Los prisioneros de guerra españoles en la URSS: el relato de embajadores en el infierno y la narración histórica

I Congreso Internacional de Historia y Cine: 5, 6, 7 y 8 de Septiembre de 2007

La incorporación de la mujer a las FAS: una lectura a partir de su integración en la BRILEG y la BRIPAC y la participación de estas brigadas en operaciones en el exterior

Resumen: La igualdad entre hombres y mujeres en las Fuerzas Armadas es uno de los cambios más importantes en las organizaciones militares contemporáneas. En España, el proceso comenzó en los años ochenta, con retraso respecto a la mayor parte de los países occidentales, y, como era lógico, con algunas resistencias en el colectivo militar, y no sólo por la herencia de la dictadura de Franco. Sin embargo, la incorporación de las mujeres a las FAS se ha desarrollado con normalidad, y con rapidez, impulsada por la modernización cultural de la sociedad española y por las directrices del Ministerio de Defensa. Incluso, si lo comparamos con nuestros socios de la UE y de la OTAN, el modelo español es uno de lo que más ha evolucionado. En la actualidad, las posibilidades de acceso y la carrera profesional son exactamente iguales para ambos sexos, no existiendo ningún destino, actividad o cometido en las FAS que estén vetados a las mujeres. Como forma de aproximarnos a esta temática, el artículo estudia y reflexiona sobre la incorporación de la mujer a dos unidades de infantería del Ejército de Tierra, la Brigada de Infantería Ligera Paracaidista “Almogábares VI” (BRIPAC) y la Brigada de La Legión “Rey Alfonso XIII” (BRILEG). Estudiar estas brigadas ha supuesto atender a dos fenómenos paralelos a la incorporación de las mujeres a las FAS: la profesionalización de la tropa, y la participación de las FAS en operaciones en el exterior; la BRIPAC y la BRILEG han abierto estas misiones, y después se han ido incorporando otras unidades. Una de las conclusiones es que el porcentaje de mujeres no es igual para el conjunto de las unidades de las FAS, que en las unidades con una mayor exigencia de condiciones físicas la proporción de mujeres es menor. Las fuentes utilizadas han sido: publicaciones oficiales de estas brigadas, disposiciones internas encaminadas a readecuar las unidades a la nueva situación, valoraciones del personal de estas unidades, diarios de operaciones de las mismas y datos estadísticos que permiten apreciar la evolución del proceso. Palabras clave: Igualdad de sexos, Mujeres en las Fuerzas Armadas, Ejército de Tierra, Brigada de La Legión, Brigada Paracaidista, Modernización Fuerzas Armadas, Misiones en el exterior de las Fuerzas Armadas.   Abstract: Equality between men and women in the Army is one of the most important changes within the contemporary military organisation. In Spain, the process began in the 80´s, later than in most western countries and as expected it met with some resistance in the military. This resistance was not only because of Franco´s dictatorship heritage. However, the incorporation of women into the FAS (Armed Forces) has developed normaly and fast, driven by the cultural modernisation of the Spanish society and by the guidelines of the Ministry of Defense. Even if we compare it to our partners in the EU and in NATO, the Spanish model is one of the most evolved. Nowadays, the chances of access to a professional career are exactly the same for both genders, no role or theater is forbidden to women in the FAS. As a way of approaching this subject, the article studies and ponders about the incorporation of the women to two infantry units of the Army, the Brigada de Infantería Ligera Paracaidista “Almogábares II” (BRIPAC) and the Brigada de La Legión “Rey Alfonso XVIII” (BRILEG). Studying these brigades involved two related phenomena to the woman incorporation to the FAS: the professionalisation of the troops and the FAS participation in operations abroad. The BRIPAC and the BRILEG were the ones that opened this missions, and then more units have incorporated since then. One of the conclusions is that the percentage of women is not the same for the whole of the units in the FAS and that in the units with greater demand for physical conditions the proportion of women is lower. The sources used are: official publications of these Brigades, internal arrangements designed to readjust the units to the new situation, personnel evaluations of these units and operations journals of the units and statistics which highlight the evolution of the process.Keywords: Gender Equality, Women in the Armed Forces, the Army, La Legión Brigade, Parachute Brigade, Modernisation of the Armed Forces, foreign missions of the Army

Complete Genome Sequence of the Alfalfa Symbiont Sinorhizobium/ Ensifer meliloti Strain GR4

We present the complete nucleotide sequence of the multipartite genome of Sinorhizobium/Ensifer meliloti GR4, a predominant rhizobial strain in an agricultural field site. The genome (total size, 7.14 Mb) consists of five replicons: one chromosome, two expected symbiotic megaplasmids (pRmeGR4c and pRmeGR4d), and two accessory plasmids (pRmeGR4a and pRmeGR4b).This work was supported by research grants BIO2011-24401 from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and CSD 2009-0006 of Programme Consolider-Ingenio, both including ERDF (European Regional Development Funds). L.M.-R. and J.A.L.-C. were supported by predoctoral fellowships (Programs JAE-Predoc and I3P from Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, respectively). We are particularly grateful to M. G. Claros and R. Bautista from Plataforma Andaluza de Bioinformática (Universidad de Málaga) Spain, to A. J. Fernández-González for bioinformatics support, and to the Estación Experimental del Zaidín—CSIC for DNA sequencing services.Peer reviewe

Preliminary Study of Recycled Aggregate Mortar for Electric Arc Furnace Dust Encapsulation

This article shows the preliminary results of a study carried out to determine the technical feasibility of encapsulating a high percentage of EAFD in cement-based mortars manufactured with the fine fraction of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA). Two families of mortars, with natural aggregate as a reference and with RCA, were studied. An incorporation rate by weight of two parts mortar to one part EAFD was tested. The mechanical strengths (compressive strength and tensile strength) before and after immersion in water, the rate of delitescence and the leaching behavior were studied. Mortars made with RCA showed similar mechanical strengths to the reference mortars made with natural aggregates; however, the incorporation of EAFD decreased the mechanical strengths. Encapsulation considerably reduced the leaching of heavy metals, although the Pb concentration remained above the hazardous waste limit. With this preliminary study, two wastes are managed together, and the results have shown that the use of RCA instead of natural aggregate is a viable alternative since it does not significantly impair the mechanical or leaching properties of the cement-based matrices used to encapsulate EAFD

Has implementing an ecolabel increased sustainable tourism in Barcelona?

The aim of this study is to find out if by implementing an ecolabel in destinations, applying an SDM model, tourism sustainability increases. In order to this, three measures have been put into practice in Barcelona: (1) a focus group interview to key stakeholders (DMOs) see their implication with the certification project; (2) the implementations of two different actions relevant for the study: (a) to confront and pair up the certification body´s set of criteria with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) ones, (b) check if the certification adapts to Font´s study about ecolabels; and finally, (3) a discussion to find out if the media and local citizens felt in a city touristic ally sustainable. The findings show that Barcelona tourism board and other stakeholders were concerned about tourism sustainability. Besides, ecolabel can be believed to be trustworthy and reliable by adapting it to Font´s study (2001) and by confronting it with GSTC destination criteria. However, local population seems not to be satisfied at all with how the city is getting so many tourism. They seems not to understand labels, but they understand the negative impacts from tourism in their way of life. The limitation to this study is that just the Barcelona case is analyzed. The contribution is that it is actually putting into practice well known concepts that have usually been studied in theoretical ways

Variación del crecimiento en vivero entre procedencias de Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl.

Pinus pseudostrobus is a species with timber harvesting, distributed over a wide altitudinal gradient of 1,600-3,250 m, suggesting a genetic variance, which can be exploited by selecting trees that provide seeds in order to produce plants with high relative growth rates. Therefore, survival and early growth of Pinus pseudostrobus were evaluated under nursery conditions, based on the variation in offsprings of 38 outstanding trees (provenances) in natural stands from Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico. Seeds were sowing in February 2013 at a nursery located in Ixtlan de Juarez, near the collection site, to 2030 masl and a temperate climate. Survival from 54-166 days after planting (dap) was evaluated, five readings of plant height, basal stem diameter, four readings of number of brachyblasts were recorded, and the relative growth rate for plant height was estimated. Using analysis of variance and mean tests, significant differences among provenances were determined in all variables. In the evaluation, the plants in the nursery showed an exponential growth, an average of 0,8 to 1,5 mm in height/day of 54-166 dap and an average of 1-2 brachyblasts on primary and secondary branches per day in a range of 82-166 dap. From total provenances, four showed high growing rate.Pinus pseudotrobus es una especie con aprovechamiento maderable, distribuida en un amplio gradiente altitudinal, de 1.600 a 3.250 m, lo que sugiere una varianza genética que puede ser aprovechada mediante la selección de árboles que provean semillas que generen plantas con altas tasas de crecimiento relativo. Por lo anterior, se evaluó la sobrevivencia y crecimiento inicial de Pinus pseudostrobus en vivero, con base en la variación de progenies de 38 árboles sobresalientes (procedencias) en rodales naturales de la Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, México. La siembra se realizó en febrero de 2013 en un vivero localizado en Ixtlán de Juárez, cercano a la región de colecta, a 2030 msnm y un clima templado. Además de evaluar la sobrevivencia de 54 a 166 días después de la siembra (dds), se estimaron cinco lecturas de altura de planta, diámetro basal de tallo y cuatro lecturas de número de braquiblastos, y se calculó la tasa de crecimiento relativo para altura de planta. Mediante un análisis de varianza y comparación de medias se determinaron diferencias significativas entre procedencias, en todas las variables. En la evaluación se manifestó un crecimiento exponencial de plantas en vivero, con un promedio de 0,8 a 1,5 mm de altura/día de 54 a 166 dds y un promedio de 1 a 2 braquiblastos en ramillas primarias y secundarias por día en un intervalo de 82 a 166 dds. Del total de procedencias, cuatro de ellas mostraron una alta tasa de crecimiento

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus E protein transports calcium ions and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) envelope (E) protein is a viroporin involved in virulence. E protein ion channel (IC) activity is specifically correlated with enhanced pulmonary damage, edema accumulation and death. IL-1β driven proinflammation is associated with those pathological signatures, however its link to IC activity remains unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that SARS-CoV E protein forms protein–lipid channels in ERGIC/Golgi membranes that are permeable to calcium ions, a highly relevant feature never reported before. Calcium ions together with pH modulated E protein pore charge and selectivity. Interestingly, E protein IC activity boosted the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to IL-1β overproduction. Calcium transport through the E protein IC was the main trigger of this process. These findings strikingly link SARS-CoV E protein IC induced ionic disturbances at the cell level to immunopathological consequences and disease worsening in the infected organism

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Envelope Protein Ion Channel Activity Promotes Virus Fitness and Pathogenesis

Deletion of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) envelope (E) gene attenuates the virus. E gene encodes a small multifunctional protein that possesses ion channel (IC) activity, an important function in virus-host interaction. To test the contribution of E protein IC activity in virus pathogenesis, two recombinant mouse-adapted SARSCoVs, each containing one single amino acid mutation that suppressed ion conductivity, were engineered. After serial infections, mutant viruses, in general, incorporated compensatory mutations within E gene that rendered active ion channels. Furthermore, IC activity conferred better fitness in competition assays, suggesting that ion conductivity represents an advantage for the virus. Interestingly, mice infected with viruses displaying E protein IC activity, either with the wild-type E protein sequence or with the revertants that restored ion transport, rapidly lost weight and died. In contrast, mice infected with mutants lacking IC activity, which did not incorporate mutations within E gene during the experiment, recovered from disease and most survived. Knocking down E protein IC activity did not significantly affect virus growth in infected mice but decreased edema accumulation, the major determinant of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) leading to death. Reduced edema correlated with lung epithelia integrity and proper localization of Na+ /K+ ATPase, which participates in edema resolution. Levels of inflammasome-activated IL-1b were reduced in the lung airways of the animals infected with viruses lacking E protein IC activity, indicating that E protein IC function is required for inflammasome activation. Reduction of IL-1b was accompanied by diminished amounts of TNF and IL-6 in the absence of E protein ion conductivity. All these key cytokines promote the progression of lung damage and ARDS pathology. In conclusion, E protein IC activity represents a new determinant for SARS-CoV virulence

Validation of a Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for a Novel Residence Time Distribution Analysis in Mixing at Cross-Junctions

[EN] In Water Distribution Networks, the chlorine control is feasible with the use of water quality simulation codes. EPANET is a broad domain software and several commercial computer software packages base their models on its methodology. However, EPANET assumes that the solute mixing at cross-junctions is ¿complete and instantaneous¿. Several authors have questioned this model. In this paper, experimental tests are developed while using Copper Sulphate as tracer at different operating conditions, like those of real water distribution networks, in order to obtain the Residence Time Distribution and its behavior in the mixing as a novel analysis for the cross-junctions. Validation tests are developed in Computational Fluid Dynamics, following the k-# turbulence model. It is verified that the mixing phenomenon is dominated by convection, analyzing variation of Turbulent Schmidt Number vs. experimental tests. Having more accurate mixing models will improve the water quality simulations to have an appropriate control for chlorine and possible contaminants in water distribution networks.To CONACYT for the Master and Ph.D. scholarships (417824 and 703220) to D.H.-C. and the Ph.D. scholarship (294038) to M.R.; To Universidad de Guanajuato for the financial support of the project No. 100/2018 of J.L.N.; To Engineering Division, Campus Guanajuato and Geomatics and Hydraulics Engineering Department for the financial support of this project; and finally, to SEP-PRODEP and UG for the financial support to publish this paper.Hernandez Cervantes, D.; Delgado Galván, XV.; Nava, JL.; López Jiménez, PA.; Rosales, M.; Mora Rodríguez, JDJ. (2018). Validation of a Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for a Novel Residence Time Distribution Analysis in Mixing at Cross-Junctions. Water. 10(6):1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10060733S118106Mercier Shanks, C., Sérodes, J.-B., & Rodriguez, M. J. (2013). 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