Ecoprocesses. A need and a requirement

Cleaner production is a means of applying in a continuous manner a preventive and integrated environmental strategy aimed at processes and product

Ciències i professions en l’activitat física i l’esport

Els centres de formació dels professionals universitaris en ciències de l’activitat física i l’esport tenen, al meu entendre, tres grans reptes plantejats. El primer és assumir la multidisciplinarietat dels estudis de l’activitat física i l’esport i el plantejament tecnològic de la carrera que s’hi realitza. El segon és reafirmar-se en el centrament professional en l’activitat física i l’esport i contemplar l’existència de l’educació per a la salut com una nova dimensió educativa, complementària però diferent de l’educació física. El tercer és oferir, des del nucli central de l’educació física però coordinadament amb les altres ciències i tecnologies, unes formacions bàsiques que cobreixen totes les necessitats que s’ha creat al voltant de l’activitat física, el deport i l’esport i, complementàriament, oferir cursos d’especialització partint d’aquelles formacions bàsiques

Ciencias y profesiones en la actividad física y el deporte

Los centros de formación de los profesionales universitarios en ciencias de la actividad física y el deporte tienen, a mi entender, tres grandes retos planteados. Lo primero es asumir la multidisciplinariedad de los estudios de la actividad física y el deporte y el planteamiento tecnológico de la carrera que se realiza. Lo segundo es reafirmarse en el enfoque profesional en la actividad física y el deporte y contemplar la existencia de la educación para la salud como una nueva dimensión educativa, complementaria pero diferente a la educación física. Lo tercero es ofrecer, desde el núcleo central de la educación física pero coordinadamente con las otras ciencias y tecnologías, unes formaciones básicas que cubran todas las necesidades que se han creado alrededor de la actividad física y el deporte, y complementariamente cursos de especialización partiendo de aquellas formaciones básicas

HST color-magnitude diagrams of 74 galactic globular clusters in the HST F439W and F555W bands

We present the complete photometric database and the color-magnitude diagrams for 74 Galactic globular clusters observed with the HST/WFPC2 camera in the F439W and F555W bands. A detailed discussion of the various reduction steps is also presented, and of the procedures to transform instrumental magnitudes into both the HST F439W and F555W flight system and the standard Johnson B and V systems. We also describe the artificial star experiments which have been performed to derive the star count completeness in all the relevant branches of the color magnitude diagram. The entire photometric database and the completeness function will be made available on the Web immediately after the publication of the present paper.Comment: 21 pages, 77 figures. High resolution version of this paper can be retrived at http://dipastro.pd.astro.it/globular

Gene deficiency in activating Fcγ receptors influences the macrophage phenotypic balance and reduces atherosclerosis in mice

Immunity contributes to arterial inflammation during atherosclerosis. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins induce an autoimmune response characterized by specific antibodies and immune complexes in atherosclerotic patients. We hypothesize that specific Fcγ receptors for IgG constant region participate in atherogenesis by regulating the inflammatory state of lesional macrophages. In vivo we examined the role of activating Fcγ receptors in atherosclerosis progression using bone marrow transplantation from mice deficient in γ-chain (the common signaling subunit of activating Fcγ receptors) to hyperlipidemic mice. Hematopoietic deficiency of Fcγ receptors significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion size, which was associated with decreased number of macrophages and T lymphocytes, and increased T regulatory cell function. Lesions of Fcγ receptor deficient mice exhibited increased plaque stability, as evidenced by higher collagen and smooth muscle cell content and decreased apoptosis. These effects were independent of changes in serum lipids and antibody response to oxidized low-density lipoproteins. Activating Fcγ receptor deficiency reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression, nuclear factor-κB activity, and M1 macrophages at the lesion site, while increasing anti-inflammatory genes and M2 macrophages. The decreased inflammation in the lesions was mirrored by a reduced number of classical inflammatory monocytes in blood. In vitro, lack of activating Fcγ receptors attenuated foam cell formation, oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory gene expression, and increased M2-associated genes in murine macrophages. Our study demonstrates that activating Fcγ receptors influence the macrophage phenotypic balance in the artery wall of atherosclerotic mice and suggests that modulation of Fcγ receptor-mediated inflammatory responses could effectively suppress atherosclerosis

Les Marqueurs du discours dans les langues romanes: une approche contrastive. [RESEÑA]

Borreguero Zuloaga, Margarita, y Sonia Gómez-Jordana Ferary, eds. Les Marqueurs du discours dans les langues romanes: une approche contrastive. Limoges: Lambert-Lucas, 2015. 437 pp. (ISBN: 978-2-35935-118-7

Migraciones y mercado laboral

En este artículo pasamos revista a los análisis de las migraciones desde la perspectiva de los mercados laborales. Se discuten los diversos enfoques analíticos y se argumenta la relevancia del enfoque de la segmentación laboral para entender las dinámicas laborales en las que se sitúan una gran parte de procesos migratorios. Defendemos que los procesos migratorios están influidos tanto por las transformaciones de las economías capitalistas como las regulaciones institucionales específicas de cada país (leyes de migración, políticas de bienestar, etc.). _______________________________________In this paper we review the analyses of migration from the point of view of labor markets. We discuss different analytical perspectives and we consider the relevance of the labor segmentation approach for understanding the labor dynamics that influence the majority of migration processes. We argue that migration processes are influenced both by the transformation of capitalist economies and by the specific institutions of each country (migration laws, welfare policies, etc.)

Atmospheric dispersion of airborne pollen evidenced by near-surface and columnar measurements in Barcelona, Spain

Hourly measurements of pollen near-surface concentration and lidar-derived profiles of particle backscatter coefficients and of volume and particle depolarization ratios during a 5-day pollination event observed in Barcelona, Spain, between 27 – 31 March, 2015, are presented. Maximum hourly pollen concentrations of 4700 and 1200 m-3 h-1 were found for Platanus and Pinus, respectively, which represented together more than 80 % of the total pollen. Everyday a clear diurnal cycle caused by the vertical transport of the airborne pollen was visible on the lidar-derived profiles of the backscatter coefficient with maxima usually reached between 12 and 15 UT. A method based on the lidar polarization capabilities was used to retrieve the contribution of the pollen to the total signal. On average the diurnal (9 – 17 UT) pollen aerosol optical depth (AOD) was 0.05 which represented 29 % of the total AOD, the volume and particle depolarization ratios in the pollen plume were 0.08 and 0.14, respectively, and the diurnal mean of the height of the pollen plume was found at 1.24 km. The dispersion of the Platanus and Pinus in the atmosphere was simulated with the Nonhydrostatic Multiscale Meteorological Model on the B grid at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center with a newly developed Chemical Transport Model (NMMB/BSC-CTM). Model near-surface daily concentrations were compared to our observations at two sites: in Barcelona and Bellaterra (12 km NE of Barcelona). Model hourly concentrations were compared to our observations in Barcelona.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Self-rated health in Europe and its determinants: Does generation matter?

Objectives: To analyse the influence of micro- and macro-factors on self-rated health, and the role of generation on this relationship. Methods: Cross-sectional study using data from European Health Interview Surveys from 14 European countries. Individuals were divided into four generations (“silent generation”, “baby boomers”, and “generation X” and “Y”). We conducted multilevel analyses for each generation to study the influence of individual and national explanatory variables on self-rated health. Results: Age showed an exponential effect in older generations. Education and employment presented the strongest association with low self-rated health, especially in “baby boomers” and women (low education: OR 3.5; 95% CI 3.2–3.9). Tobacco showed a negative effect in younger generations. Overweight and low physical activity were negatively associated with self-rated health regardless of generation. Countries from the Eastern welfare system showed the highest risk of low self-rated health and this association was higher in men for “silent generation” (OR 4.7; 95% CI 3.0–7.6). Conclusions: The influence of individual and national factors on self-rated health varies regarding generation. The target generation and the demographic structure of a country should be taken into account to develop more accurate health policies