Sujetos responsables por los daños derivados del uso de un producto peligroso. Comentario a la STS, 1a, 21.11.2008 (MP:José Antonio Seijas Quintana), RJ 2009\144

La STS, 1a, 21.11.2008, objeto de este comentario, plantea a un tiempo la responsabilidad del consumidor, vendedor, fabricante y Administración pública por los daños materiales causados por la explosión de un producto altamente inflamable que había sido vendido a un particular para la desinfección de su vivienda.

100 casos de derecho de daños (2004-2009)

InDret presenta, por sexto año consecutivo, una selección de veinte sentencias sobre responsabilidad civil dictadas por el Tribunal Supremo que tratan cuestiones centrales del derecho de daños. El lector también encontrará en este trabajo las selecciones de 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 y 2008 publicadas en números anteriores.

Efectos de un incendio forestal sobre la respuesta hidrológica de la cuenca mediterránea de Arbúcies (cordilleras costeras catalanas, NE España)

En agosto de 1994 un incendio forestal afectó al 15% de la superficie de la cuenca experimental de la riera de Arbúcies. Se trata de una cuenca mediterránea de 106 km2, en la que predominan las masas de frondosas y los suelos arenosos y profundos. A partir de los registros continuos de precipitación y caudal, anteriores y posteriores al incendio (1991-1997), se seleccionaron 26 episodios con el objetivo de detectar modificaciones en la respuesta hidrológica de la cuenca debidas a los efectos del fuego. Se ha detectado una mayor respuesta hidrológica para los episodios hasta seis meses después del incendio, tanto en volumen de escorrentía como en caudal máximo, siendo más acusado el incremento para los episodios de mayor magnitud. El incremento estimado en el caudal punta para el valor máximo del rango de registros de precipitación total es del 173%, mayor que el producido en la estimación de la precipitación neta, que es solamente del 40%. Los eventos ocurridos a partir de un año y medio después del incendio muestran una tendencia a la recuperación de la respuesta hidrológica previa al incendio.

Magnitud y frecuencia del transporte fluvial de sedimento en una cuenca mediterránea semihúmeda

Este trabajo examina la magnitud y la frecuencia del transporte de sedimento (material disuelto, sedimento en suspensión y carga de fondo) en la cuenca de la riera de Arbúcies (Cordilleras Costeras Catalanas), a partir de los caudales diarios del periodo 1967-1992 y de las muestras de agua y sedimento obtenidas durante los años 1991 y 1992. Los resultados indican que el transporte en disolución es más uniforme en el tiempo que el transporte de material sólido, tanto en suspensión como de fondo. Los cálculos muestran que la carga sólida total depende sobre todo de crecidas frecuentes y de magnitud moderada, correspondientes al nivel de cauce lleno (bankfull). Cabe señalar, en este sentido, que los caudales bankfull suceden el 2,2% del tiempo y transportan el 56% del sedimento en suspensión y el 31% de la carga de fondo total anual. El caudal efectivo para el transporte de sedimento en este río es, por tanto, un suceso relativamente frecuente y de idéntica magnitud al caudal geomorfológicamente dominante o bankfull.

Factors cognitius relacionats amb el compliment d'higiene de mans. Impacte d'una campanya multimodal

La higiene de mans (HM) és la mesura preventiva més important per a la prevenció de la transmissió de les infeccions en l’entorn sanitari. No obstant això, tot i la relativa simplicitat del procediment, els estudis observacionals mostren que el compliment d’HM dels professionals de la salut és inferior al 40%. La dificultat per motivar els professionals a seguir les recomanacions respecte a l’HM i, per tant, obtenir un bon compliment suggereix que es tracta d’un comportament complex. El comportament humà és el resultat de múltiples influències com poden ser les característiques biològiques, l’entorn, l’educació i la cultura. La psicologia social intenta entendre aquestes característiques i factors individuals en el comportament. Per això, s’han desenvolupat diferents teories cognitives socials per definir la naturalesa i la relació entre els múltiples factors que afecten els diferents comportaments relacionats amb la salut. Aquestes teories identifiquen tres nivells de factors relacionats amb el comportament: 1) nivell individual o intrapersonal, 2) nivell interpersonal o d’interaccions entre els individus i 3) nivell comunitari.

Formes d"ocupació d"alta muntanya a la vall de la Vansa (Serra del Cadí - Alt Urgell) i a la vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror (Andorra): estudi diacrònic de paisatges culturals pirinencs

Els medis d'alta muntanya han estat tradicionalment concebuts com espais naturals, caracteritzats per la marginalitat de les activitats humanes. Tanmateix, en les darreres dècades, diversos projectes d'investigació han posat de manifest que a Europa, l'alta muntanya constitueix un espai humanitzat des d'antic, en molts casos, des del Mesolític. Des d"aquesta nova perspectiva, la muntanya ha passat a constituir un paisatge humanitzat, cultural, modelat al llarg del temps. Els estudis en curs plantegen analitzar aquests espais com a paisatges culturals en totes les seves dimensions, mediambiental i social o humana. En aquest nou context, l"anàlisi del registre arqueològic i de les adaptacions humanes al medi requereix d"una aproximació integral des de l"Arqueologia del Paisatge, la Història Ambiental i la Paleoecologia.

Complexes of Pd(II) and Pt(II) with 9-aminoacridine: reactions with DNA and study of their antiproliferative activity

Four new metal complexes {M = Pd(II) or Pt(II)} containing the ligand 9-aminoacridine (9AA) were prepared. The compounds were characterized by FT-IR and 1H, 13C, and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies. Crystal structure of the palladium complex of formulae [Pd(9AA)(μ-Cl)]2 · 2DMF was determined by X-ray diffraction. Two 9-acridine molecules in the imine form bind symmetrically to the metal ions in a bidentate fashion through the imine nitrogen atom and the C(1) atom of the aminoacridine closing a new five-membered ring. By reaction with phosphine or pyridine, the Cl bridges broke and compounds with general formulae [Pd(9AA)Cl(L)] (where L = PPh3 or py) were formed. A mononuclear complex of platinum of formulae [Pt(9AA)Cl(DMSO)] was also obtained by direct reaction of 9-aminoacridine and the complex [PtCl2(DMSO)2]. The capacity of the compounds to modify the secondary and tertiary structures of DNA was evaluated by means of circular dichroism and electrophoretic mobility. Both palladium and platinum compounds proved active in the modification of both the secondary and tertiary DNA structures. AFM images showed noticeable modifications of the morphology of the plasmid pBR322 DNA by the compounds probably due to the intercalation of the complexes between base pairs of the DNA molecule. Finally, the palladium complex was tested for antiproliferative activity against three different human tumor cell lines. The results suggest that the palladium complex of formula [Pd(9AA)(μ-Cl)]2 has significant antiproliferative activity, although it is less active than cisplatin.

Complexes of Pd(II) and Pt(II) with 9-aminoacridine: reactions with DNA and study of their antiproliferative activity

Four new metal complexes {M = Pd(II) or Pt(II)} containing the ligand 9-aminoacridine (9AA) were prepared. The compounds were characterized by FT-IR and 1H, 13C, and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies. Crystal structure of the palladium complex of formulae [Pd(9AA)(μ-Cl)]2 · 2DMF was determined by X-ray diffraction. Two 9-acridine molecules in the imine form bind symmetrically to the metal ions in a bidentate fashion through the imine nitrogen atom and the C(1) atom of the aminoacridine closing a new five-membered ring. By reaction with phosphine or pyridine, the Cl bridges broke and compounds with general formulae [Pd(9AA)Cl(L)] (where L = PPh3 or py) were formed. A mononuclear complex of platinum of formulae [Pt(9AA)Cl(DMSO)] was also obtained by direct reaction of 9-aminoacridine and the complex [PtCl2(DMSO)2]. The capacity of the compounds to modify the secondary and tertiary structures of DNA was evaluated by means of circular dichroism and electrophoretic mobility. Both palladium and platinum compounds proved active in the modification of both the secondary and tertiary DNA structures. AFM images showed noticeable modifications of the morphology of the plasmid pBR322 DNA by the compounds probably due to the intercalation of the complexes between base pairs of the DNA molecule. Finally, the palladium complex was tested for antiproliferative activity against three different human tumor cell lines. The results suggest that the palladium complex of formula [Pd(9AA)(μ-Cl)]2 has significant antiproliferative activity, although it is less active than cisplatin.

Controlling the spin of metal atoms adsorbed on oxide surfaces: Ni on regular and defective sites of the MgO(001) surface

We have analyzed the relative energy of nonmagnetic and magnetic low-lying electronic states of Ni atoms adsorbed on regular and defective sites of the MgO(001) surface. To this end cluster and periodic surface models are used within density functional theory. For Ni atoms adsorbed on oxygen vacancies at low coverage, the interaction energy between the metal and the support is much larger than on regular sites. Strong bonding results in a diamagnetic adsorbed species and the energy required to reach the high-spin state increases. Moreover, a correlation appears between the low-spin to high-spin energy difference and the interaction energy hypothesizing that it is possible to prepare the surface to tune the high-spin to low-spin energy difference. Magnetic properties of adsorbed thin films obtained upon increasing coverage are more difficult to interpret. This is because the metallic bond is readily formed and dominates over the effect of the atoms directly bound to the vacancy.

Complexes of Pd(II) and Pt(II) with 9-aminoacridine: reactions with DNA and study of their antiproliferative activity

Four new metal complexes {M = Pd(II) or Pt(II)} containing the ligand 9-aminoacridine (9AA) were prepared. The compounds were characterized by FT-IR and 1H, 13C, and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies. Crystal structure of the palladium complex of formulae [Pd(9AA)(μ-Cl)]2 · 2DMF was determined by X-ray diffraction. Two 9-acridine molecules in the imine form bind symmetrically to the metal ions in a bidentate fashion through the imine nitrogen atom and the C(1) atom of the aminoacridine closing a new five-membered ring. By reaction with phosphine or pyridine, the Cl bridges broke and compounds with general formulae [Pd(9AA)Cl(L)] (where L = PPh3 or py) were formed. A mononuclear complex of platinum of formulae [Pt(9AA)Cl(DMSO)] was also obtained by direct reaction of 9-aminoacridine and the complex [PtCl2(DMSO)2]. The capacity of the compounds to modify the secondary and tertiary structures of DNA was evaluated by means of circular dichroism and electrophoretic mobility. Both palladium and platinum compounds proved active in the modification of both the secondary and tertiary DNA structures. AFM images showed noticeable modifications of the morphology of the plasmid pBR322 DNA by the compounds probably due to the intercalation of the complexes between base pairs of the DNA molecule. Finally, the palladium complex was tested for antiproliferative activity against three different human tumor cell lines. The results suggest that the palladium complex of formula [Pd(9AA)(μ-Cl)]2 has significant antiproliferative activity, although it is less active than cisplatin.

Usos del sòl i activitats productives a Barcelona a partir de l"anàlisi paleoambiental de la llacuna litoral medieval del Pa de Palau

[cat]Els treballs arqueològics duts a terme al solar localitzat entre la plaça de Pau Vila i els carrers del Dr. Aiguader i de la Marquesa, al peu del baluard del Migdia, han permès descriure l'evolució geoarqueològica d'un tram del front marítim de Barcelona i generar dades fiables de la configuració de la façana litoral. Sota una potent capa de sorres, s'identificà un paquet de llims i argiles orgàniques característiques d'un medi de baixa energia; és a dir, protegit de l'onatge marí probablement per barres sorrenques. Aquesta seqüència presenta una cronologia entre finals del segle IX i ca. 1440, moment en què es realitzaren els primers intents de construcció d'estructures portuàries. En aquest nivell llimoargilós s'han dut a terme analítiques paleoambientals consistents en l'estudi pol·línic, sedimentològic i geoquímic dels sediments que han posat en evidència els canvis ambientals del front marítim barceloní, del paisatge vegetal del pla, com també de les activitats agrícoles i productives urbanes en època medieval i inicis de l'edat moderna. La informació així obtinguda ha estat contrastada amb la informació històrica. [eng]The archaeological work conducted at the site located at the foot of the Baluard del Migdia bastion between Plaça Pau Vila and Carrer Dr. Aiguader and Carrer Marquesa has provided the opportunity to describe the geoarchaeological evolution of a stretch of the seafront of Barcelona and to generate reliable data on the configuration of the coastline. A layer of silt and organic clays typical of a low-energy environment was found below a thick layer of sands. In other words, this packet was protected from the swell of the sea, probably by sandbars. This sequence presents a chronology spanning from the late 9th century BC to around 1440, the time when the first attempts were made to build port structures. This layer of silt and clay has been subjected to palaeoenvironmental analyses consisting of the study of the pollen, sediment and the geochemistry of the sediments. The results of this analysis provide evidence of the environmental changes in the seafront of Barcelona and the landscape in the plain, as well as the urban agricultural and production activities in medieval times and the early modern age. The information obtained has been compared with historical information.

Genetic Variation in the TP53 Pathway and Bladder Cancer Risk. A Comprehensive Analysis

Introduction: Germline variants in TP63 have been consistently associated with several tumors, including bladder cancer, indicating the importance of TP53 pathway in cancer genetic susceptibility. However, variants in other related genes, including TP53 rs1042522 (Arg72Pro), still present controversial results. We carried out an in depth assessment of associations between common germline variants in the TP53 pathway and bladder cancer risk. Material and Methods: We investigated 184 tagSNPs from 18 genes in 1,058 cases and 1,138 controls from the Spanish Bladder Cancer/EPICURO Study. Cases were newly-diagnosed bladder cancer patients during 1998–2001. Hospital controls were age-gender, and area matched to cases. SNPs were genotyped in blood DNA using Illumina Golden Gate and TaqMan assays. Cases were subphenotyped according to stage/grade and tumor p53 expression. We applied classical tests to assess individual SNP associations and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO)-penalized logistic regression analysis to assess multiple SNPs simultaneously. Results: Based on classical analyses, SNPs in BAK1 (1), IGF1R (5), P53AIP1 (1), PMAIP1 (2), SERINPB5 (3), TP63 (3), and TP73 (1) showed significant associations at p-value#0.05. However, no evidence of association, either with overall risk or with specific disease subtypes, was observed after correction for multiple testing (p-value$0.8). LASSO selected the SNP rs6567355 in SERPINB5 with 83% of reproducibility. This SNP provided an OR = 1.21, 95%CI 1.05–1.38, p-value = 0.006, and a corrected p-value = 0.5 when controlling for over-estimation. Discussion: We found no strong evidence that common variants in the TP53 pathway are associated with bladder cancer susceptibility. Our study suggests that it is unlikely that TP53 Arg72Pro is implicated in the UCB in white Europeans. SERPINB5 and TP63 variation deserve further exploration in extended studies.