Graphical survey, diagnosis and proposals for intervention of "Guardia y Custodia" of "El Polvorín"

This project, carried out for the subject of the DAC of Rehabilitation, is based on one of the two military buildings that are in the foothills of Montjuic, in the district of “El Polvorín”, now, part of the “Marina del Port”. In this building resided the guard that guarded the warehouse where the gunpowder was stored to supply the arms of the Castle of Montjuic. Through it a tour of history, environment and the whole is made to understand the meaning and importance of the building. In this study a description is made as detailed as possible to understand how it was built and its deterioration over the years. And it is helped by means of photographs, graphs and drawings to be able to visualize it. The process carried out for the graphic survey is detailed, explaining which information sources have been consulted, which tools have been used for the measurement and finally the plans derived from all this work have been included. The project will consist of different sections. In them we will describe the building in its current state, locating all those injuries as well as detecting all those points for which the current legal regulations are not being met. In the second section, the necessary proposals will be made to solve the localized injuries as well as for the building to comply with the stipulations of the Technical Building Code. Likewise, the realization of some functional and / or aesthetic improvements will be studied to make the building more useful. With the improvements in communication, and the inauguration this September, of two new subway stations in this neighborhood, access to the building, almost unknown in Barcelona, has been facilitated in this way the search for information and data collection It has been easier. This project has been carried out between the months of September 2018 and December 2019.2018/201

A spatio-temporal landslide inventory for the NW of Spain: BAPA database

A landslide database has been created for the Principality of Asturias, NW Spain: the BAPA (Base de datos de Argayos del Principado de Asturias – Principality of Asturias Landslide Database). Data collection is mainly performed through searching local newspaper archives. Moreover, a BAPA App and a BAPA website (http://geol.uniovi.es/BAPA) have been developed to obtain additional information from citizens and institutions. Presently, the dataset covers the period 1980–2015, recording 2063 individual landslides. The use of free cartographic servers, such as Google Maps, Google Street View and Iberpix (Government of Spain), combined with the spatial descriptions and pictures contained in the press news, makes it possible to assess different levels of spatial accuracy. In the database, 59% of the records show an exact spatial location, and 51% of the records provided accurate dates, showing the usefulness of press archives as temporal records. Thus, 32% of the landslides show the highest spatial and temporal accuracy levels. The database also gathers information about the type and characteristics of the landslides, the triggering factors and the damage and costs caused. Field work was conducted to validate the methodology used in assessing the spatial location, temporal occurrence and characteristics of the landslides.This research is funded by the Department of Employment, Industry and Tourism of the Government of Asturias, Spain, and the European Regional Development Fund FEDER, within the framework of the research grant "GEOCANTABRICA: Procesos geológicos modeladores del relieve de la Cordillera Cantábrica" (FC-15-GRUPIN14-044), and supported by the cooperation between the Department of Geology at the University of Oviedo and the AEMET

Effect of UV-Absorbing Nets on the Performance of the Aphid Predator Sphaerophoria Rueppellii (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Photoselective nets have proven to be effective for aphid pest control as they limit their dispersal ability. However, little is known on the impact of such nets on natural enemies of aphids. In this work, we study the effect of UV-absorbing nets on the syrphid fly Sphaerophoria rueppellii Wiedemann (Diptera: Syrphidae), a commercially available aphid biocontrol agent in Mediterranean horticultural crops. First, we released mature syrphid adults and evaluated density and dispersal of the resulting immatures in a turnip crop grown under either UV-blocking (Bionet) or standard net. Second, we assessed, under controlled conditions, the impact of UV radiation on fitness-related parameters, and on flight behavior of S. rueppellii adults. Results showed that, while syprhid immature density was higher, their dispersion was reduced under Bionet. UV-absorbing nets are known to influence the dispersion pattern of aphids, which may have indirectly conditioned the distribution of their predator S. rueppellii. On the other hand, the type of net had no influence on the performance of adults. We conclude that the use of photoselective nets and the release of syrphid predators such S. rueppellii are compatible strategies to be used in IPM aphid-control programs.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (AGL2005-01449/AGR project). R.A.J was supported by JAE Predoc CSIC scholarship (JAEPre_08_00457)

Structure-function dissection of Myxococcus xanthus CarD N-terminal domain, a defining member of the CarD-CdnL-TRCF family of RNA polymerase interacting proteins

© 2015 Bernal-Bernal et al. Two prototypes of the large CarD-CdnL-TRCF family of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP)-binding proteins, Myxococcus xanthus CarD and CdnL, have distinct functions whose molecular basis remain elusive. CarD, a global regulator linked to the action of several extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ-factors, binds to the RNAP β subunit (RNAP-β) and to protein CarG via an N-terminal domain, CarDNt, and to DNA via an intrinsically unfolded C-terminal domain resembling eukaryotic high-mobility-group A (HMGA) proteins. CdnL, a CarDNt-like protein that is essential for cell viability, is implicated in σA-dependent rRNA promoter activation and interacts with RNAP-β but not with CarG. While the HMGA-like domain of CarD by itself is inactive, we find that CarDNt has low but observable ability to activate ECF σ-dependent promoters in vivo, indicating that the C-terminal DNA-binding domain is required to maximize activity. Our structure-function dissection of CarDNt reveals an N-terminal, five-stranded β-sheet Tudor-like domain, CarD1-72, whose structure and contacts with RNAP-β mimic those of CdnL. Intriguingly, and in marked contrast to CdnL, CarD mutations that disrupt its interaction with RNAP-β did not annul activity. Our data suggest that the CarDNt C-terminal segment, CarD61-179, may be structurally distinct from its CdnL counterpart, and that it houses at least two distinct and crucial function determinants: (a) CarG-binding, which is specific to CarD; and (b) a basic residue stretch, which is also conserved and functionally required in CdnL. This study highlights the evolution of shared and divergent interactions in similar protein modules that enable the distinct activities of two related members of a functionally important and widespread bacterial protein family.Peer Reviewe

Community and health staff perceptions on non-communicable disease management in El Salvador’s health system: A qualitative study

From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2019-10-01, accepted 2020-04-23, registration 2020-04-23, online 2020-05-27, epub 2020-05-27, collection 2020-12Funder: Public Health Research Programme; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001921; Grant(s): Programme 16/136/100Dataset available in eData: https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/9699Background: Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of global mortality and disability with a rising burden in low- and middle-income countries. Their multifactorial aetiology, and their requirement of long-term care, implies the need for comprehensive approaches. From 2009, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in El Salvador has developed a national public health system based on comprehensive primary health care. This study aims to describe the different stakeholders’ perceptions about the management of NCDs along the pathways of care in this health system. Methods: During three fieldwork periods in 2018, three complementary qualitative data collection methods were deployed and conducted in settings with high prevalence of NCDs within El Salvador. First, illness narrative methodology was used to document the life histories of people living with a chronic disease and being treated in second and third level health facilities. Second, through social mapping, support resources that NCD patients used throughout the process of their illness within the same settings were analysed. Third, semi-structured interviews were conducted in the same locations, with both chronic patients and health personnel working at different levels of the primary health care setting. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling, and a deductive approach was implemented for coding during the analysis phase. After grouping codes into potential themes, a thematic framework was developed using a reflexive approach and following triangulation of the data. Results: This innovative approach of combining three well-defined qualitative methods identified key implications for the implementation of a comprehensive approach to NCD management in resource-poor settings. The following elements are identified: 1) social risk factors and barriers to care; 2) patient pathways to NCD care; 3) available resources identified through social connections mapping; 4) trust in social connections; and 5) community health promotion and NCD prevention management. Conclusions: The Salvadoran public health system has been able to strengthen its comprehensive approach to NCDs, combining a clinical approach – including long-term follow-up – with a preventive community-based strategy. The structural collaboration between the health system and the (self-) organised community has been essential for identifying failings, discuss tensions and work out adapted solutions.This study was supported by the NIHR Research Unit on Health in Situations of Fragility (RUHF), through the NIHR Global Health Research Programme 16/136/10020pubpu

Allergen sensitization stratifies IL-31 production by memory T cells in atopic dermatitis patients

Atopic dermatitis; Memory T cells; PruritusDermatitis atòpica; Cèl·lules T de memòria; PruritDermatitis atópica; Células T de memoria; PruritoBackground: The role of allergen sensitization in IL-31 production by T cells and specifically in the clinical context of atopic dermatitis (AD) has not been characterized. Methods: The response to house dust mite (HDM) in purified memory T cells cocultured with epidermal cells from AD patients (n=58) and control subjects (n=11) was evaluated. AD-associated cytokines from culture supernatants, plasma proteins and mRNA expression from cutaneous lesions were assessed and related with the clinical features of the patients. Results: HDM-induced IL-31 production by memory T cells defined two subsets of AD patients according to the presence or absence of IL-31 response. Patients in the IL-31 producing group showed a more inflammatory profile, and increased HDM-specific (sp) and total IgE levels compared to the IL-31 non-producing group. A correlation between IL-31 production and patient's pruritus intensity, plasma CCL27 and periostin was detected. When the same patients were analyzed based on sp IgE and total IgE levels, an increased IL-31 in vitro response, as well as type 2 markers in plasma and cutaneous lesions, was found in patients with sp IgE levels > 100 kUA/L and total IgE levels > 1000 kU/L. The IL-31 response by memory T cells was restricted to the cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA)+ T-cell subset. Conclusion: IgE sensitization to HDM allows stratifying IL-31 production by memory T cells in AD patients and relating it to particular clinical phenotypes of the disease

SEB-induced IL-13 production in CLA+ memory T cells defines Th2 high and Th2 low responders in atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis; Cutaneous lymphocyte antigen; Skin infectionsDermatitis atópica; Antígeno cutáneo de linfocitos; Infecciones de la pielDermatitis atòpica; Antigen limfòcit cutani; Infeccions de la pellStaphylococcus aureus, memory skin-homing cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA)+ T cells and IL-13 constitute relevant play-ers in atopic dermatitis (AD) pathogenesis.1 Since circulating CLA+ T cells reflect cutaneous abnormalities present in human inflammatory skin diseases,2 an ex vivo coculture model made of purified circu-lating CLA+/− effector and central memory T cells and autologous lesional epidermal cells was established. We show a CLA-dependent production of IL-13 upon activation with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) that allows the differentiation of the Th2 high and Th2 low groups, with distinct clinical correlations between both groups, within a clinically homogeneous population of adult non-treated moderate-to- severe AD patients

Study of the chlorfenvinphos pesticide removal under different anodic materials and different reactor configuration

The present manuscript focuses on the study of the electrochemical oxidation of the insecticide Chlorfenvinphos (CVP). The assays were carried out under galvanostatic conditions using boron-doped diamond (BDD) and low-cost tin dioxide doped with antimony (Sb-doped SnO2) as anodes. The influence of the operating variables, such as applied current density, presence or absence of a cation-exchange membrane and concentration of supporting electrolyte, was discussed. The results revealed that the higher applied current density the higher degradation and mineralization of the insecticide for both anodes. The presence of the membrane and the highest concentration of Na2SO4 studied (0.1 M) as a supporting electrolyte benefited the oxidation process of CVP using the BDD electrode, while with the ceramic anode the elimination of CVP was lower under these experimental conditions. Although the BDD electrode showed the best performance, ceramic anodes appear as an interesting alternative as they were able to degrade CVP completely for the highest applied current density values. Toxicity tests revealed that the initial solution of CVP was more toxic than the samples treated with the ceramic electrode, while using the BDD electrode the toxicity of the sample increased

Biopsychosocial and clinical characteristics in patients with resected breast and colon cancer at the beginning and end of adjuvant treatment

Background The aim of this study was to analyze biopsychosocial factors affecting how patients cope with cancer and adjuvant treatment and to appraise psychological distress, coping, perceived social support, quality of life and SDM before and after adjuvant treatment in breast cancer patients compared to colon cancer patients. Methods NEOcoping is a national, multicenter, cross-sectional, prospective study. The sample comprised 266 patients with colon cancer and 231 with breast cancer. The instruments used were the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire-Patient (SDM-Q-9) and Physician's (SDM-Q-Doc), and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ). Results Breast cancer patients reacted worse to the diagnosis of cancer with more symptoms of anxiety, depression, and somatization, and were less satisfied with their involvement than those with colon cancer (p = 0.003). Participants with colon cancer were older and had more physical symptoms and functional limitations at the beginning of adjuvant treatment, while there were scarcely any differences between the two groups at the end of adjuvancy, at which time both groups suffered greater psychological and physical effects and scored lower on coping strategies, except for anxious preoccupation. Conclusions Breast cancer patients need more information and involvement of the oncologist in shared decision-making, as well as and more medical and psychological support when beginning adjuvant treatment. Both breast and colon cancer patients may require additional psychological care at the end of adjuvancy