The Origins, Operation and Future of Farmers’ Markets in Scotland

There have been a number of supply chain adjustments in food and farming in Scotland in recent years, one of which has been the growth in the number of “farmers’ markets” (FMs). These are markets in which agricultural produce from a defined local area is sold by stallholders involved in the production process. The first markets in Scotland started in 1999, and the sector now has an estimated annual turnover of around £7m. While their origins can be traced to the crisis in farm incomes in the late 1990’s, they have come to be seen as a way of providing a range of market and non-market benefits to producers, consumers and wider society. The findings of a recent SAC project indicate that farmers’ markets are complex and display considerable variation, e.g. in terms of their: origins; size; turnover; location; product range; management; strengths and weaknesses; perceived threats. They face a range of challenges, including: retaining critical mass; maintaining their brand; managing costs; improving co-ordination. Despite these, it is argued that farmers’ markets can continue to put the “spring back in the step” of Scottish farming, while providing a range of benefits for town centres, communities and consumers.Marketing, Farm Management,

Exploring the meaning of disproportionate costs for the practical implementation of the Water Framework Directive

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is perhaps the most ambitious piece of environmental legislation in the history of the European Union. The Directive consolidates existing water-related legislation and has the stated objective of delivering good status (GS) for Europe’s surface waters and groundwaters. But meeting GS is cost dependent, and in some water bodies pollution abatements costs may be high or judged as disproportionate. The exact definition and assessment of disproportionate costs is central for the justification of time-frame derogations and/or lowering the environmental objectives (standards) for compliance at a water body. Official guidance is somewhat discretionary about the interpretation of disproportionate costs. Building on basic cost-benefit theory, this paper attempts to clarify the meaning of disproportionate cost to non-economists, and to convey a consistent interpretation that should underlie the development of a practical derogation decision making across all member statesDerogations, Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA), Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), Marginal Abatement Costs (MAC), Marginal Social Costs (MSC), Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

In vitro Study of the Microsporidian Parasite Loma morhua, Using Cod-derived Cells and Novel Culture Techniques

The cod populations of the Canadian Atlantic were once highly productive, generating enormous annual harvests and attracting fishing fleets from many nations. However, through the late 1980s improved fishing technology, unprecedented capture rates, and poor fishery management brought wild stocks beyond the point of collapse. Dwindling harvests in the early 1990s resulted in cod fishing moratoriums, and an end to the productivity for which the fishery was once renowned. Atlantic cod remains a popular food worldwide and the collapse of cod fisheries has done little to abate market demands. Consequently, the cod is considered a prime candidate for aquaculture production, providing the impetus for commercial-scale farming operations. As aquaculture efforts continue to grow, disease management challenges have become a prominent concern. Many parasites are prevalent on cod farms, including intracellular pathogens such as viruses and microsporidians. Detailed research into diseases affecting farming operations is imperative if commercial-scale cod aquaculture is to develop. Piscine cell culture techniques represent a valuable tool for studying the intracellular pathogens currently impeding cod aquaculture. To date however, few cell culture models have been made available for the Atlantic cod. This research details the establishment of a larval cod cell line, GML-5, investigations of infective processes in microsporidian parasites, and development of in vitro culture methods for a microsporidian parasite of the Atlantic cod. GML-5 cells have been cultured for two years and survived more than 26 passages in L-15 media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and incubated at 18°C. The cells have tested positive for a marker of stem cell-like characteristics, had their origin identified as Gadus morhua by DNA barcoding, and been cryopreserved for long-term storage. The cells have been successfully used to support the growth of two microsporidian parasites. Infection-mediating effects of Mg2+ and EDTA have been confirmed in a previously-untested microsporidian species and novel pH treatments were successfully used to stimulate infection and development of Loma morhua in GML-5 cells. The results of this research represent the foundations of an in vitro infection model for Loma morhua, and demonstrate shared responses to specific chemical conditions by microsporidian parasites with highly dissimilar host species

Improving the Accuracy of UK Regulatory Cost Estimates

UK Government departments are required to undertake a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) when introducing any policy change that places a burden on businesses, charities, the voluntary sector or individuals. Part of this assessment involves the appraisal of the costs (and benefits) associated with complying with all the available options, as well as the wider economic costs. Recent evidence has suggested that the compliance costs, when assessed ex post, tend to be lower than the ex ante assessment made beforehand (see e.g. Harrington et al 1999). Accurate cost estimates are important as errors can lead to under or over regulation. This, in turn, can result in growth and innovation being hindered or, in the case of under regulation, growth being achieved at the expense of the natural resource base (including human health and well being). In order to shed more light on the validity of RIA cost estimates and identify ways of improving their accuracy, Defra decided to commission a study comparing the ex ante and ex post costs of complying with regulatory changes. A total of eight case studies were carried out for this study, covering a range of recent environmental, agricultural and food-related regulations in the UK. Preliminary findings of this study indicate that while ex ante costs are often overestimated, there can also be significant underestimates. Reasons for errors in cost estimation are discussed and strategies for improving their accuracy suggested.Public Economics,

HDAC inhibitors increase NRF2-signaling in tumour cells and blunt the efficacy of co-adminstered cytotoxic agents

The NRF2 signalling cascade provides a primary response against electrophilic chemicals and oxidative stress. The activation of NRF2-signaling is anticipated to have adverse clinical consequences; NRF2 is activated in a number of cancers and, additionally, its pharmacological activation by one compound can reduce the toxicity or efficiency of a second agent administered concomitantly. In this work, we have analysed systematically the ability of 152 research, pre-clinical or clinically used drugs to induce an NRF2 response using the MCF7-AREc32 NRF2 reporter. Ten percent of the tested drugs induced an NRF2 response. The NRF2 activators were not restricted to classical cytotoxic alkylating agents but also included a number of emerging anticancer drugs, including an IGF1-R inhibitor (NVP-AEW541), a PIM-1 kinase inhibitor (Pim1 inhibitor 2), a PLK1 inhibitor (BI 2536) and most strikingly seven of nine tested HDAC inhibitors. These findings were further confirmed by demonstrating NRF2-dependent induction of endogenous AKR genes, biomarkers of NRF2 activity. The ability of HDAC inhibitors to stimulate NRF2-signalling did not diminish their own potency as antitumour agents. However, when used to pre-treat cells, they did reduce the efficacy of acrolein. Taken together, our data suggest that the ability of drugs to stimulate NRF2 activity is common and should be investigated as part of the drug-development process

Geodynamic setting and origin of the Oman/UAE ophiolite

The ~500km-long mid-Cretaceous Semail nappe of the Sultanate of Oman and UAE (henceforth referred to as the Oman ophiolite) is the largest and best-preserved ophiolite complex known. It is of particular importance because it is generally believed to have an internal structure and composition closely comparable to that of crust formed at the present-day East Pacific Rise (EPR), making it our only known on-land analogue for ocean lithosphere formed at a fast spreading rate. On the basis of this assumption Oman has long played a pivotal role in guiding our conceptual understanding of fast-spreading ridge processes, as modern fast-spread ocean crust is largely inaccessible

Differential gene expression associated with postnatal equine articular cartilage maturation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Articular cartilage undergoes an important maturation process from neonate to adult that is reflected by alterations in matrix protein organization and increased heterogeneity of chondrocyte morphology. In the horse, these changes are influenced by exercise during the first five months of postnatal life. Transcriptional profiling was used to evaluate changes in articular chondrocyte gene expression during postnatal growth and development.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Total RNA was isolated from the articular cartilage of neonatal (0–10 days) and adult (4–5 years) horses, subjected to one round of linear RNA amplification, and then applied to a 9,367-element equine-specific cDNA microarray. Comparisons were made with a dye-swap experimental design. Microarray results for selected genes (COL2A1, COMP, P4HA1, TGFB1, TGFBR3, TNC) were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-six probe sets, which represent 45 gene products, were up-regulated (p < 0.01) in chondrocytes of neonatal articular cartilage relative to chondrocytes of adult articular cartilage. Conversely, 586 probe sets, which represent 499 gene products, were up-regulated (p < 0.01) in chondrocytes of adult articular cartilage relative to chondrocytes of neonatal articular cartilage. Collagens, matrix-modifying enzymes, and provisional matrix non-collagenous proteins were expressed at higher levels in the articular cartilage of newborn foals. Those genes with increased mRNA abundance in adult chondrocytes included leucine-rich small proteoglycans, matrix assembly, and cartilage maintenance proteins.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Differential expression of genes encoding matrix proteins and matrix-modifying enzymes between neonates and adults reflect a cellular maturation process in articular chondrocytes. Up-regulated transcripts in neonatal cartilage are consistent with growth and expansion of the articular surface. Expression patterns in mature articular cartilage indicate a transition from growth to homeostasis, and tissue function related to withstanding shear and weight-bearing stresses.</p