Urban strategies in tourist places. Cases of Madrid and Barcelona

[Abstract] The current promotion of cities, their new role as active agents in a globalized world, has led to the creation of new forms of urban identity that reverse inside these leading cities in the urban consequences. So cities with important role on the international scene as great tourist attraction cities will demonstrate positive changes on the one hand as economic development and urban revitalization; and on the other hand, negative ones, as changes in its urban centers, the areas more affected by these new trends, as well as on urban sustainability and identity. Cases of Madrid and Barcelona illustrate these trends.)[Resumen] Estrategias urbanas en los espacios turísticos. Los casos de Madrid y Barcelona. La actual promoción de las ciudades, su nuevo papel como agentes activos en un mundo globalizado, ha supuesto la creación de nuevas formas de identidad urbana que revierten en el interior de estas ciudades provocando consecuencias en lo urbano. Así ciudades con relevante papel en el panorama internacional como ciudades de gran atractivo turístico van a evidenciar cambios por un lado positivos como el desarrollo económico y la revitalización urbana y por otro, negativos, como los cambios en sus centros urbanos, los espacios más afectados por estas nuevas tendencias, así como sobre la sostenibilidad urbana y la identidad. Los casos de Madrid y Barcelona sirven para ilustrar estas tendencias)

How do Barcelona and Madrid cope with the impacts of globalisation?

The central aim of this paper is to describe the state of art of the impact of globalisation on Barcelona and Madrid (Spain). It especially focuses on the transformations of their historic centres, the most accessible and highly contested spaces, and the reactions of their citizen movements and city councils. It begins by analysing the gentrification process. It then shows how these cities were even more intensively transformed by commercial gentrification, touristification and studentification, all within a general framework of financialisation. Consequently, both cities act like businesses, seeking high profits, and ignoring many of their citizens. Within this context, public policies have undergone a slight change of orientation. In this tense context, this paper presents a series of reflections and suggestions for future action

Durability of dielectric fluids for concentrating photovoltaic systems

Several dielectric fluids that might be used for immersing optics are analyzed in this paper. Their transmittances, both before and after an accelerated exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation equivalent to several years under real sun, are presented. In addition, the photocurrent losses caused by the decrease in transmittance experienced by each fluid are estimated for current III?V multijunction (MJ) solar cells. The most stable fluids were found to be paraffin and silicone oils whose transmittances remained practically unaltered after a UV dosage equivalent to 3 years of AM1.5D radiation

RanBP2-Mediated SUMOylation Promotes Human DNA Polymerase Lambda Nuclear Localization and DNA Repair

Cellular DNA is under constant attack by a wide variety of agents, both endogenous and exogenous. To counteract DNA damage, human cells have a large collection of DNA repair factors. Among them, DNA polymerase lambda (Polλ) stands out for its versatility, as it participates in different DNA repair and damage tolerance pathways in which gap-filling DNA synthesis is required. In this work we show that human Polλ is conjugated with Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier (SUMO) proteins both in vitro and in vivo, with Lys27 being the main target of this covalent modification. Polλ SUMOylation takes place in the nuclear pore complex and is mediated by the E3 ligase RanBP2. This post-translational modification promotes Polλ entry into the nucleus, which is required for its recruitment to DNA lesions and stimulated by DNA damage induction. Our work represents an advance in the knowledge of molecular pathways that regulate cellular localization of human Polλ, which are essential to be able to perform its functions during repair of nuclear DNA, and that might constitute an important point for the modulation of its activity in human cells

Control of Animal Brucellosis — The Most Effective Tool to Prevent Human Brucellosis

The World Health Organization classifies brucellosis as one of the seven neglected endemic zoonosis which contribute to the perpetuation of poverty in developing countries. Although most of the developed countries are free from this important zoonosis, brucellosis has still a widespread distribution in the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of Latin America, making it a global problem. Nearly half a million of new cases of human brucellosis are reported each year around the world, in which animals (or products of animal origin) are the most likely source of infection. Brucella melitensis, the main etiologic agent of small ruminant brucellosis, is the most prevalent specie involved in cases of human disease in most parts of the world. Additionally, Brucella abortus (main responsible of bovine brucellosis) and Brucella suis (the most common etiological agent of porcine brucellosis) are often associated with human brucellosis. In animal production, brucellosis has a strong economic impact due not only to its direct consequences (e.g., reproductive failures) but also to indirect loses (e.g., trade restrictions). The problem of brucellosis could be considered a clear example of the need for a “One World, One Health” strategy, given that the only approach to achieve its control and subsequent eradication is the cooperation between public and animal health authorities. The prevention of human brucellosis cannot be achieved without the control of the disease in the animals, as exemplified by the impact that the early measures adopted in the beginning of the 20th century forbidding the consumption of goat milk had on the prevalence of the disease in the British soldiers in Malta. When the prevalence of the disease in the animal population is high or when eradication cannot be achieved due to other factors (e.g., lack of economic resources), its control in livestock must be the first objective. When deciding the optimal approach to tackle the disease, the prevalence of animal brucellosis is not the only parameter to consider by the decision makers since other epidemiological and economic aspects should be considered in order to implement the most adequate control strategy in each region. Cooperation between all stakeholders involved is a cornerstone in the success of any control strategy. Strict biosafety and management measures, vaccination, and test-and-slaughter strategy are recognized as the most effective strategies to control this pathology in livestock. The adequate combination of these measures depends on several factors that will determine the success of the eradication efforts. The present chapter will review the abovementioned measures for the control and eradication of brucellosis in livestock, focusing on the advantages and drawbacks of the diagnosis tools and immunization strategies currently available and evaluating new approaches based on the advance on the knowledge of different aspects of this disease and its etiological agents

Urban food markets and their sustainability: the compatibility of traditional and tourist uses

The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of urban food markets as tourist icons in the current competitive race to create attractive cities. Food markets attract a large number of consumers, both local and tourists. However, their impact on the city and its dynamics should be treated to establish measures to ensure sustainable (compatible) uses for both kinds of users. This calls for the establishment of a system of indicators to determine what level of sustainability food markets are at and facilitate decision-making for the agents involved in their management