Analysis of the Cytisetea scopario-striati scrubs in the south-west-centre of the Iberian Peninsula

The statistical and phytosociological study of 255 relevés taken in the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula and made up of our own samples and previous publications reveals how close these relevés, previously ascribed to different syntaxa, really are. Our re-arrangement of the data leads us to propose for the territory the 15 associations already published and three new ones, namely: Genisto floridae-Adenocarpetum argyrophylli ass. nova hoc loco, Cytisetum bourgaei- eriocarpi nova, Lavandulo viridis-Cytisetum striati ass. nova hoc. loco. We also suggest a name correction, Adenocarpo anisochili-Cytisetum scoparii J.C. Costa et al. 2000 corr., and a status change, namely, Ulici latebracteati- Cytisetum striati (Costa et al. 2000) status novo

Experimental study about the effects of granular skeleton distribution on the mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC)

In recent years, the use of self-compacting concrete (SCC) has been increasing. Although methods for designing the mixture proportions usually derive from experience with conventional concretes, some specific procedures still are not universally accepted. The design and characterization of SCC influences not only the mix components (paste volume and nature, binder amount and type, granular skeleton, etc.) but also the testing methods used to validate the self-compactability (usually in terms of rheology, fluidity, viscosity and resistance to segregation). This paper studies the influence on SCC mechanical properties based on the consideration of two types of granular skeleton, discontinuous and continuous, for different strength levels (35 and 60 MPa). For the both strength levels studied, the mix with continuous granular skeleton exhibited slightly higher segregation resistance and mechanical properties than did mixes with discontinuous granular skeleton. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Distribution patterns of endemic flora to define hotspots on Hispaniola

Nineteen areas on the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) were studied with the aim of determining the distribution pattern of the endemic flora in these areas, and their variability with altitude. The main concentration of endemic species occurs in mountains with a medium altitude and in certain mountain sites (palaeo-islands), which coincide with hotspots; a lower number of endemics are found in low-lying areas (coldspots), due to the degradation of their habitats. A total of 1,582 endemic species were studied and were distributed in 19 areas. The whole island is of outstanding interest for its richness in endemics; it has 2,050 endemic species, representing 34.16% of its total flora. The territory in the study is home to 1,284 genera of which 31 are endemic to the island, including monotypical genera such as Tortuella abietifolia Urb. & Ekman, and endemic genera such as Hottea, containing seven endemic species. The sites with the highest rate of endemics are area A16 in the central range with a total of 440 endemic species, of which 278 are exclusive to the territory; and the Sierra de Bahoruco, la Selle, La Hotte and Tibur on in area A12, where we found 699 plants of which 482 are endemic and exclusive to the area; and A13 with 173 and 129 respectively. This work highlights the exceptional floristic diversity in endemic species and genera and analyses their distribution patterns as a tool for conservation in this area of the world, whose high endemicity rate makes it one of the most significant hotspots in the Caribbean

Interaction of He and He-V clusters with self-interstitials and dislocations defects in bcc Fe

The understanding of helium effects in synergy with radiation damage is crucial for the development of structural steels for fusion applications. Recent investigations in ultra-pure iron, taken as a basic model, have shown a drastic impact of dual beam (helium and iron) exposure on the accumulation of radiation-induced dislocation loops in terms of strong bias towards a(0)/2 loops, while a(0) loops are mostly observed upon iron ion beam. In this work we perform a series of atomistic studies to rationalize possible mechanisms through which He could affect the evolution of microstructure and bias the population of a(0)/2 loops. It is shown that He atoms are dragged by gliding a(0)/2 loops. This strongly suppresses loop diffusivity and in turn it prohibits the mutual interaction of a(0)/2 loops, being prerequisite of the formation of a(0) loops, as well as it reduces the disappearance of a(0)/2 loops at sinks. A scenario for the microstructural evolution in the single-and dual-beam conditions is discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Expansion of the Juniperus Genus due to Anthropic Activity

This work contains a study of Juniperus forests in the southern Iberian Peninsula and aims to determine their floristic composition and their biogeographical, ecological and bioclimatological distribution. The analysis of Juniperus formations revealed a series of different plant communities. The presence of endemic companions in these plant communities justifies the study of these islands: Echinospartum ibericum Rivas Mart., Sánchez Mata & Sancho, Adenocarpus argyrophyllus (Rivas Goday) Caball., Digitalis purpurea L. subsp. mariana (Boiss.) Rivas Goday, Sideritis lacaitae Font Quer, Coincya longirostra (Boiss) Greuter & Burdet, Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link subsp. bourgaei (Boiss.) Riv.-Mart., Cytisus striatus (Hill) Rothm. subsp. eriocarpus (autor), Genista polyanthos R. Roem. Ex Willk., Dianthus crassipes R. de Roemer, Dianthus lusitanus Brot. Digitalis thapsi L., Digitalis purpurea L. subsp. Heywoodii P. Silva & M. Silva, subsp. mariana (Boiss) Rivas Goday, Securinega tinctoria (L.) Rothm., Lavandula stoechas L. subsp. luisieri (Rozeira) Rozeira, lavandula stoechas subsp. sampaiana Rozeira, Genista hirsuta Vahl, Thymus mastichina (L.) L., Thymus grantensis Boiss. subps. micranthus (Willk.) O. Boòs & Vigo, Thymus zygis Loefl ex L. subsp. gracillis (Boiss.) Boiss., Antirrhinum graniticum Roth. subsp. onubensis (Fernández Casas) Valdés. The territories in the study are of community interest (SCI) due to the presence of habitats such as Habitat 8220, which includes the plant associations Digitali thapsi-Dianthetum lusitani Rivas-Martínez ex Fuente 1986, Jasiono marianae-Dianthetum lusitani Rivas Goday (1955) 1964, Coincyo longirostraae-Dianthetum lusitani Melendo in Cano, Melendo & F. Valle 1997, and is the motive for the need to conserve these areas. However the dominant species in these environments is Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. lagunae (Pau ex C. Vicioso) Rivas Mart., and all the other –mainly endemic– species are located within its vicinity. These zones can thus be classified as hotspots with particular interest for conservation. Areas dominated by Juniperus are currently becoming more widespread due to the greater prevalence of rock beds, which increase every year in response to deforestation and forest fires. This phenomenon leads to the extension of edaphoxerophilous zones and a decrease in climatophilous zones, and creates more potential areas that can potentially act as a refuge for endemic species

New Method for Increasing Sustainable Agricultural Yield

The main objective of this study is to look for a new method, to obtain the maximum production, and the minimum economic and environmental cost. Scientific advances in bioclimatology have brought a greater understanding of the functioning of plant individuals, populations and communities, and the study and interpretation of bioclimatic indices reveals the close relationship between the values of these indices and crop yields. In cases where insufficient meteorological data are available to allow the various formulas to be applied, thermoclimatic and ombroclimatic bioindicators must be used, some of which have been collected by us in previous works. This paper contains a bioclimatic study of the southern Iberian Peninsula in relation to the main olive varieties grown in these territories. We establish the values of some key indices for cultivation: continentality index (Ic), which determines the annual thermal range and allows us to establish the period of vegetative activity (PAV); the ombrothermic index (Io), which measures the ombrotype in the different sites; and the thermicity and compensated thermicity index, which denote the thermotype in the territory (It/Itc). In the relationship between the value of the bioclimatic indices and olive production, good fits are obtained in the regression analysis with R2> 0.90, and is very positive influence of the different parameters used. In conclusion the greatest influence on the production of Ic is between 18.5-19.5, Io 3.5-4.5 and It / Itc 320-350. This allows to obtain areas of maximum production with a lower economic cost

Detection of apoptotic events, using different methods, in renal tissues after acute haemorrhage.

Apoptosis plays an important role in cellular damage caused by acute renal hypoperfusion. The aim of this study was to detect apoptotic events in an animal model of acute haemorrhage, followed by volume replacement with different intravenous solution

Sex differences in risk factors for oral and pharyngeal cancer among Puerto Rican adults

Background: Oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC) is a frequent type of cancer in Puerto Rico, with the risk being higher in men relative to women. We assessed differences in OPC risk factors implicated in these sex disparities. Methods: We analyzed data of 740 adult participants (40-65 years) from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS). A comprehensive questionnaire was administered to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, cigarette smoking, binge drinking, oral high-risk HPV infection, fruit and vegetable consumption, sexual behavior, and oral hygiene practices. A full-mouth periodontal examination was also performed. Sixteen OPC known and potential risk factors were evaluated. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) estimates for individual OPC risk factors, by sex, were calculated using log-binomial regression. Results: Compared to women, men had significantly increased prevalence of several OPC risk factors including current smoking (PR: 1.91, 95% Confidence interval [CI]: 1.35-2.70), binge drinking (PR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.31-2.84), and severe periodontitis (PR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.47-2.85). Conclusions: Men were significantly more likely than women to have risk factors for OPC. Cancer prevention and control efforts should focus on sex-specific interventions that help reduce this disparity

Lineal gravity from planar gravity

We show how to obtain the two-dimensional black hole action by dimensional reduction of the three-dimensional Einstein action with a non-zero cosmological constant. Starting from the Chern-Simons formulation of 2+1 gravity, we obtain the 1+1 dimensional gauge formulation given by Verlinde. Remarkably, the proposed reduction shares the relevant features of the formulation of Cangemi and Jackiw, without the need for a central charge in the algebra. We show how the Lagrange multipliersin these formulations appear naturally as the remnants of the three dimensional connection associated to symmetries that have been lostin the dimensional reduction. The proposed dimensional reduction involves a shift in the three dimensional connection whose effect is to make the length of the extra dimension infinite.Comment: 13 pages, plain Te

Proteinase-activated receptor 2 modulates OA-related pain, cartilage and bone pathology

Objective Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) deficiency protects against cartilage degradation in experimental osteoarthritis (OA). The wider impact of this pathway upon OA-associated pathologies such as osteophyte formation and pain is unknown. Herein, we investigated early temporal bone and cartilage changes in experimental OA in order to further elucidate the role of PAR2 in OA pathogenesis. Methods OA was induced in wild-type (WT) and PAR2-deficient (PAR2−/−) mice by destabilisation of the medial meniscus (DMM). Inflammation, cartilage degradation and bone changes were monitored using histology and microCT. In gene rescue experiments, PAR2−/− mice were intra-articularly injected with human PAR2 (hPAR2)-expressing adenovirus. Dynamic weight bearing was used as a surrogate of OA-related pain. Results Osteophytes formed within 7 days post-DMM in WT mice but osteosclerosis was only evident from 14 days post induction. Importantly, PAR2 was expressed in the proliferative/hypertrophic chondrocytes present within osteophytes. In PAR2−/− mice, osteophytes developed significantly less frequently but, when present, were smaller and of greater density; no osteosclerosis was observed in these mice up to day 28. The pattern of weight bearing was altered in PAR2−/− mice, suggesting reduced pain perception. The expression of hPAR2 in PAR2−/− mice recapitulated osteophyte formation and cartilage damage similar to that observed in WT mice. However, osteosclerosis was absent, consistent with lack of hPAR2 expression in subchondral bone. Conclusions This study clearly demonstrates PAR2 plays a critical role, via chondrocytes, in osteophyte development and subchondral bone changes, which occur prior to PAR2-mediated cartilage damage. The latter likely occurs independently of OA-related bone changes