Changes of Nerve Growth Factor Synthesis in Nonneuronal Cells in Response to Sciatic Nerve Transection

The intact sciatic nerve contains levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) that are comparable to those of densely innervated peripheral target tissues of NGF-responsive (sympathetic and sensory) neurons. There, the high NGF levels are reflected by correspondingly high mRNA^(NGF) levels. In the intact sciatic nerve, mRNA^(NGF) levels were very low, thus indicating that the contribution of locally synthesized NGF by nonneuronal cells is small. However, after transection an increase of up to 15-fold in mRNA^(NGF) was measured in 4-mm segments collected both proximally and distally to the transection site. Distally to the transection site, augmented mRNA^(NGF) levels occurred in all three 4-mm segments from 6 h to 2 wk after transection, the longest time period investigated. The augmented local NGF synthesis after transection was accompanied by a reexpression of NGF receptors by Schwann cells (NGF receptors normally disappear shortly after birth). Proximal to the transection site, the augmented NGF synthesis was restricted to the very end of the nerve stump that acts as a "substitute target organ" for the regenerating NGF-responsive nerve fibers. While the mRNA^(NGF) levels in the nerve stump correspond to those of a densely innervated peripheral organ, the volume is too small to fully replace the lacking supply from the periphery. This is reflected by the fact that in the more proximal part of the transected sciatic nerve, where mRNA^(NGF) remained unchanged, the NGF levels reached only 40% of control values. In situ hybridization experiments demonstrated that after transection all nonneuronal cells express mRNA^(NGF) and not only those ensheathing the nerve fibers of NGF-responsive neurons

Manual for environmental cost accounting: Effects on the resource and energy efficiency of production

The term environmental costs is not defined on a clear basis. Depending on interests and institutions different costs are regarded, e. a. waste disposal or investment budgets. For this reason companies, but also public decision-makers miss common grounds for comparison of the costs for environmental management and measures for reduction of those efforts. The traditional companies accounting systems mostly don't separate the costs that result from environmental management activities, but sum them up in general costs. There is no consistent methodology for the assessment of environmental costs for their evaluation and for their integration into traditional accounting systems. Many responsible environmental managers have a technical background and therefore don't actually know which environmental activities actually result in what environmental costs and how they can be influenced. The project on behalf of the Austrian Ministry for environment contained: 1. Development of a methodological framework 2. Company case studies with BRAU AG, ELIN and IMMUNO AG 3. Manual for environmental cost assessment: The manual has been published in September 1997 within the publication series of the ministry of Environment. It will probably be translated into english and spanish by the time of the conference. A methodical approach is described that makes work much easier for a wide range of companies in distinguishing between various environmental activities and in ascertaining, allocating and evaluating environmental costs. Definition of environmental costs: Costs that may arise as a result of corporate environmental activities - i.e. statutory or voluntary activities aimed at avoiding, reducing, treating and Treatment/disposing corporate waste and emissions - but also as a result of lacking corporate environmental policy. A detailed checklist of "Corporate Environmental Costs" was developed which facilitates delimitation of corporate environmental activities and ascertainment of contingent costs. This checklist is comprised of various categories of environmental costs tuned to the Austrian standard chart of accounts. These cost categories list exemplary environmental activities so as to facilitate data collection. The checklist "Corporate Environmental Costs" contains the following categories of costs: 1. Treatment and disposal costs 2. Material value of corporate waste and emissions 3. Depreciations and financing costs of environmental investments 4. Personnel costs 5. Costs of (further) training 6. Environmental duties and contributions 7. Advertising and PR costs 8. Costs of outside services 9. Other corporate environmental costs The checklist "Corporate Environmental Costs" distinguishes between the following corporate environmental activities for the areas ? corporate waste ? energy (heat/cold) ? air/noise ? water ? other and records the contingent environmental costs, thus indicating first apparent avoidance potentials. Practically tested worksheets kept separately for each area (corporate waste, energy, air/noise, water) facilitate data collection work.