Estudio fitosociológico de los sabinares de Juniperus phoenicea L. en el sector Malacitano-Almijarense (provincia corológica Bética)

Se describe una nueva asociación (Rhamno myrtifoli-Juniperetum phoeniceae) de la alianza Rhamno-Quercion cocciferae distribuida en el sector Malacitano-Almijarense (provincia corológica Bética).

Vegetación de las montañas del sector Murciano

Los autores presentan un ensayo de síntesis corológica del sector Murciano (provincia corológica Murciano-Almeriense) dentro del que reconocen dos subsectores y once distritos. Para ilustrar la diversidad de esta unidad corológica se presentan los cortes fitotopográficos de cinco macizos (Sierras de Orihuela, Carrascoy, Espuña, El Carche y Pajares) pertenecienes a otros tantos distritos.

Los enebrales rastreros oromediterráneos del sector Ibérico-Soriano

Se ha realizado un estudio fitosociológico de los enebrales rastreros oromediterráneos del Sistema Ibérico septentrional (Demanda, Neila, Urbión y Cebollera), en el que se comentan también aspectos relacionados con su ecologia y conservación. Se describen dos nuevas subasociaciones: Vaccinio-myrtilli-Juniperetum nanae minuartietosum recurvae y Vaccinio myrtilli-Juniperetum nanae vaccinietosum uliginosi.

Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell DNA is Damaged by Exposure to Benzo[a]pyrene, a Constituent of Cigarette Smoke.

This study examined the effect of exogenous benzo[ a ]pyrene (BaP), an important constituent of cigarette smoke, on cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Evidence is presented for its metabolic conversion into benzo[ a ]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) and the consequent formation of potentially cytotoxic nucleobase adducts in DNA. Cultured RPE cells were treated with BaP at concentrations in the range of 0–100 µm. The presence of BaP was found to cause inhibition of cell growth and replication. BaP induced the expression of a phase I drug metabolizing enzyme which was identified as cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP 1A1) by RT–PCR and by Western blotting. Coincident with the increased expression of CYP 1A1, covalent adducts between the mutagenic metabolite BPDE and DNA could be detected within RPE cells by immunocytochemical staining. Additional support for their formation was afforded by nuclease P1 enhanced 32P-postlabelling assays on cellular DNA. Single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assays showed that exposure of RPE cells to BaP rendered them markedly more susceptible to DNA damage induced by broad band UVB or blue light laser irradiation. In the case of UVB, this is consistent with the photosensitization of DNA cleavage by nucleobase adducts of BPDE. Collectively, these findings imply that BaP has a significant impact on RPE cell pathophysiology and suggest mechanisms whereby exposure to cigarette smoke might cause RPE dysfunction and cell death, thus possibly contributing to degenerative disorders of the retina.

Performance Management in the UK Public Sector: addressing multiple stakeholder complexity

Purpose The aim of this paper is to explore the issues involved in developing and applying performance management approaches within a large UK public sector department using a multiple stakeholder perspective and an accompanying theoretical framework. Design/methodology/approach An initial short questionnaire was used to determine perceptions about the implementation and effectiveness of the new performance management system across the organisation. In total, 700 questionnaires were distributed. Running concurrently with an ethnographic approach, and informed by the questionnaire responses, was a series of semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Findings Staff at all levels had an understanding of the new system and perceived it as being beneficial. However, there were concerns that the approach was not continuously managed throughout the year and was in danger of becoming an annual event, rather than an ongoing process. Furthermore, the change process seemed to have advanced without corresponding changes to appraisal and reward and recognition systems. Thus, the business objectives were not aligned with motivating factors within the organisation. Research limitations/implications Additional research to test the validity and usefulness of the theoretical model, as discussed in this paper, would be beneficial. Practical implications The strategic integration of the stakeholder performance measures and scorecards was found to be essential to producing an overall stakeholder-driven strategy within the case study organisation. Originality/value This paper discusses in detail the approach adopted and the progress made by one large UK public sector organisation, as it attempts to develop better relationships with all of its stakeholders and hence improve its performance. This paper provides a concerted attempt to link theory with practice.