Understanding preferences for nature based and sustainable tourism. The role of personal values and general and specific environmental attitudes

This paper reports the results of a study which investigated the social psychological correlates of people’s preferences for sustainable and unsustainable tourism activities. Two-hundred-eighty-two participants from two Italian cities responded to a questionnaire which recorded their tourism preferences, their general pro-environmental attitudes and values, and their specific attitudes towards sustainable tourism. Results showed positive correlations among the constructs considered. Groups of participants differing in their tourism preferences were also identified and the paper discusses the way in which the social psychological variables considered here may be used to plan adequate strategies and management instruments able to address crucial issues of sustainability in tourism, including, for example, tourists’ ecological behaviors “on site” and their educational needs

Modulation of c-Jun NH2-Terminal (JNK) by Cholinergic Autoantibodies from Patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome

Background: We wanted to determine (via an immunopharmacological approach) whether the c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase (JNK) cascade is phosphorylated in the submandibular gland by carbachol and cholinergic autoantibodies (IgG) present in the sera of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) by interaction and activation of salivary gland muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). Methods: The JNK, PGE2 and NOS assays were measured in rat sub- mandibular gland with pSS IgG and carbachol alone or in the presence of different blocker agents. Results: pSS IgG- activated M3 mAChRs stimulated JNK phosphorylation whereas the activation of M1 mAChRs by carbachol stimulated JNK phosphorylation involving calcium-activated mechanism. The intracellular pathway leading to pSS IgG-induced biological effects on JNK activity involved activation of protein kinase C (PKC), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes. Also, activation of COX-2 and COX-1 by pSS IgG and carbachol-induced PGE2 generation were involved. Conclusion: These results may contribute to better understanding the modulatory role of JNK enzymes by cholinergic autoantibodies from pSS patients acting on mAChR in rat submandibular gland.Fil: Borda, Enri Santiago. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Passafaro, Daniela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Reina, Silvia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Sterin Borda, Leonor. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentin

Early-onset epileptic encephalopathy caused by a reduced sensitivity of Kv7.2 potassium channels to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate

Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 subunits underlie the M-current, a neuronal K(+) current characterized by an absolute functional requirement for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)). Kv7.2 gene mutations cause early-onset neonatal seizures with heterogeneous clinical outcomes, ranging from self-limiting benign familial neonatal seizures to severe early-onset epileptic encephalopathy (Kv7.2-EE). In this study, the biochemical and functional consequences prompted by a recurrent variant (R325G) found independently in four individuals with severe forms of neonatal-onset EE have been investigated. Upon heterologous expression, homomeric Kv7.2 R325G channels were non-functional, despite biotin-capture in Western blots revealed normal plasma membrane subunit expression. Mutant subunits exerted dominant-negative effects when incorporated into heteromeric channels with Kv7.2 and/or Kv7.3 subunits. Increasing cellular PIP(2) levels by co-expression of type 1γ PI(4)P5-kinase (PIP5K) partially recovered homomeric Kv7.2 R325G channel function. Currents carried by heteromeric channels incorporating Kv7.2 R325G subunits were more readily inhibited than wild-type channels upon activation of a voltage-sensitive phosphatase (VSP), and recovered more slowly upon VSP switch-off. These results reveal for the first time that a mutation-induced decrease in current sensitivity to PIP(2) is the primary molecular defect responsible for Kv7.2-EE in individuals carrying the R325G variant, further expanding the range of pathogenetic mechanisms exploitable for personalized treatment of Kv7.2-related epilepsies

Polinômios para modelar a trajetória de crescimento de tourinhos em provas de ganho em peso.

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de identificar o tipo de polinômio e a ordem de ajuste mais adequados para modelagem da trajetória média de crescimento de tourinhos Nelore, MA (21/32 Charolês + 11/32 Nelore) e Canchim em provas de ganho em peso. As trajetórias médias de crescimento foram ajustadas por meio de polinômios ordinários e de Legendre (linear até quíntico) e Bsplines quadráticos (com dois até seis intervalos regulares). Nas comparações envolvendo apenas os modelos com os mesmos números de parâmetros, os B-splines promoveram os melhores ajustes. O modelo com polinômio B-spline com seis intervalos foi considerado como o melhor para as raças Canchim e MA. Para a raça Nelore, o B-spline com quatro intervalos foi o modelo com melhor ajuste de acordo com o Critério de Informação de Akaike Consistente

The phenomenology of the unconscious in the work of Machado de Assis

In this article we seek, firstly, to elucidate how Machado de Assis developed the conception of the unconscious in the novel Helena (1876) and in the short story Uma senhora (1883). Secondly, we examine how his conception of unconscious can be elucidated phenomenologically, from the relation between reflective and pre-reflective awareness. In these narratives, Machado reveals how certain emotions, although not reflectively apprehended by the subject who lives them, manifest indirectly in actions, in body expressions and in the understanding of the world.Neste artigo buscamos, em primeiro lugar, elucidar como Machado de Assis desenvolveu a concepção de inconsciente no romance Helena (1876) e no conto Uma senhora (1883). Em segundo lugar, examinamos como sua concepção de inconsciente pode ser elucidada fenomenologicamente, a partir da relação entre consciência reflexiva e pré-reflexiva. Nestas narrativas, Machado revela como certas emoções, embora não sejam apreendidas reflexivamente pelo sujeito que as vive, manifestam-se indiretamente nas ações, nas expressões corporais e no modo de compreender o mundo

Psicología eidética y teoría del conocimiento en Investigaciones lógicas, de Husserl

In Logical Investigations, published by Husserl in 1900/1901, the phenomenology is understood as a peculiar form of descriptive psychology, elaborated to serve as a foundation for the theory of knowledge. The peculiarity of this descriptive psychology is that it would be able to achieve a priori knowledge on the psyche. In this article, we try to show, in contrast to the classical empiricism of the 16th and 17th century and the Kant’s transcendental idealism, the peculiarity of the psychological method in Logical Investigations, as well as the reasons by which this method was founded as the basis for the theory of knowledge.En Recherches logiques, publiés par Husserl en 1900/1901, la phénoménologie est comprise comme une forme particulière de la psychologie descriptive, mis au point pour servir de base pour la théorie de la connaissance. La particularité de cette psychologie descriptive est qu’il serait en mesure d’atteindre une connaissance a priori sur le psychisme. Nous avons essayé de montrer, en contraste avec l’empirisme classique du XVIe et XVIIe siècles et l’idéalisme transcendantal de Kant, la particularité de cette méthode psychologique présent dans les Recherches logiques et le sens dans lequel cette méthode a été mise comme le fondement de la théorie de la connaissance.En Investigaciones lógicas, de Husserl publicada en 1900/1901, se entiende la fenomenología como una forma peculiar de la psicología descriptiva, desarrollada para servir como base en la teoría del conocimiento. La peculiaridad de esta psicología descriptiva es que sería capaz de lograr un conocimiento a priori sobre la psique. En este texto se pretende mostrar, en contraste con el empirismo clásico de los siglos XVI y XVII y el idealismo trascendental de Kant, la peculiaridad de este método psicológico en esta obra y el sentido en que este método fue puesto como fundamento de la teoría del conocimiento.Nas Investigações lógicas, publicadas por Husserl em 1900/1901, a fenomenologia é entendida como uma forma peculiar de psicologia descritiva, elaborada a fim de servir de fundamento da teoria do conhecimento. A peculiaridade dessa psicologia descritiva é que ela seria capaz de alcançar conhecimentos a priori sobre a psique. Neste artigo, procuramos mostrar, em contraste com o empirismo clássico dos séculos XVI e XVII e o idealismo transcendental kantiano, a peculiaridade do método psicológico presente nas Investigações lógicas, bem como o sentido pelo qual esse método foi posto como fundamento da teoria do conhecimento

CHMP2B mutants linked to frontotemporal dementia impair maturation of dendritic spines.: CHMP2B and dendritic spines

International audienceThe highly conserved ESCRT-III complex is responsible for deformation and cleavage of membranes during endosomal trafficking and other cellular activities. In humans, dominant mutations in the ESCRT-III subunit CHMP2B cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The decade-long process leading to this cortical degeneration is not well understood. One possibility is that, akin to other neurodegenerative diseases, the pathogenic protein affects the integrity of dendritic spines and synapses before any neuronal death. Using confocal microscopy and 3D reconstruction, we examined whether expressing the FTD-linked mutants CHMP2B(intron5) and CHMP2B(Delta10) in cultured hippocampal neurons modified the number or structure of spines. Both mutants induced a significant decrease in the proportion of large spines with mushroom morphology, without overt degeneration. Furthermore, CHMP2B(Delta10) induced a drop in frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents, suggesting that the more potent synapses were lost. These effects seemed unrelated to changes in autophagy. Depletion of endogenous CHMP2B by RNAi resulted in morphological changes similar to those induced by mutant CHMP2B, consistent with dominant-negative activity of pathogenic mutants. Thus, CHMP2B is required for spine growth. Taken together, these results demonstrate that a mutant ESCRT-III subunit linked to a human neurodegenerative disease can disrupt the normal pattern of spine development

Potential preferences for alternative forms of sustainable tourism: The case of rural and intergenerational tourism.

This chapter gives a social-psychological analysis of tourists’ preferences and experiences concerning alternative (more sustainable) forms of tourism. After a discussion of the principles and definitions of sustainable tourism, the literature on tourists’ preferences for sustainable tourism will be reviewed and the potentialities of alternative forms of tourism for tourism sustainability will be highlighted. Subsequently, two examples of alternative tourism experiences will be introduced and critically discussed in the light of such literature: the case of rural tourism and that of intergenerational tourism. The former is considered to be promising form of tourism able to improve the culture and the economy of rural areas and agricultural production. An interesting case is that of China. During the last 20 years, thanks to a policy of governmental incentives, some Chinese rural areas have seen the birth and progressive growth of various models of rural tourism. These combine the tourists-citizens needs to experience a style of simple life and the enhancement of agriculture. This chapter will present and analyse the framework and the characteristics of that type of sustainable tourism. The second kind of alternative tourism (intergenerational tourism) refers to the tourism experiences ideated by the Italian Laboratory for Intergenerational Meetings and implemented over the past twenty years in various Italian cities. In a time when relationships among generational groups are mostly superficial or non-existent, the Laboratory has proposed a series of research/experimentations of tourism activities aimed at reducing the distance between groups of different generations. An interconnected set of activities combining indoor (e.g., computer lab, theatrical performances) and outdoor (e.g., explorations of historic and natural trails) experiences have been devised to foster communication among participants of different ages and to strengthen their relationships by reducing reciprocal prejudices and stereotypes. The chapter will sum up the results of the investigations carried out during the many research/experimentations that have taken place over the years