Circular Economy in the Agrifood Sector

The volume presents some of the primary outcomes of the SinCE-AFC projects. Its main aim was to provide horizontal mechanisms to improve circular economy practices among SMEs of the agrifood sector. After a brief introduction to the concept of circular economy applied to the agrifood chain, the book illustrates the policy framework that the EU has established to improve circular practices in this sector, discussing drivers and barriers to their implementation

Circular Economy in the Agrifood Sector

The volume presents some of the primary outcomes of the SinCE-AFC projects. Its main aim was to provide horizontal mechanisms to improve circular economy practices among SMEs of the agrifood sector. After a brief introduction to the concept of circular economy applied to the agrifood chain, the book illustrates the policy framework that the EU has established to improve circular practices in this sector, discussing drivers and barriers to their implementation

The processing of Holliday junctions by BLM and WRN helicases is regulated by p53.

BLM, WRN, and p53 are involved in the homologous DNA recombination pathway. The DNA structure-specific helicases, BLM and WRN, unwind Holliday junctions (HJ), an activity that could suppress inappropriate homologous recombination during DNA replication. Here, we show that purified, recombinant p53 binds to BLM and WRN helicases and attenuates their ability to unwind synthetic HJ in vitro. The p53 248W mutant reduces abilities of both to bind HJ and inhibit helicase activities, whereas the p53 273H mutant loses these abilities. Moreover, full-length p53 and a C-terminal polypeptide (residues 373-383) inhibit the BLM and WRN helicase activities, but phosphorylation at Ser(376) or Ser(378) completely abolishes this inhibition. Following blockage of DNA replication, Ser(15) phospho-p53, BLM, and RAD51 colocalize in nuclear foci at sites likely to contain DNA replication intermediates in cells. Our results are consistent with a novel mechanism for p53-mediated regulation of DNA recombinational repair that involves p53 post-translational modifications and functional protein-protein interactions with BLM and WRN DNA helicases

RECQL5 cooperates with Topoisomerase II alpha in DNA decatenation and cell cycle progression

DNA decatenation mediated by Topoisomerase II is required to separate the interlinked sister chromatids post-replication. SGS1, a yeast homolog of the human RecQ family of helicases interacts with Topoisomerase II and plays a role in chromosome segregation, but this functional interaction has yet to be identified in higher organisms. Here, we report a physical and functional interaction of Topoisomerase IIα with RECQL5, one of five mammalian RecQ helicases, during DNA replication. Direct interaction of RECQL5 with Topoisomerase IIα stimulates the decatenation activity of Topoisomerase IIα. Consistent with these observations, RECQL5 co-localizes with Topoisomerase IIα during S-phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, cells with stable depletions of RECQL5 display a slow proliferation rate, a G2/M cell cycle arrest and late S-phase cycling defects. Metaphase spreads generated from RECQL5-depleted cells exhibit undercondensed and entangled chromosomes. Further, RECQL5-depleted cells activate a G2/M checkpoint and undergo apoptosis. These phenotypes are similar to those observed when Topoisomerase II catalytic activity is inhibited. These results reveal an important role for RECQL5 in the maintenance of genomic stability and a new insight into the decatenation process

Sustainable Innovation in Metropolitan Agriculture of Bologna: Good Practices and Innovation System

Applying the theoretical and operative framework of the MADRE project the author describes several innovative cases and good practices of Metropolitan Agriculture (MA) within the Metropolitan area of Bologna (Italy). The good practices are selected among the stakeholders of the so-called \u201cquadruple helix\u201d, and briefly described through their main innovative features or approach according to six innovation themes related to MA. For each analyzed case (or practice) has been thus highlighted the contribution to the eight challenges identified by the operative framework of MADRE, in order to provide an easy guideline for the decision-makers. Finally, without an exhaustive presumption in a constantly evolving scenario, the peculiar \u201cinnovation system\u201d of the Metropolitan area of Bologna is synthesized in a chart that summarized the identified innovation themes and the rating of the different challenges

Turismo Responsable de gestión colectiva. El papel de la cooperación comunitaria en el turismo italiano: entre identidad, raíces y desarrollo local

El turismo representa hoy la primera industria cultural mundial, tanto que el potencial turístico de los lugares se destaca cada vez más como palanca para el desarrollo local endógeno y la valorización de las especificidades locales. Incluso en ausencia de recursos locales específicos, el territorio y la identidad de los lugares pueden valorizarse en términos de turismo a través de la cooperación comunitaria. Este es el caso de algunas zonas del interior de Italia, en particular las zonas montañosas y/o del sur que han centrado su desarrollo en formas de turismo responsable de gestión colectiva. Explorando algunos estudios de casos italianos y adoptando un marco interpretativo a medio camino entre la innovación social y la economía civil, esta contribución pretende resaltar el potencial y los límites de este modelo

La collaborazione nelle reti alimentari alternative, tra online e offline

l presente contributo intende indagare, in maniera esplorativa, le pratiche collaborative all\u2019interno di quelle reti alternative di approvvigionamento alimentare che grazie tanto ale relazioni faccia a faccia che grazie all\u2019utilizzo delle moderne tecnologie digitali del web e di Internet, negli ultimi anni stanno prendendo sempre pi\uf9 piede, soprattutto su scala locale. Il capitolo dunque cerca di tratteggiare un frame interpretativo che insiste in particolare su aspetti qualitativi della dinamica collaborativa (forte o debole) in relazione ai modelli attivati (P2P o B2P) e considerando la tecnologia una sorta di variabile indipendente. L'analisi di diversi casi studio, sia online che offline, mostra tuttavia come le nuove tecnologie tendano ad inserirsi all'interno di un processo di progressiva istituzionalizzazione delle nicchie innovative (gi\ue0 in atto indipendentemente dagli sviluppi tecnologici) verso un rafforzamento ed una diffusione dei processi B2P caratterizzati da collaborazione debole

\ubfDel movimiento org\ue1nico al post-org\ue1nico? Cultura del movimiento y cultura del consumo en la evoluci\uf3n de la agricultura org\ue1nica en Italia

This essay aims to investigate the development of the organic agriculture movement and the evolution over time of its movement and consumer culture. The analysis is especially focused on the most recent evolution of the sector in the Italian context, which is characterized by a consumerist inflection and institutionalization of the sector that, in parallel with its growth, leads to talk of a possible \u201cconventionalization\u201d of organic agriculture. The discussion, therefore, takes up the hypothesis of a \u201cpost-organic movement\u201d, which is considered as a reaction to the above-mentioned processes and especially characterized also as a consumerist movement, identifiable in Italy in those alternative food networks characterized by the so-called solidarity economy. The post-organic hypothesis is therefore mainly presented as an analytical perspective that allows shedding light on some fundamental aspects of the recent evolution of the organic movement, as well as on the organic sector in general