The Role of Liability, Regulation and Economic Incentives in Brownfield Remediation and Redevelopment: Evidence from Surveys of Developers

We examine different market-based mechanisms and other incentives intended to promote the environmental remediation and reuse of brownfields. Policies that encourage cleanup and re-use of brownfields offer real estate developers reductions in regulatory burden, relief from liability for future cleanups once certain mitigation standards are met, and/or financial support for regeneration of brownfields. We use conjoint choice experiments—a stated preference approach—to assess the responses of real estate developers to different mixes of these incentives. Our survey instrument was administered in person to a sample of developers and real estate professionals randomly intercepted at the Marché International des Professionnels de l’Immobilier (MIPIM) in Cannes, France, in March 2002. Conditional and random-coefficient logit models of the responses to the choice questions indicate that developers find sites with contamination problems less attractive than others, and that they value liability relief. This confirms our expectation that contaminated sites are less desirable because of the associated cleanup costs, but refutes earlier claims that liability does not matter. Our developers are not deterred by prior contamination, once it has been cleaned up, suggesting that “contamination stigma” is not very important, and appreciate fast-track review of development and remediation plans, direct financial incentives, and flexible (negotiable) cleanup standards. Developers with prior experience with contaminated sites are more responsive to the policies than are nexperienced developers, especially for subsidies. Inexperienced developers are more responsive to liability relief and regulatory relief than they are to subsidies. Similar considerations hold true for larger developers.Brownfields, contaminated sites, real estate developers, stated preferences, conjoint analysis, liability relief, regulatory relief, subsidies

Morpho-agronomic and genetic diversity among twelve Sicilian agro-ecotypes of lentil (Lens culinaris)

Although Sicily is relatively small (about 25000 km2), it accounts for several agro-ecotypes of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), for many of which no data on morphological, agronomic, and organoleptic characteristics are available to date. Thus, experiments were performed to characterize 12 lentil agro-ecotypes from different areas of Sicily, including some small islands surrounding the main island, and to assess the extent of genetic diversity (by means of six inter-simple sequence repeat [ISSR] primers). A famous agro-ecotype from central Italy (CastellucciodiNorcia) and two commercial varieties from Canada (Eston and Laird) were also included in the study. The results showed a large degree of genetic diversity (based on ISSR markers) and variability in pheno-morphological and agronomic traits. In contrast, the intra-accession variability was on average rather low. The agronomic (productivity, nitrogen fixation capacity) and qualitative (lipid content, hydration coefficient) attributes of several Sicilian agro-ecotypes were more pronounced than those of the controls. This fact certainly represents a prerequisite for their future economic valorization. Moreover, the observed variability may be of interest from the point of view of breeding

Energy partitioning in N2 microwave discharges: integrated Fokker-Planck approach to vibrational kinetics and comparison with experiments

This work investigates energy transfers between electrons, vibrational and translational degrees of freedom and their effect on dissociation mechanisms in a N2 microwave plasma in the pressure range between 50 and 400 mbar. A novel self-consistent 0D plasma chemistry model describing vibrational kinetics via the vibrational energy equation and the Fokker–Planck approach is developed. It is used to simulate conditions achieved experimentally, providing good agreement with measured values of vibrational and gas temperature and electron density. Above 100 mbar, energy efficiency of dissociation increases with power density, due to the significant contribution of collisions between vibrationally excited N2 and electronically excited molecules. Energy transfer to vibrations is maximum at low power density and low pressure due to reduced gas heating

An Innovative IMTA System: Polychaetes, Sponges and Macroalgae Co-Cultured in a Southern Italian In-Shore Mariculture Plant (Ionian Sea)

In this paper, we report data from the first year of rearing of a set of filter feeder bioremediator organisms: macrobenthic invertebrates (sabellid polychaetes and sponges), coupled with macroalgae, realized in a mariculture fish farm. This innovative integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system was realized at a preindustrial level in the Gulf of Taranto (southern Italy, northern Ionian Sea), within the framework of the EU Remedia Life project. Long lines containing different collector typologies were placed around the fish breeding cages. Vertical collectors were utilized for both polychaetes and sponges, whilst macroalgae were cultivated in horizontal collectors. Data on the growth and mortality of the target species after the first year of rearing and cultivation are given together with their biomass estimation. Polychaete biomass was obtained from natural settlement on ropes previously hung in the system, while sponges and macroalgae were derived from explants and/or inocules inserted in the collectors. The description of the successional pattern occurring on collectors used for settling until reaching a “stable” point is also described, with indications of additional filter feeder macroinvertebrates other than polychaetes and sponges that are easily obtainable and useful in the system as bioremediators as well. The results demonstrate an easy, natural obtaining of large biomass of sabellid polychaetes settling especially from about a 4 to 10 m depth. Sponges and macroalgae need to be periodically cleaned from the fouling covering. The macroalgae cycle was different from that of invertebrates and requires the cultivation of two different species with about a 6-month cycle for each one. The present study represents one of the first attempts at IMTA in the Mediterranean area where invertebrates and macroalgae are co-cultured in an inshore fish farm. Possible utilization of the produced biomass is also suggested

Antioxidant effect of a fermented powder of Lady Joy bean in primary rat hepatocytes

AbstractThe role and beneficial effects of plant and food extracts against various diseases induced by oxidative stress have received much attention in recent years. Legumes are rich in bioactive compounds, and some studies suggest a correlation between their consumption and a reduced incidence of diseases. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were used to investigate whether and how an extract obtained from a fermented powder of bean named Lady Joy (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is able to regulate antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes through the NRF2 pathway, inhibit NF-kB activation, and reduce

SARS-CoV-2 infection in beta thalassemia: Preliminary data from the Italian experience

Patients with pre\u2010existent chronic morbidities are likely to be more severely affected by SARS\u2010Cov2 infection, but no data are available regarding Thalassemic Syndromes (TS). Note, TS and hemoglobin variants represent, according to WHO, one of the most frequent causes of anemia, affecting more than 7% of the world population.1 Thalassemic Syndromes are classified in either transfusion\u2010dependent thalassemia (TDT) or non\u2010transfusion\u2010dependent thalassemia (NTDT). Infectious complications, mainly from bacteria, constitute a common cause of mortality and morbidity in TS. Stress erythropoiesis, iron overload, splenectomy and adrenal insufficiency among others may contribute to increase susceptibility to infection.2 To verify the impact of SARS\u2010CoV\u20102 infection on TS, we set\u2010up a specific survey by electronic Case Report Form (eCRF).3 Inclusion criteria require at least 15\u2009days of follow\u2010up from either the onset of symptoms or SARS\u2010CoV2 positivity. The survey was approved by Ethics Committee and eCRF was shared with the Centers of Italian Hemoglobinopathies Network. The \u201cSociet\ue0 Italiana Talassemie ed Emoglobinopatie\u201d (SITE), has estimated the presence in Italy of approximately 5000 TDT and 1900 NTDT patients.3 As of 10 April 2020, 11 cases of TS and COVID\u201019 have been collected (see supplementary information). All the reported patients are in Northern Italy, where the rate of infection is higher, reflecting the national epidemiology. The mean age is 44\u2009\ub1\u200911\u2009years (range 31\u201061\u2009years) and 55% (6/11) are females. Ten patients are TDT, and one is NTDT. All the patients have thalassemia associated comorbidities, eight are splenectomized, and one patient (#9 in the supplementary table) has pulmonary hypertension treated with sildenafil. The likely source of infection has been detected in 55% (6/11) of cases: two had contacts with COVID\u201019 positive subjects, and four had occupational exposure (three are nurses working in hospital or assisted living facilities). Three patients were asymptomatic. One patient (#3 in supplementary information) was admitted for high fever and bone marrow hypoplasia, lymphopenia, and agranulocytosis (on treatment with deferiprone) and tested positive at the third swab. Six out of 11 were hospitalized, but no one required mechanical ventilation. The patient with more severe symptoms who required more intensive ventilation support with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has a history of diffuse large B\u2010cell lymphoma, treated with chemotherapy in the previous year, currently in complete remission. Of the six people admitted to the hospital, only three received supposedly specific treatment for COVID\u201019: one hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), one HCQ plus ritonavir/darunavir, and one HCQ plus anakinra. Patient #3 did not receive HCQ due to concomitant therapy with amiodarone and an increased risk of life\u2010threatening arrhythmia. The clinical course ranged from 10 to 29\u2009days. Ten patients have clinically recovered and are on a daily remote phone call follow\u2010up. Splenectomy which was present in 8/11 patients did not seem to affect the clinical course. Of note, except for the patient with myelosuppression, no increase in blood requirement was observed. When luspatercept treatment was halted in the NTDT patient, hemoglobin fell from 110 to 82 g/L, a value similar to the pre\u2010luspatercept period. Neither death nor severe SARS or signs of cytokines storm were observed in these 11 subjects, which may be surprising, taking into account the mean age and the presence of severe comorbidities. Our data, although preliminary, do not indicate increased severity of COVID\u201019 in TS. A larger number of cases needs to be collected to define the impact of this new infection and its outcome in these fragile patients