Parana pine landscape and social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) supporting sustainable local development: Avaliação da paisagem do pinho Paraná e do ciclo de vida social (S-LCA), apoiando o desenvolvimento local sustentável

There is a need to increase new perspectives studies and to include culture value, cultural heritage and traditional communities in balance with their environment. While Cultural Heritage has been studied for centuries, the Cultural Landscape originated new concepts. Protecting cultural landscapes contributes to maintain and increase natural values, ​​and to aggregate several tangible and intangible values. In recent years, methods of life cycle assessment, LCA and (social) S-LCA, have evolved into the analysis of products and services impacts along the value chain, allying approachs of social performance, in order to achieve sustainable development. A case study was conducted at Colônia Murici (State Paraná, Brazil), a rural agricultural community, with Polish ethnic prevalence, inserted in the historical context of european immigration at the late 19th century. It addressess the challenge of preserving their Araucaria (Paraná Pine) wooden architecture and their Cultural Landscape. The aim of this study is to present a literature review survey of S-LCA focused on Cultural Heritage, and examine interviews with specialists and community members. The study of S-LCA methodology demonstrated that the specialists and community members participation is essential, specially in stakeholders definition and in the recognition of impact subcategories. Understanding social and cultural structure, besides the commmunities engagement, is the first step for heritage management. Respecting biomes and the Araucaria Forest emerged as the most relevant subcategory. The pine image represented by Paranista Movement artists at the beginning of the 20th century became an element of regional identity and the Araucaria remains its symbolic value in the especialists evaluation. The cultural dimension is a decisive component, beside the Cultural Heritage, as necessary indicators in the establishment of goals, in monitoring sustainable local development and in supporting decision-makers

Expression and Function of Serotonin 2A and 2B Receptors in the Mammalian Respiratory Network

Neurons of the respiratory network in the lower brainstem express a variety of serotonin receptors (5-HTRs) that act primarily through adenylyl cyclase. However, there is one receptor family including 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors that are directed towards protein kinase C (PKC). In contrast to 5-HT2ARs, expression and function of 5-HT2BRs within the respiratory network are still unclear. 5-HT2BR utilizes a Gq-mediated signaling cascade involving calcium and leading to activation of phospholipase C and IP3/DAG pathways. Based on previous studies, this signal pathway appears to mediate excitatory actions on respiration. In the present study, we analyzed receptor expression in pontine and medullary regions of the respiratory network both at the transcriptional and translational level using quantitative RT-PCR and self-made as well as commercially available antibodies, respectively. In addition we measured effects of selective agonists and antagonists for 5-HT2ARs and 5-HT2BRs given intra-arterially on phrenic nerve discharges in juvenile rats using the perfused brainstem preparation. The drugs caused significant changes in discharge activity. Co-administration of both agonists revealed a dominance of the 5-HT2BR. Given the nature of the signaling pathways, we investigated whether intracellular calcium may explain effects observed in the respiratory network. Taken together, the results of this study suggest a significant role of both receptors in respiratory network modulation

Significance of multiple neurochemicals that regulate respiration

Current efforts to characterize the neuronal mechanisms that underlie automatic breathing generally adopt a ‘minimalist’ approach. In this review, we survey three of the many neurochemicals that are known to be present in rapheneurons and may be involved in respiration. Specifically, we ask the question, ‘Is the minimalist approach consistent with the large number of neuronal types and neurochemicals found in respiratory centres?’6 page(s