policies is a priority, but such policies often impose on citizens substantial and uneven costs. How does the introduction of green policies affect voting? We study this question in the context of a major ban on polluting cars introduced in Milan, which was strongly opposed by the populist right party Lega. Using several inferential strategies, we show that owners of banned vehicles— who incurred a median loss of €3,750—were significantly more likely to vote for Lega in the subsequent elections. Our analysis indicates that this electoral change did not stem from a broader shift against environmentalism, but rather from disaffection with the policy’s uneven pocketbook implications. In line with this pattern, recipients of compensation from the local government were not more likely to switch to Lega. The findings highlight the central importance of distributive consequences in shaping the political ramifications of green policies

ADULT DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE: A PROTOTYPICAL DISEASE FOR PHARMANUTRITION INTERVENTIONS

Adult Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is an inherited disease, associated with the development of liquid-filled cysts in the kidneys and other organs, causing renal failure. Most patients with ADPKD have mutations in either PKD1 or PKD2 genes, which encode for the two components of ion channels located in cilia and endoplasmic reticulum. These mutations cause an increase in intracellular cAMP and activate mTOR, the AMPK pathway and Jak/Stat-dependent gene transcription ultimately leading to enhanced cell proliferation and survival in cyst epithelium and to fluid release in cyst cavities. The aim of the present review is to discuss the main literature evidence suggesting that these pathologically activated transduction pathways can be targeted with an integrated pharmacological and nutritional, pharmanutrition, strategy

The Epidemic Spread of Seiridium cardinale on Leyland Cypress Severely Limits Its Use in the Mediterranean

Leyland cypress (× Hesperotropsis leylandii) is a fast-growing conifer used in most temperate regions as an ornamental tree for hedges and screens, and is one of the most commercially important trees in Europe. In recent years, severe diebacks and mortality due to cypress canker have been observed on Leyland cypress plantations in Southern Europe. This study was conducted to evaluate (i) the spread and impact of cypress canker caused by Seiridium cardinale in plantations of a sample area of 1,250 km2 in central Italy, (ii) the response of the most commonly grown Leyland cypress varieties to artificial inoculation with to S. cardinal, and (iii) the pathogenicity of S. cardinale isolates obtained from Leyland cypress. Of the 1,411 surveyed trees, 11.4% had been killed by cypress canker and 43.9% of the living trees were affected by the disease. The number of diseased or dead trees and the percentage of cankered trunks was significantly correlated with the mean trunk diameter of the plantations. Six months after inoculation, the size of developed cankers was significantly different among the inoculated Leyland cypress cultivars but all of them showed markedly larger cankers than the C. sempervirens canker-resistant control clone. All of the tested S. cardinale isolates obtained from Leyland cypress also caused cankers on Cupressus sempervirens when inoculated as conidial suspensions or mycelia. Leyland cypress is highly prone to contract cypress canker in the Mediterranean due to its high susceptibility to S. cardinale infections, low genetic variability among the grown cultivars, and cracks which form on fast-growing trunks, favoring entry of the fungus into the inner bark and the occurrence of infections

High resolution infrared and Raman spectra of 13C12CD2: The CD stretching fundamentals and associated combination and hot bands

11 pags.; 4 figs.; 9 tabs.© 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. Infrared and Raman spectra of mono 13C fully deuterated acetylene, 13C12CD2, have been recorded and analysed to obtain detailed information on the C—D stretching fundamentals and associated combination, overtone, and hot bands. Infrared spectra were recorded at an instrumental resolution ranging between 0.006 and 0.01 cm−1 in the region 1800–7800 cm−1. Sixty new bands involving the ν 1 and ν 3 C—D stretching modes also associated with the ν 4 and ν 5 bending vibrations have been observed and analysed. In total, 5881 transitions have been assigned in the investigated spectral region. In addition, the Q branch of the ν 1 fundamental was recorded using inverse Raman spectroscopy, with an instrumental resolution of about 0.003 cm−1. The transitions relative to each stretching mode, i.e., the fundamental band, its first overtone, and associated hot and combination bands involving bending states with υ 4 + υ 5 up to 2 were fitted simultaneously. The usual Hamiltonian appropriate to a linear molecule, including vibration and rotation l-type and the Darling–Dennison interaction between υ 4 = 2 and υ 5 = 2 levels associated with the stretching states, was adopted for the analysis. The standard deviation for each global fit is ≤0.0004 cm−1, of the same order of magnitude of the measurement precision. Slightly improved parameters for the bending and the ν 2 manifold have been also determined. Precise values of spectroscopic parameters deperturbed from the resonance interactions have been obtained. They provide quantitative information on the anharmonic character of the potential energy surface, which can be useful, in addition to those reported in the literature, for the determination of a general anharmonic force field for the molecule. Finally, the obtained values of the Darling–Dennison constants can be valuable for understanding energy flows between independent vibrations.The Bologna authors acknowledge the Università di Bologna and the financial support of the Ministero dell’ Istruzione dell’Università e della Ricerca (PRIN 2012 “Spettroscopia e Tecniche computazionali per la ricerca Astrofisica, atmosferica e Radioastronomica”). D.B. and R.Z.M. acknowledge the financial support of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through Research Grant No. FIS2012-38175.Peer Reviewe

fracture toughness of structural adhesives for the automotive industry

Abstract Adhesive bonding is currently employed by automotive manufacturers to complement (or replace) welding in joining dissimilar materials. In order to reduce the impact on the existing manufacturing infrastructures, structural adhesives are deployed in the body shop but hardening is accomplished in the paint cure oven. Various adhesive formulations have been specifically developed for the implementation in the automotive manufacturing chain. However, it is very important to assess the mechanical behaviour of the joints which results from the peculiar curing strategy. In the present work, automotive grade single component epoxy and two component epoxy modified acrylic adhesives were evaluated. T-joints were fabricated using a cold rolled galvanized steel (FeP04) employed in the production of car body parts. The fracture toughness of the joints was determined using the test protocol proposed by the European Structural Integrity Society (ESIS). Optical microscopy was employed to ascertain the mechanisms of failure. The results indicated that both adhesives were able to provide a fairly good mechanical response with minimum preparation of the mating substrates. Moreover, the obtained values of fracture toughness were shown to be essentially independent of the adhesive layer thickness

AD HOC SURVEYS: HOW TO MEASURE AND REPORT QUALITY METHODS

Surveys need a clear report on adopted quality methods to support surveillance, research and to implement evidence-based health policies. Aim of this report is to provide a simple and practical tool to those interested in survey, like HIS or HES , suggesting the different aspects of the quality to be controlled. These are crucial to generate useful and reliable results that can help the monitoring of health policy in Europe. Starting from the wide literature available in the field, the various quality dimensions that should be documented in a quality report and support the published results are briefly presented. In this paper, the six dimensions of the quality are analysed, as well as the different steps necessary to implement a survey, with particular attention to the quality and taking account of the remarkable expertise in the field. Before starting the survey, as known, the planning of specific steps is required. Moreover, to improve quality, training and testing of personnel involved in the different sets (organization, data collection, data processing, and statistical analysis) are fundamental. The methods used and the results obtained need to be published

Newly-assessed fungicides for the control of cypress canker caused by Seiridium cardinale

Bark canker caused by Seiridium cardinale is the most destructive disease of Cupressus and several Cupressaceae in many temperate regions and particularly in the Mediterranean area. Chemical prevention represents the most effective and essential means of control to protect plant production in nurseries and young plantations. The European Directive 2009/128/CE and CE 1107/2009 application have drastically reduced the number of chemicals that can be used in agriculture, including the benzimidazolic compounds that had shown the best results in preventing S. cardinale canker. It is therefore urgent to find alternative fungicides to replace the banned compounds. The purpose of the present work was to assess some fungicides through in vitro tests and pre- and post-inoculation sprayings on Cupressus sempervirens, for the control of S. cardinale. The active ingredients boscalid, fosetyl-aluminium, triadimenol and azoxystrobin were compared with thiophanate-methyl as reference. The effectiveness of thiophanate-methyl in reducing canker development was confirmed especially when it was applied to trees before they were inoculated with S. cardinale. Azoxystrobin was as effective as thiophanate-methyl in the pre-inoculation trials. boscalid prevented conidial germination and mycelial growth of S. cardinale in vitro and appeared a promising contact fungicide for the prevention of cypress canker. Azoxystrobin and boscalid are listed in a less hazardous class than thiophanate-methyl, and has less risk for the environment and for users

Genetics and genomic medicine in Argentina

A historical summary of genetics and genomic medicine in Argentina. We go through the achievements and difficulties in the implementation of genetic and genomic services both in academia and health care.Fil: Vishnopolska, Sebastián Alexis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Turjanski, Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Herrera Piñero, Mariana. Banco Nacional de Datos Genéticos; ArgentinaFil: Groisman, Boris. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud “Dr. C. G. Malbrán”; ArgentinaFil: Liascovich, Rosa. Red Nacional de Anomalías Congénitas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Chiesa, Ana Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada". Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada". Fundación de Endocrinología Infantil. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada"; ArgentinaFil: Marti, Marcelo Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

A new additional record of Phloeosinus armatus Reitter from Italy (Coleoptera Curculionidae Scolytinae)

In the early 1990s, outbreaks of the Cypress bark beetle Phloeosinus armatus Reitter were reported on Cupressus sempervirens L. and C. arizonica Sarg. in north-western Italy (Liguria). About 10 years later, this bark beetle, whose distribution range is originally the eastern Mediterranean, was found again in the same region on rows and isolated plants of Mediterranean cypress. In this paper P. armatus is reported for the first time on C. sempervirens in central Italy (Tuscany), where this insect species is widespread both on ornamental trees and on woodland formations. A taxonomic key is presented for the identification of both the male and female adults of P. armatus among species of the genus Phloeosinus Chapuis living on Cupressaceae in south-western Europe. Due to its greater size, compared with the indigenous species P. aubei, and the behavioural similarities in the adult maturation phase among the two species, P. armatus could convey large quantities of inoculum of the fungus Seiridium cardinale (Wagener) Sutton et Gibson, causal agent of cypress canker. The need for extensive monitoring and specific research for the development of attractants and traps to capture the adult bark beetles is emphasized