The co-production of sustainability by learning networks. The case of reconstruction of knowledge and practices around bread production.

According to transition theories, a full adhesion to sustainability paradigm for agro- food system requires radical changes, addressed to redefine the whole socio-technical system underlying food production and consumption practices. Through them a complex re-organization of systems of knowledge, rules and norms of behaviour, and a re-design of the organisational and material infrastructures involved in production and consumption practices take place. Many grassroots initiatives, developing out of the conventional system and aimed at creating alterna- tives to it, are showing the potentials and also the challenges of this complex process of change. Interaction and learning processes developing within hybrid networks, including all the diverse actors engaged in the change, prove to be crucial to this process of innovation. Within these net- works actors mobilise their knowledge and create new frames of common understanding. This learning process results in shared knowledge which, translated into new attitudes and practices, allows a coherent re-configuration of all the components of the system, from the level of produc- tion to that of consumption. In this paper we aim at adopting this approach to deal with the innovation pathways that are af- fecting one of the agro-food chains which has been most transformed over the modernization of the agro-food system, the production of bread. In response to producers’ and consumers’ needs, in Italy this chain is at the centre of a myriad of local initiatives. Moving on a common trajectory of social innovation, they are committed to redefine genetic materials (through a different ap- proach to research), cultivation techniques and processing technologies (new knowledge and skills and appropriate equipment), organizational models (territorially and socially embedded), value chain (grounded on different shared values), cultural meanings. The learning processes that drive these changes stem from the interaction that develops among a variety of social and institu- tional actors. The analysis develops through a case study on a specific learning network in Tuscany. On the background of the multiple changes involved within the whole chain, an in-depth analysis of the aspects which interest the reorganization of the production phase allows to highlight the chal- lenges to be tackled in order to fully pursue sustainability

The invasion process of bovine erythrocyte by Babesia divergens: knowledge from an in vitro assay

Babesia divergens is a tick-transmitted apicomplexan parasite for which asexual multiplication in its vertebrate hosts is restricted to erythrocytes. Current knowledge of invasion of these target cells is limited. An efficient in vitro invasion assay was set up to gain access to this information. Parasites prepared from infected RBC, lysed by electroporation, and mixed with bovine RBC in a selected synthetic medium (RPMI 1640 supplemented with calcium) were able to establish subsequent cultures with parasitemia ranging from 6 to 14%. Free parasites remaining in the invasion medium could be eliminated by Percoll gradient and culture could be pursued with the freshly invaded erythrocytes. In this way, the invasion time window could be shortened to obtain a synchronised start of the culture or to study the kinetics of invasion. With this assay we demonstrate that 1) erythrocyte invasion by B. divergens is a rapid process since 70% of the invasion-competent parasites invaded the RBC in less than 45 s; 2) all invasion-competent parasites achieved invasion within 10 min of contact; 3) one erythrocyte could be invaded concomitantly by two merozoites; 4) despite a synchronous start, the parasite population evolved heterogeneously resulting in a progressive loss of synchronisation. Western blot analysis of proteins collected from invasion medium were performed with sera from animals experimentally infected with B. divergens and highlighted several proteins. The dose-dependent, inhibitory effects of these sera on B. divergens invasion suggest that these proteins might be involved in the invasion process. Further investigations are required for their characterisation

Individual heterogeneity in erythrocyte susceptibility to Babesia divergens is a critical factor for the outcome of experimental spleen-intact sheep infections

Susceptibility of sheep erythrocytes to Babesia divergens was investigated in vitro and a high inter-individual variability in their ability to support parasite population development was demonstrated, with some individuals having refractory red blood cells (RBC). As neither changes in growth conditions nor the use of different B. divergens strains influenced the level of susceptibility, the main factor postulated for this variability is the erythrocyte itself. Sheep therefore represent an excellent in vitro model to study the parasite-erythrocyte interaction. In addition, the existence of refractory RBC should help in the identification of the erythrocyte components required for B. divergens development. Experimental infections were carried out on spleen-intact sheep characterized by refractory or fully susceptible erythrocyte types. These differences translated into the successful infection of only those animals with susceptible erythrocytes: infected animals showed no clinical signs, but maintained an asymptomatic persistent infection, as usually observed in the natural bovine host. Sheep therefore represent model organisms that can allow us to study interactions between B. divergens and its vertebrate host at different levels of biological organisation, from the target cell to the intact animal, and represent an experimental infection model of concomitant immunity. Only a low percentage (13%) of the sheep population tested possessed susceptible erythrocytes and the potential role of sheep as a natural host or reservoir of B. divergens is discussed

Um estudo cartográfico do livro “O Campo e a Cidade” (1989) de Raymond Williams no cenário universitário brasileiro

This research intends to investigate the circulation of the book ‘O Campo e a Cidade: na história e na literatura’ (1973) by the welsh author Raymond Williams (1921-1988) in Brazil, starting from the date of its first translation to Portuguese in 1989. The data we found in the consulted online collections indicate that Williams' work in Brazil has outstanding presence in both public and private universities' libraries.Esta pesquisa procura investigar a circulação do livro O Campo e a Cidade: na história e na literatura (1973) do autor galês Raymond Williams (1921-1988) a partir de sua primeira tradução para o vernáculo em 1989. Os dados encontrados nos acervos online consultados indicam que no Brasil a produção de Williams tem presença destacada nas bibliotecas universitárias públicas e privadas

Empfangen, zuhören, hören: Das kleine Kind in der Maison Verte

(Aus dem Französischen übersetzt von Dagmar Ambass) In meiner Präsentation der Arbeit als accueillant in der Maison Verte werde ich drei Kinder im Alter von zweieinhalb Jahren vorstellen, die in einem Punkt eine Gemeinsamkeit aufweisen: Sie agieren in einer transgressiven Weise, die von ihren Eltern und der Gesellschaft nur schwer ertragen wird. Es handelt sich um kleine, schwierige Begebenheiten, die wir sowohl als Eltern als auch als Professionelle im Alltag mit einem Kind antreffen: Eine Verstocktheit, einen Biss, ein wiederholtes Übergehen eines Verbots, das, was wir als Erziehende häufig als Unfug bezeichnen. Im ersten Teil des Textes hören wir die Mütter über ihre Kinder sprechen. Wir vernehmen das leise, aber insistierende Echo des sozialen Diskurses und die wohlmeinenden oder zurückweisenden Reaktionen der anderen Eltern. Im zweiten Teil des Textes kommt das Kind zu Wort. Durch seine Gebärden, sein Handeln, sein Sprechen wendet es sich an die Eltern. Aber die Frage bleibt unhörbar für den Erwachsenen. Daher zieht der accueillant die wichtigen Lebensfragen in Betracht: die Sexualität, die Geburt, den Tod – Fragen, die Familienereignisse betreffen, vor denen die Eltern das Kind schützen wollten

Babesia and its hosts: adaptation to long-lasting interactions as a way to achieve efficient transmission

Babesia, the causal agent of babesiosis, are tick-borne apicomplexan protozoa. True babesiae (Babesia genus sensu stricto) are biologically characterized by direct development in erythrocytes and by transovarial transmission in the tick. A large number of true Babesia species have been described in various vertebrate and tick hosts. This review presents the genus then discusses specific adaptations of Babesia spp. to their hosts to achieve efficient transmission. The main adaptations lead to long-lasting interactions which result in the induction of two reservoirs: in the vertebrate host during low long-term parasitemia and throughout the life cycle of the tick host as a result of transovarial and transstadial transmission. The molecular bases of these adaptations in vertebrate hosts are partially known but few of the tick-host interaction mechanisms have been elucidated

Natural Transmission of Zoonotic Babesia spp. by Ixodes ricinus Ticks

To determine characteristics of natural transmission of Babesia sp. EU1 and B. divergens by adult Ixodes ricinus ticks, we examined tick salivary gland contents. We found that I. ricinus is a competent vector for EU1 and that their sporozoites directly invade erythrocytes. We conclude that EU1 is naturally transmitted by I. ricinus

Local exchange and trading systems

This article analyzes links between LETS (Local Exchange and Trading Systems) and a civil and solidarity-based economy. LETS are defined as associations in which individuals exchange services and goods by means of an internal accounting system based on its own currency. The first LETS appeared in 1983. These LETS and the new social economy share some common purposes. By their actions, LETS aim to set up a new system of economic relations based on solidarity proceeding from relational and spatial proximity. Market exchanges and State redistribution do not provide an efficient response to these needs. However, there are certain threats to the solidarity aimed at by LETS such as firstly the risk that politicians may instrumentalize these initatives and secondly legal and social constraints.Cet article analyse les liens entre les SEL (systèmes d'échange local) et l'économie solidaire. Les SEL sont définis comme des associations au sein desquelles des personnes échangent services et biens au moyen d'une comptabilité interne tenue en une monnaie propre ; elles émergent en 1983. SEL et économie solidaire partagent certains objectifs communs. Les SEL revendiquent en effet par leurs actions l'institution de nouveaux rapports économiques procédant d'une solidarité sous la forme d'une proximité relationnelle et spatiale, à laquelle ne répondent pas l'échange marchand et la redistribution étatique. Cependant les SEL peuvent voir leur projet solidaire remis en cause, en particulier pour deux raisons : le risque d'instrumentalisation politique d'une part, la contrainte juridique et sociale d'autre par

Babesia sp. EU1 from Roe Deer and Transmission within Ixodes ricinus

We report in vitro culture of zoonotic Babesia sp. EU1 from blood samples of roe deer in France. This study provides evidence of transovarial and transstadial transmission of the parasite within Ixodes ricinus, which suggests that this tick could be a vector and reservoir of EU1