The Geographic Concentration of Population and Income in Europe: Results for the Period 1984-1999

In this paper we use the Gini index to analyze the spatial concentration of income and population across European Union regions over the period 1984-1999. The results of our analysis show an slow but increasing pattern of geographic concentration of population and income. The critical threshold where the effects of the geographic concentration become remarkable is when we reach the 45-50% band of the richest population.EU regions

The rapidly pulsating sdO star, SDSS J160043.6+074802.9

A spectroscopic analysis of SDSS J160043.6+074802.9, a binary system containing a pulsating subdwarf-O (sdO) star with a late-type companion, yields Teff = 70 000 +/- 5000 K and log g = 5.25 +/- 0.30, together with a most likely type of K3V for the secondary star. We compare our results with atmospheric parameters derived by Fontaine et al. (2008) and in the context of existing evolution models for sdO stars. New and more extensive photometry is also presented which recovers most, but not all, frequencies found in an earlier paper. It therefore seems probable that some pulsation modes have variable amplitudes. A non-adiabatic pulsation analysis of uniform metallicity sdO models show those having log g > 5.3 to be more likely to be unstable and capable of driving pulsation in the observed frequency range.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS, 2009 September

INTERGRATIVE HEALTH CARE METHOD BASED ON COMBINED COMPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PRACTICES: REHABILITATIVE ACUPUNCTURE, HOMEOPATHY AND CHIROPRACTIC.

This paper presents a systemic approach to health care with complementary therapies such as rehabilitative acupuncture, homeopathy, and chiropractics through the application of a holistic integrated care method, describing the relationship between the different factors involved in the generation of disease for the preservation of health, highlighting the importance of developing a comprehensive care model to support the preexistent health system in countries such as Mexico, based mainly on traditional practices. A healthcare model has to be multi-faceted and interdisciplinary because it has to bring together several specialties and therapeutic methods to provide quality health care in general to the populace

USE OF ANTIFUNGAL SAPONIN SC-2 OF SOLANUM CHRYSOTRICHUM FOR THE TREATMENT OF VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS: IN VITRO STUDIES AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCES

Saponin SC-2 from Solanum chrysotrichum showed antifungal activity, demonstrated in vitro, which inhibited the growth of dermatophytes, and in vivo, to be effective in the treatment against tinea pedis and pityriasis capitis. Fungistatic and fungicidal activity of saponin SC-2 on Candida albicans and other Candida species, fluconazole and ketoconazole resistaent strains was demostrated. SC-2-associated ultrastructural alterations in several Candida species were observed. An exploratory clinical, randomized, double-blind, and controlled ketoconazole study of ketoconazole was conducted with the aim of assessing the effectiveness and tolerability of an herbal medicinal product containing SC-2, on women with Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). The results exhibited a percentage of therapeutic clinical effectiveness similar to that of ketoconazole (X2, p ≥0.30), but obtained a smaller percentage of mycological effectiveness, and 100% tolerability. In conclusion, saponin SC-2 possesses fungicidale and fungistatic activity on Candida albicans and other multi resistant Candida species, causes morphological changes and fungal death, and it is an alternative therapy for the treatment of VVC

Epi-fingerprinting and epi-interventions for improved crop production and food quality

Increasing crop production at a time of rapid climate change represents the greatest challenge facing contemporary agricultural research. Our understanding of the genetic control of yield derives from controlled field experiments designed to minimise environmental variance. In spite of these efforts there is substantial residual variability among plants attributable to Genotype x Environment (GxE) interactions. Recent advances in the field of epigenetics have revealed a plethora of gene control mechanisms that could account for much of this unassigned variation. These systems act as a regulatory interface between the perception of the environment and associated alterations in gene expression. Direct intervention of epigenetic control systems hold the enticing promise of creating new sources of variability that could enhance crop performance. Equally, understanding the relationship between various epigenetic states and responses of the crop to specific aspects of the growing environment (epigenetic fingerprinting) could allow for a more tailored approach to plant agronomy. In this review, we explore the many ways in which epigenetic interventions and epigenetic fingerprinting can be deployed for the improvement of crop production and quality

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF THE FIBER PRODUCED BY “POCHOTE” CEIBA AESCULIFOLIA SUBSP. PARVIFOLIA

Background: The cotton-like fiber from the fruit of Pochote (Ceiba aesculifolia subsp. parvifolia) can be applied to wounds for healing purposes. As microorganisms can infect wounds and hamper the wound healing process, the aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of the methanolic extract of Pochote fiber. Materials and Methods: The methanolic extract was tested against bacteria and fungi. For bacteria, the Kirby-Baüer disc diffusion and broth dilution methods were employed to determine the MIC and MBC. In addition, bactericidal kinetic curves were generated. The antifungal activity was determined by the radial diffusion method. The antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and the flavonoid content were determined. Bioassay guided fractionation was also performed. Results: The methanolic extract showed activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholerae (cc). The tested V. cholerae strains were the most sensitive strains, and exhibited a clear CFU size reduction from the bactericidal kinetic curves. The methanolic extract had activity against T. mentagrophytes and R. lilacina . The antioxidant activity (SC50= 36.42 μg/mL) was related to the total phenolic (74.4 mg eAG/g) and flavonoid content (21.982 mg (eQ)/g). The bioassay guided fractionation results suggested that the antimicrobial properties of the extract may act through synergism because the total extract had higher activity against bacteria compared to the collected fractions. Conclusion: This study scientifically validates the application of the fruit fiber from Pochote as a part of a traditional medicine approach to alleviate infections caused by bacteria and fungi

Una inscripción de época republicana dedicada a <i>Salaecus</i> en la región minera de Carthago Nova

In this paper we study an unpublished votive inscription from Mina Mercurio (in Portman, Cartagena), exhibited at the Aguilas Archaeological Museum. It is dedicated by freedmen from the <i>gens Roscia</i>, a well-known family of negotiators who used to sign the argentiferous galena ingot hallmark found in Cabezo Rajao in La Unión around 1846. It is one of the oldest inscriptions found in the area of <i>Carthago Noua</i>, and thus, in the whole Hispania. It is dated at the end of the 2nd century or very beginning of the 1st century b.c., especially with the use of an archaic plural nominative in -es. It is dedicated to <i>Salaecus</i>, a vocative etymologically related to water and the sea. For this reason and because of the place where it was found, it might refer to the Roman god Neptune or to a Hispanic deity related to water.<br><br>Estudiamos una inscripción votiva inédita procedente de Mina Mercurio (Portmán, Cartagena), depositada en el Museo Arqueológico de Águilas. La dedican unos libertos de la <i>gens Roscia</i>, conocida familia de <i>negotiatores</i> que firmaban los sellos de lingotes de galena argentífera que aparecieron en el Cabezo Rajao de La Unión, en torno a 1846. Se trata de una de las inscripciones más antiguas de la zona de <i>Carthago Noua</i>. Se fecha a finales del siglo II o principios del siglo I a. C., fundamentalmente a partir de la utilización de un nominativo plural arcaico en <i>-es</i>. Está dedicada a <i>Salaecus</i>, un apelativo que se relaciona etimológicamente con las aguas y con el mar. Por ello y por el lugar donde apareció, formulamos la hipótesis de que haría alusión al dios romano Neptuno o a una deidad hispánica relacionada con el agua

Using shell tools in Mesolithic and early Neolithic coastal sites from Northern Spain: experimental program for use wear analysis in malacological materials.

RESUMEN: Uno de los debates más extendidos en la historiografía sobre el Mesolítico y el Neolítico inicial en la región cantábrica es el de la escasez de tecnologías “tradicionales” en la mayor parte de los contextos existentes, especialmente en aquellos con grandes acumulaciones de conchas. Actualmente, varias de las hipótesis propuestas atribuyen este fenómeno a diferencias en la organización espacial de los asentamientos, al aumento en la utilización de materiales perecederos o a cambios en las estrategias de subsistencia. A partir del hallazgo de siete instrumentos de concha en el yacimiento de Santimamiñe (Kortezubi, Bizkaia), que a su vez constituyen la primera evidencia de su categoría en la región cantábrica, se propone como hipótesis el empleo de tecnologías de concha en algunas de las actividades productivas desarrolladas por los grupos de cazadores recolectores de los períodos indicados. Con el objetivo de confirmar/refutar los resultados obtenidos mediante el análisis funcional de estos instrumentos se ha llevado a cabo un programa experimental con diferentes especies de moluscos para procesar madera, piel fresca/seca y planta no leñosa. Los resultados del programa experimental confirman la utilización de estos instrumentos en diversas actividades productivas orientadas al procesado de algunas de estas materias.ABSTRACT: One of the most common debates surrounding the Mesolithic and early Neolithic periods in northern Spain focuses on the scarcity of lithic and osseous technologies identified in large shell midden contexts. Currently, several hypotheses have been proposed that attribute this phenomenon to differences in site spatial organization, increases in perishable material use, or changes in subsistence strategies. However, recently shell tools have been identified in the early Neolithic levels at Santimamiñe cave located in the Basque Country of northern Spain. These artifacts are the first evidence of shell tools to be identified in Northern Spain in an early Neolithic shell midden context. This paper proposes the hypothesis that shell tools were being used in subsistence activities. To test this hypothesis, the authors developed an experimental programme using different types of mollusc shells to examine evidence of functional use on wood, dry/fresh animal skin and non-woody plants. The experimental results were then used to examine the patterns of use on the seven shell tools from Santimamiñe. The results of the comparisons indicate that the seven shell tools have similar use patterns as the experimental shells. This evidence supports the proposed hypothesis that shell tools may have been used frequently in shell midden contexts during the Mesolithic and early Neolithic for the working of wood, plants or animal skin.La Universidad de Cantabria financió esta investigación a través de una beca y un contrato predoctorales concedidos a dos de los autores (D.C.S. e I.G.Z.). Manuel R. González Morales, Alejandro García Moreno y Juan Carlos López Quintana nos ayudaron en diversas cuestiones relacionadas con este trabajo