Profili hard-path e soft-path dei Turisti 4L in Italia: risultati di un'indagine sui viaggiatori del CTS.

Il presente lavoro si inserisce all'interno degli studi sul turismo sostenibile e si focalizza sull'analisi della domanda turistica nei Paesi sviluppati. Attraverso precedenti lavori, il gruppo di ricerca ha identificato il framework del "4L Tourism", una forma di turismo che sintetizza le principali motivazioni di vacanza attorno a quattro asset di attrazione (Landscape, Leisure, Learning, Limit), i quali identificano, a loro volta, specifiche modalità di organizzazione dell'offerta del prodotto turistico. Dopo avere evidenziato alcune criticità definitorie che emergono dalla letteratura sul turismo sostenibile e avere ripreso le dimensioni caratterizzanti il "4L Tourism", il paper presenta una ricerca sul campo condotta in Italia sui viaggiatori del Centro Turistico Studentesco e Giovanile (CTS). La ricerca, volutamente indirizzata su una popolazione turistica che presentava specifici caratteri in termini di comportamenti e motivazioni, ha consentito di approfondire l'importanza delle dimensioni del "4L Tourism", evidenziando anche, in coerenza con gli approcci elaborati in letteratura, la possibilità di graduare la sensibilità dei turisti nei confronti delle singole dimensioni. Ciò ha consentito di identificare due profili ("Turista 4L hard-path" e "Turista 4L soft-path") sulla base dell'intensità della motivazione e dell'importanza del singolo elemento. La ricerca ha inoltre permesso di definire un metodo per la stima della consistenza della domanda turistica che si riferisce al "4L Tourism", aspetto particolarmente rilevante stante l'esigenza di cogliere un fenomeno emergente anche in chiave di progettazione dell'offerta turistica.turismo sostenibile; 4l tourism; profilo "turista 4l hard-path"; profilo "turista 4l soft-path"; stima della domanda

Estrous cycle influences the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the hypothalamus and limbic system of female mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nitric oxide plays an important role in the regulation of male and female sexual behavior in rodents, and the expression of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is influenced by testosterone in the male rat, and by estrogens in the female. We have here quantitatively investigated the distribution of nNOS immunoreactive (ir) neurons in the limbic hypothalamic region of intact female mice sacrificed during different phases of estrous cycle.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Changes were observed in the medial preoptic area (MPA) (significantly higher number in estrus) and in the arcuate nucleus (Arc) (significantly higher number in proestrus). In the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus (VMHvl) and in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) no significant changes have been observed. In addition, by comparing males and females, we observed a stable sex dimorphism (males have a higher number of nNOS-ir cells in comparison to almost all the different phases of the estrous cycle) in the VMHvl and in the BST (when considering only the less intensely stained elements). In the MPA and in the Arc sex differences were detected only comparing some phases of the cycle.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data demonstrate that, in mice, the expression of nNOS in some hypothalamic regions involved in the control of reproduction and characterized by a large number of estrogen receptors is under the control of gonadal hormones and may vary according to the rapid variations of hormonal levels that take place during the estrous cycle.</p

Perinatal exposure to methoxychlor enhances adult cognitive responses and hippocampal neurogenesis in mice

International audienceDuring perinatal life, sex steroids, such as estradiol, have marked effects on the development and function of the nervous system. Environmental estrogens or xenoestrogens are man-made chemicals, which animal and human population encounter in the environment and which are able to disrupt the functioning of the endocrine system. Scientific interest in the effects of exposure to xenoestrogens has focused more on fertility and reproductive behaviors, while the effects on cognitive behaviors have received less attention. Therefore, the present study explored whether the organochlorine insecticide Methoxychlor (MXC), with known xenoestrogens properties, administered during the perinatal period (from gestational day 11 to postnatal day 8) to pregnant-lactating females, at an environmentally relevant dose (20 µg/kg (body weight)/day), would also affect learning and memory functions depending on the hippocampus of male and female offspring mice in adulthood. When tested in adulthood, MXC perinatal exposure led to an increase in anxiety-like behavior and in short-term spatial working memory in both sexes. Emotional learning was also assessed using a contextual fear paradigm and MXC treated male and female mice showed an enhanced freezing behavior compared to controls. These results were correlated with an increased survival of adult generated cells in the adult hippocampus. In conclusion, our results show that perinatal exposure to an environmentally relevant dose of MXC has an organizational effect on hippocampus-dependent memory and emotional behaviors

Modification of nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in female mouse limbic system during the estrous cycle

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous neuronal messenger, synthesized by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and implicated in the regulation of several physiological and behavioral functions. NO-producing neurons have been localized in numerous regions of the mammalian and non-mammalian central nervous system. In rodents, NOS-immunoreactive neurons and fibers were described in hypothalamic and limbic nuclei belonging to neural circuits implicated in the control of reproductive behavior. Fluctuating levels of estradiol and progesterone during the estrous cycle may induce structural changes in several brain nuclei, where some neurons express estrogen receptors. Various reports indicate that the expression of nNOS is influenced by estrogens in the female. Therefore, to clarify if the nitrergic system is a target for gonadal hormones in physiological conditions, we have investigated the effects of estrous cycle in the expression of nNOS immunoreactivity in different nuclei of the limbic system on two-month-old intact female mice. Changes were observed in the medial preoptic area (significantly higher number in estrus) and in the arcuate nucleus (significantly higher number in proestrus). In the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus and in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis no significant changes have been observed. In hippocampus the number of nNOS positive neurons fluctuates during the estrous cycle, reaching its peak during proestrus and metaestrus, and these variations were statistically significant. These results suggest that, in mice, the expression of nNOS in some limbic regions, involved in the control of reproduction and characterized by a large number of estrogen receptors, is under the control of gonadal hormones and may vary according to the short-term variations of hormonal levels that take place during the estrous cycle.? This study has been supported by grants from MURST and University of Torino (SG and GCP)