A botanical survey of Joseph Quer’s flora española

We examine various aspects of Joseph Quer’s Flora española (1762–1764, 1784), taking into consideration the contributions made by Casimiro Gómez Ortega and proposing that he be credited as a co-author on the last two volumes of the work. Flora española comprises 2602 species, 2493 of which are vascular plants, including both wild and cultivated species. When assigned to the currently accepted species of Flora iberica, we obtain 1690 native or naturalized plant species (28 % of the total Spanish species). Most of the reported species correspond to common plants, only 3 % are considered narrowly distributed species and no more than 5 % are endemic species. In Flora española only two species are proposed as new. The limited number of new taxa may be due to Quer’s self-taught background, strongly influenced by Tournefort’s work, and the unfavourable scientific environment, characterized by the lack of resources and supporting institutions. By far the weakest points of Flora española are the names listed in alphabetical order and the use of old polynomials instead of Linnaean binomials. In contrast, the study of dried plants then kept at herbaria constituted a suitable working methodology, which made this Flora a solid base for subsequent works in the Iberian Peninsula. We also address the extensive field work carried out by Quer: he visited 632 different localities spread over most of the Iberian Peninsula. The information provided in Flora española, together with a thorough review of Quer’s herbarium vouchers, the labels of which do not include information on localities, allows us to gain valuable insights into some rare and potentially extinct species

Real-life effect of a microcrystalline tyrosine adjuvanted mite immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis

Aim: Evaluate the effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy with Acarovac Plus((R)) in a 1-year prospective multicentered real-life study. Methods: A total of 118 adults with allergic rhinitis sensitized to Dermatophagoides received subcutaneous immunotherapy with Acarovac Plus. Treatment outcomes were evaluated at baseline, 6 months and 1 year after treatment initiation. Primary end point was the evolution of the combined symptom and medication score. Secondary end points included other effectiveness outcomes and measurement of product tolerability. Results: Acarovac Plus induced significant improvements in primary and secondary end points after 6 months compared with baseline. These differences persisted after 1 year of treatment (p < 0.001; baseline vs 1 year): combined symptom and medication score (1.60 vs 0.79). No serious adverse events were recorded. Conclusion: Acarovac Plus for 1 year was effective and well tolerated in a real-life setting

Parameterization of the Construction Promoter\u27s Responsibilities throughout the project\u27s life cycle

Europe, and especially Spain has been suffering an ongoing economic, social and political crisis. The construction industry sector has been one of the most affected. Project Management professionals in the construction industry are obliged to make a critical analysis of their results and methodology applications used in recent years. In this paper a methodology has been developed for parameterization and monitoring of projects, portfolios and programs from both the public or private Construction Promoter\u27s point of view -the real engine of the project-. This methodology analyses their responsibilities and those of the stakeholders throughout the project\u27s lifecycle, and allows the Promoter to make decisions based on accurate, realistic and factual knowledge. The project\u27s full data is completely accessible by the Promoter. Thus the Promoter is able to develop a Project Portfolio Management and Business Intelligence. The Next step in the methodology evolution is transferring it to an ICT tool, for a promoter\u27s systematic application. Project management will assist in providing a social improvement, this method is associated with current social demands at all levels and sectors -Transparency- thus allowing realtime monitoring of the building project\u27s status throughout all stages of the project\u27s life cycle

Ubiquitination mediates Kv1.3 endocytosis as a mechanism for protein Kinase C-dependent modulation

The voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv1.3 plays essential physiological functions in the immune system. Kv1.3, regulating the membrane potential, facilitates downstream Ca2+ -dependent pathways and becomes concentrated in specific membrane microdomains that serve as signaling platforms. Increased and/or delocalized expression of the channel is observed at the onset of several autoimmune diseases. In this work, we show that adenosine (ADO), which is a potent endogenous modulator, stimulates PKC, thereby causing immunosuppression. PKC activation triggers down-regulation of Kv1.3 by inducing a clathrin-mediated endocytic event that targets the channel to lysosomal-degradative compartments. Therefore, the abundance of Kv1.3 at the cell surface decreases, which is clearly compatible with an effective anti-inflammatory response. This mechanism requires ubiquitination of Kv1.3, catalyzed by the E3 ubiquitin-ligase Nedd4-2. Postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), a member of the MAGUK family, recruits Kv1.3 into lipid-raft microdomains and protects the channel against ubiquitination and endocytosis. Therefore, the Kv1.3/PSD-95 association fine-tunes the anti-inflammatory response in leukocytes. Because Kv1.3 is a promising multi-therapeutic target against human pathologies, our results have physiological relevance. In addition, this work elucidates the ADO-dependent PKC-mediated molecular mechanism that triggers immunomodulation by targeting Kv1.3 in leukocytes

Effectiveness and safety of a microcrystalline tyrosine‐adjuvanted <i>Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus</i> allergoid immunotherapy in adult patients with allergic asthma and rhinitis: A real‐life prospective observational study

Introduction: Although clinical trials have shown the efficacy and safety of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) in the treatment of allergic asthma, there is a need for real-life studies. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of a microcrystalline tyrosine-adjuvanted Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergoid (Acarovac Plus (R)) in patients with house dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic asthma in a real-life study. Methods: A subanalysis of a multicenter, prospective, observational, real-life study. Patients with rhinitis and allergic asthma caused by HDMs were assessed before AIT with Acarovac Plus (R) and at 6 and 12 months after this treatment. Assessment parameters were percentage of days with asthma symptoms, percentage of days on asthma medication, classification of asthma according to Spanish guidelines for the management of asthma, asthma-related quality of life (quality of life in adults with asthma questionnaire [QLAAQ]), perception of symptoms (visual analog scale [VAS]), and treatment satisfaction (treatment satisfaction questionnaire for medication [TSQM]). Safety was assessed by the number and severity of adverse reactions. Results: This subanalysis included 55 patients. Treatment with Acarovac Plus (R) showed significant differences in the analyzed variables when the baseline visit was compared with the 12-month visit: reduction of the mean (SD) percentage of days with asthma symptoms (23.9 [9.2] vs. 5.1 [12.8]; p = .002), of the mean [SD] percentage of days on asthma medication (67.6 [42.9] vs. 45.1 [46.8]; p = .002), and of the percentage of patients with persistent asthma (78.2% vs. 38.9%; p = .009). Acarovac Plus (R) significantly improved asthma-related quality of life, as shown by a decrease of 1.39 points in QLAAQ score at 12 months (p < .001), and in the subjective perception of symptoms on the VAS (-3.50, p < .0001). Patients showed high treatment satisfaction according to the TSQM, and it was well tolerated. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Acarovac Plus (R) was effective and safe for the treatment of patients with HDM-induced allergic asthma in a real-life study

Virez, una experiencia de desarrollo multimedia interuniversitario

El artículo recoge las experiencias y reflexiones de profesores de cinco universidades españolas que durante el bienio 1993-94 trabajaron en el desarrollo de un CD-ROM con contenidos multimedia, orientado a la enseñanza. Tras presentar cómo surge la idea inicial, cada profesor describe como se integra en el proyecto, las actividades que realiza, los problemas encuentran y los resultados positivos han sacado del proyecto. También describen su experiencia las personas que tuvieron que cuidar la coordinación de todo este trabajo y quienes tuvieron que homogeneizar desarrollos dándoles consistencia en un producto final

Las acequias de careo de Sierra Nevada (sur de España), un sistema de recarga ancestral en acuíferos de alta montaña

En las partes altas de Sierra Nevada (sur de España) se realiza, desde época andalusí (Edad Media), un Sistema Integrado de Gestión del Agua Subterránea, en el que las acequias de careo constituyen un elemento clave. Estos canales excavados en el terreno están diseñados para recargar las aguas procedentes del deshielo, a lo largo de su recorrido y en distintas zonas concretas, donde hay una mayor permeabilidad del terreno. Una vez que el agua se infiltra en las partes altas de los valles, pasa a circular lentamente por los acuíferos superficiales y surge por ríos y manantiales situados a media ladera. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados conseguidos mediante el monitoreo e investigación hidrogeológica de una cuenca de 68 km2 (cuenca del río Bérchules), situada en Sierra Nevada, donde se aplica la técnica de careo. Los resultados conseguidos han permitido comprobar que el careo aplana el hidrograma de los ríos de alta montaña, reduciendo su componente nival y aumentando la subterránea. Además contribuye a mantener el caudal de los manantiales y los ecosistemas asociados a esta descarga. Su uso en otras zonas de alta montaña permitiría disponer de una excelente herramienta de adaptación al cambio climático.Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaUniversidad Politécnica de Cataluña, EspañaAgencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de la Junta de Andalucía, EspañaUniversidad Pablo de Olavide, EspañaConsejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio, Junta de Andalucía, EspañaPeer reviewe

Theoretical characterization of transition state dynamical resonances in heavy-light-heavy reactions

The resonant reactivity of three elementary Heavy-Light-Heavy reactions is presented and discussed. Collinear reactivity, in which a vibrational adiabatic model is constructed, is used for a detailed analysis of resonance phenomena, which appear as a direct consequence of transition state metastable states in the strong interaction region of the potential energy surface. Their influence on the detailed mechanism of the elementary process is also discussed. The shape of the resonant peak, and the phase and the Argand plot of the S-matrix are used for a further characterization.Three-dimensional approximate calculations are used to test the evolution of the energy dependent structure present in detailed quantities when sums and integrations over all partial waves contributing to reaction are taken into account to obtain the usual averaged global quantities such as integral state-to-state cross sections

Application of multi-sensor advanced DInSAR analysis to severe land subsidence recognition: Alto Guadalentín Basin (Spain)

Multi-sensor advanced DInSAR analyses have been performed and compared with two GPS station measurements, in order to evaluate the land subsidence evolution in a 20-year period, in the Alto Guadalentín Basin where the highest rate of man-induced subsidence (> 10 cm yr−1) of Europe had been detected. The control mechanisms have been examined comparing the advanced DInSAR data with conditioning and triggering factors (i.e. isobaths of Plio-Quaternary deposits, soft soil thickness and piezometric level).This work is financially supported by the DORIS project (Ground Deformation Risk Scenarios: an Advanced Assessment Service) funded by the EC-GMES-FP7 initiative (Grant Agreement 423 no. 242212). ALOS PALSAR images were provided by the project JAXA-1209. Part of this work is supported by the Spanish Government under project TEC2011-28201-C02-02 and TIN2014-55413-C2-2-P and by the project 15224/PI/10 from the Regional Agency of Science and Technology in Murcia. Additional funding was obtained from the Spanish Research Program through the projects AYA2010-17448, ESP2013-47780-C2-1-R and ESP2013-47780-C2-2-Rand by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport through the project PRX14/00100

A Comparative Study of Owner, Contractor, and Consultant Perspective on the Selection Criteria for Subcontractors.

Up till now, most research on the selection of subcontractors in construction projects has focused on the factors considered by the main (general) contractors. The goal of this study is to identify the factors that other main stakeholders, namely clients and consultants, believe should be taken into account when selecting subcontractors. The paper presents the results of a survey of experts from various backgrounds in the construction industry and conducts a comparative study of their perspectives in factors that should be considered in selecting subcontractors. The results of the survey show that there are similarities and dissimilarities between perceptions of respondents with different background. For example, nearly all the respondents identified subcontractor’s past experience in similar projects and subcontractor’s available resources, as the most important factors that should be considered in selecting subcontractors. However, while respondents from contractor organizations identified the lowest bid as one of the most important factors, those from consultant and client organizations identified subcontractor’s safety record, compliance with project schedule, and safety programs and past safety record as their top considerations in selecting subcontractors. The paper provides an extensive statistical analysis to identify the impact of stakeholder’s background on their perspective in the importance of factors that should be considered in selecting subcontractors and discusses the similarities and dissimilarities in their perspectives