Tobacco control policies in hospitals before and after the implementation of a national smoking ban in Catalonia, Spain

Background: Diverse projects and guidelines to assist hospitals towards the attainment of comprehensive smoke-free policies have been developed. In 2006, Spain government passed a new smoking ban that reinforce tobacco control policies and banned completely smoking in hospitals. This study assesses the progression of tobacco control policies in the Catalan Network of Smokefree Hospitals before and after a comprehensive national smoking ban. Methods: We used the Self-Audit Questionnaire of the European Network for Smoke-free Hospitals to score the compliance of 9 policy standards (global score = 102). We used two crosssectional surveys to evaluate tobacco control policies before (2005) and after the implementation of a national smoking ban (2007) in 32 hospitals of Catalonia, Spain. We compared the means of the overall score in 2005 and 2007 according to the type of hospital, the number of beds, the prevalence of tobacco consumption, and the number of years as a smoke-free hospital. Results: The mean of the implementation score of tobacco control policies was 52.4 (95% CI:45.4-59.5) in 2005 and 71.6 (95% CI: 67.0-76.2) in 2007 with an increase of 36.7% (p < 0.01). The hospitals with greater improvement were general hospitals (48% increase; p < 0.01), hospitals with > 300 beds (41.1% increase; p < 0.01), hospitals with employees' tobacco consumption prevalence 35-39% (72.2% increase; p < 0.05) and hospitals that had recently implemented smoke-free policies (74.2% increase; p < 0.01). Conclusion: The national smoking ban appears to increase tobacco control activities in hospitals combined with other non-bylaw initiatives such as the Smoke-free Hospital Network.

La publicación de artículos en las áreas de ciencias sociales y humanidades analizada a partir de los sistemas de información sobre investigación: el caso de las Universidades de Barcelona y Girona

Los sistemas de información sobre investigación y actividad científica de las universidades permiten complementar los datos que ofrecen las bases de datos multidisciplinares internacionales tales como WoS o Scopus, especialmente en disciplinas cuya cobertura no es suficientemente exhaustiva. En el presente estudio se analizan algunas características sobre los artículos y revistas publicados en las áreas de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades por profesores e investigadores de dos universidades catalanas. Los datos han sido extraídos a partir de bases de datos que permiten el acceso libre a los registros de la producción de ambas instituciones académicas. Se concluye la importancia del acceso abierto a este tipo de registros además de la existencia de diferencias entre las áreas de conocimiento en aspectos tales como calidad, nivel de colaboración, porcentaje de divulgación, idioma de publicación, aunque existe una tendencia general a un mayor uso relativo de la lengua inglesa.

Redes sociales y negocios. La red de inversión del Banco de Barcelona en la economía catalana a mediados del siglo XIX

The appearance of the Banco de Barcelona involved the formation of an investment compact network between its directors. In this work we studied how this investment network grew within a larger one, the one formed by the major investors in Catalonia during the period 1815-1866, as well as the role played by the top executives of the Bank inside it. Our findings indicate that some of the directors of the Bank held a central position in the main Catalan investors" network. This important role guaranteed reliable information on the progress of businesses. This information not only favored the operations of the institution, but also allowed its directors to take investment decisions inside the network. Moreover, the Bank interconnects individuals who were associated with different investors" sectors, which made the institution coalesced around an investing core with different important influences and connections.

Algunas adventicias notables en el Euphorbieto-Eleusinetum geminatae (ass. nova) de Barcelona

Alternantherarepens (L.j Steud. ( =A. achymnthaR. Br.). Amarantácea procumbente, de hojas elíptico-orbiculares y glomérulos blanco-plateados. Fué hallada en el puerto de Barcelona, junto a las vías del ferrocarril, hacia la parte central del muelle denominado de Barcelona.

Aportació al coneixement de l"herbari Trèmols de l"Institut Botànic de Barcelona.

The herbarium BC-Trèmols was created during the second half of the 19th century by the Catalan chemist and botanist Frederic Trèmols Borrell. Between 1930 and 1960, the technician Antoni Marcos carried out a thorough review. The current collection consists of approximately 9000 specimen sheets; is made up of 58 volumes reordered by Marcos,two volumes with the original structure, four boxes of Hieracium and 85 boxes with additional material. Up to now 22 volumes and four boxes of Hieracium have been computerized (3695 specimens); we made an inventory at genus level of all volumes, and we computerized the original catalogue of the herbarium and the existing taxonomical fiches. We have also developed a preliminary inventory of the contents of the extra boxes. The analysis of these 3695 herbarium specimens clearly shows that it mainly consists of samples obtained by exchange (67.1%) especially within the Société Helvétique pour l"Échange des Plantes and the Societat Botànica Barcelonesa. Among the materials studied we found two specimens regarded as interesting from a taxonomical and/or nomenclatural point of view (isotypes of Silene holzmanii Heldr. ex Boiss. and of Arenaria minutiflora Loscos). Therefore, the main interest of the herbarium lies in the diversity of the geographical provenance of plants, which makes of this collection one of the first"pan-European herbaria" in Catalonia.

Estudio geoquímico preliminar de diversas muestras salinas de Sallent y Balsareny (Barcelona, España)

Se exponen los métodos analíticos seguidos en el estudio de muestras salinas extraídas de la Cuenca Potásica Catalana poniendo interés especial en las pertenecientes a 'zonas de esterilización'. Estas 'zonas de esterilización' o 'zonas de empobrecimiento total' (Borchert, 1969) son planos de cizalla en la masa salina estratificada.

Nolz1 promotes striatal neurogenesis through the regulation of retinoic acid signaling

Background: Nolz1 is a zinc finger transcription factor whose expression is enriched in the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE), although its function is still unknown. Results: Here we analyze the role of Nolz1 during LGE development. We show that Nolz1 expression is high in proliferating neural progenitor cells (NPCs) of the LGE subventricular zone. In addition, low levels of Nolz1 are detected in the mantle zone, as well as in the adult striatum. Similarly, Nolz1 is highly expressed in proliferating LGE-derived NPC cultures, but its levels rapidly decrease upon cell differentiation, pointing to a role of Nolz1 in the control of NPC proliferation and/or differentiation. In agreement with this hypothesis, we find that Nolz1 over-expression promotes cell cycle exit of NPCs in neurosphere cultures and negatively regulates proliferation in telencephalic organotypic cultures. Within LGE primary cultures, Nolz1 over-expression promotes the acquisition of a neuronal phenotype, since it increases the number of β-III tubulin (Tuj1)- and microtubule-associated protein (MAP)2-positive neurons, and inhibits astrocyte generation and/or differentiation. Retinoic acid (RA) is one of the most important morphogens involved in striatal neurogenesis, and regulates Nolz1 expression in different systems. Here we show that Nolz1 also responds to this morphogen in E12.5 LGE-derived cell cultures. However, Nolz1 expression is not regulated by RA in E14.5 LGE-derived cell cultures, nor is it affected during LGE development in mouse models that present decreased RA levels. Interestingly, we find that Gsx2, which is necessary for normal RA signaling during LGE development, is also required for Nolz1 expression, which is lost in Gsx2 knockout mice. These findings suggest that Nolz1 might act downstream of Gsx2 to regulate RA-induced neurogenesis. Keeping with this hypothesis, we show that Nolz1 induces the selective expression of the RA receptor (RAR)β without altering RARα or RARγ. In addition, Nozl1 over-expression increases RA signaling since it stimulates the RA response element. This RA signaling is essential for Nolz1-induced neurogenesis, which is impaired in a RA-free environment or in the presence of a RAR inverse agonist. It has been proposed that Drosophila Gsx2 and Nolz1 homologues could cooperate with the transcriptional co-repressors Groucho-TLE to regulate cell proliferation. In agreement with this view, we show that Nolz1 could act in collaboration with TLE-4, as they are expressed at the same time in NPC cultures and during mouse development. Conclusions: Nolz1 promotes RA signaling in the LGE, contributing to the striatal neurogenesis during development.

The Role of Trade in the Structural Transformations of South Korea and the United Kingdom

[cat] El comerç internacional en béns agrícoles té el potencial d'accelerar la transformació estructural dels països amb baixa productivitat agrícola perquè els dóna la possiblitat d'importar aliments. L'objectiu d'aquest article és estudiar l'importància del comerç internacional en aquest context a través dels exemples de Corea del Sud i el Regne Unit. Per fer l'anàlisi, introdueixo comerç internacional en un model de creixement neoclàssicc amb dos sectors, agricultura i no-agricultura. Una característica clau del model és la baixa elasticitat-ingrés del bé agrícola.

Nolz1 promotes striatal neurogenesis through the regulation of retinoic acid signaling

Background: Nolz1 is a zinc finger transcription factor whose expression is enriched in the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE), although its function is still unknown. Results: Here we analyze the role of Nolz1 during LGE development. We show that Nolz1 expression is high in proliferating neural progenitor cells (NPCs) of the LGE subventricular zone. In addition, low levels of Nolz1 are detected in the mantle zone, as well as in the adult striatum. Similarly, Nolz1 is highly expressed in proliferating LGE-derived NPC cultures, but its levels rapidly decrease upon cell differentiation, pointing to a role of Nolz1 in the control of NPC proliferation and/or differentiation. In agreement with this hypothesis, we find that Nolz1 over-expression promotes cell cycle exit of NPCs in neurosphere cultures and negatively regulates proliferation in telencephalic organotypic cultures. Within LGE primary cultures, Nolz1 over-expression promotes the acquisition of a neuronal phenotype, since it increases the number of β-III tubulin (Tuj1)- and microtubule-associated protein (MAP)2-positive neurons, and inhibits astrocyte generation and/or differentiation. Retinoic acid (RA) is one of the most important morphogens involved in striatal neurogenesis, and regulates Nolz1 expression in different systems. Here we show that Nolz1 also responds to this morphogen in E12.5 LGE-derived cell cultures. However, Nolz1 expression is not regulated by RA in E14.5 LGE-derived cell cultures, nor is it affected during LGE development in mouse models that present decreased RA levels. Interestingly, we find that Gsx2, which is necessary for normal RA signaling during LGE development, is also required for Nolz1 expression, which is lost in Gsx2 knockout mice. These findings suggest that Nolz1 might act downstream of Gsx2 to regulate RA-induced neurogenesis. Keeping with this hypothesis, we show that Nolz1 induces the selective expression of the RA receptor (RAR)β without altering RARα or RARγ. In addition, Nozl1 over-expression increases RA signaling since it stimulates the RA response element. This RA signaling is essential for Nolz1-induced neurogenesis, which is impaired in a RA-free environment or in the presence of a RAR inverse agonist. It has been proposed that Drosophila Gsx2 and Nolz1 homologues could cooperate with the transcriptional co-repressors Groucho-TLE to regulate cell proliferation. In agreement with this view, we show that Nolz1 could act in collaboration with TLE-4, as they are expressed at the same time in NPC cultures and during mouse development. Conclusions: Nolz1 promotes RA signaling in the LGE, contributing to the striatal neurogenesis during development.

The Role of Trade in the Structural Transformations of South Korea and the United Kingdom

[cat] El comerç internacional en béns agrícoles té el potencial d'accelerar la transformació estructural dels països amb baixa productivitat agrícola perquè els dóna la possiblitat d'importar aliments. L'objectiu d'aquest article és estudiar l'importància del comerç internacional en aquest context a través dels exemples de Corea del Sud i el Regne Unit. Per fer l'anàlisi, introdueixo comerç internacional en un model de creixement neoclàssicc amb dos sectors, agricultura i no-agricultura. Una característica clau del model és la baixa elasticitat-ingrés del bé agrícola.

Characteristics of 2D convective structures in Catalonia (NE Spain): an analysis using radar data and GIS

Flood simulation studies use spatial-temporal rainfall data input into distributed hydrological models. A correct description of rainfall in space and in time contributes to improvements on hydrological modelling and design. This work is focused on the analysis of 2-D convective structures (rain cells), whose contribution is especially significant in most flood events. The objective of this paper is to provide statistical descriptors and distribution functions for convective structure characteristics of precipitation systems producing floods in Catalonia (NE Spain). To achieve this purpose heavy rainfall events recorded between 1996 and 2000 have been analysed. By means of weather radar, and applying 2-D radar algorithms a distinction between convective and stratiform precipitation is made. These data are introduced and analyzed with a GIS. In a first step different groups of connected pixels with convective precipitation are identified. Only convective structures with an area greater than 32 km2 are selected. Then, geometric characteristics (area, perimeter, orientation and dimensions of the ellipse), and rainfall statistics (maximum, mean, minimum, range, standard deviation, and sum) of these structures are obtained and stored in a database. Finally, descriptive statistics for selected characteristics are calculated and statistical distributions are fitted to the observed frequency distributions. Statistical analyses reveal that the Generalized Pareto distribution for the area and the Generalized Extreme Value distribution for the perimeter, dimensions, orientation and mean areal precipitation are the statistical distributions that best fit the observed ones of these parameters. The statistical descriptors and the probability distribution functions obtained are of direct use as an input in spatial rainfall generators.

La pisa de Barcelona: una aproximació arqueomètrica al seu estudi

El coneixement que es té avui dia de la pisa barcelonina, quant a produccions, formes, decoracions, etc., ha avançat de manera significativa, però resten per resoldre qüestions relacionades amb la tecnologia de producció, l"evolució d"aquesta tecnologia, l"aprovisionament i el tractament de les matèries primeres o les diferències de qualitats entre els diversos tallers existents a la ciutat de Barcelona. Per aquest motiu, s"ha iniciat un programa de caracterització arqueomètrica de la pisa de Barcelona, del qual aquest treball presenta uns primers resultats.

La ceràmica de Barcelona. Organització i producció entre els segles XIII i XVIII a través de la seva caracterització arqueomètrica

L"estudi sobre la producció ceràmica de Barcelona en època medieval i postmedieval s'està fent des del Museu d"Història de Barcelona i des de l"ARQUB en aquest darrers anys. Aquest estudi s"ha reforçat amb els treballdesenvolupats en el marc del projecte de recerca Tecnolonial, cosa que ha permès ampliar les classes ceràmiques i el marc cronològic d"estudi. Els resultats aconseguits fins ara mostren que per a un mateix moment cronològic es preparen diverses pastes segons el producte final que es vol obtenir. Finalment, el canvi d"ubicació dels tallers que segurament es va produïr cap a finals del segle XIII / inicis del segle XIV podria estar relacionat amb l"explotació d"un nou llit d"argiles, la qual cosa coincidiria amb el fet que la producció del segle XIII és completament diferent químicament a la del segle XIV en endavant.

Temporalidad y contaminacion como claves para interpretar la biodiversidad de macroinvertebrados en un arroyo mediterraneo (Riera de Sant Cugat, Barcelona)

En Octubre de 1995 se estudiaron 10s macroinvertebrados acuaticos en varias localidades de la cuenca de la Riera de Sant Cugat (Barcelona) situadas dentro y fuera del Parque Metropolitan0 de Collserola y, se relacionaron con la calidad y la temporalidad de las aguas. Gran parte del recorrido de 10s cauces estaba sec0 en el moment0 de estudio. Algunas localidades, situadas en 10s limites del Parque, poseian flujo permanente per0 con elevados signos de contaminacibn. Dentro del Parque se encontraron algunas zonas con caudal permanente, aunque reducido (desde menos de 1 V s hasta 32 Us), y zonas con flujo intermitente, ademas de 10s que estaban secos. En las quince localidades muestreadas se encontraron un total de 65 taxones distintos; la mayor riqueza en una sola estacidn fue de 33 y se encontraron tanto especies de zonas redfilas (simlilidos o algunos efemerdpteros) como aquellas m8s propias de aguas 16nticas como hemipteros, odonatos o algunos cole6pteros. Mediante un anhlisis de ordenacidn en el espacio se agruparon las estaciones y se ordenaron en funcibn de su flujo y del grado de polucibn, diferenciindose claramente las estaciones externas al parque (con flujo moderado y cierta contaminacidn) de aquellas situadas en el interior del parque y, entre Cstas, las de flujo permanente respecto a las encharcadas. Se analizaron las diferencias entre estos cuatro grupos segun 10s tipos de organismos existentes y su estrategia trófica. A pesar de que muchos puntos de muestreo presentaban poca agua, se refuerza la idea de la importancia de mantener 1os flujos minimos de estos rios para conservar la biodiversidad.

Plant diversity across five vegetation belts in the Pyrenees (Catalonia, Spain)

In this paper we analyze the size and habitat partitioning of the vascular floras of five areas of the NE Iberian Peninsula, representing five distinct vegetation belts and three floristic regions: Mediterranean (basal belt), medio-European (submontane and montane belts) and Boreo-Alpine (subalpine and alpine belts). Each area covered over 1000 ha, and was fairly uniform in terms of potential vegetation, bedrock and bioclimate. They excluded large villages and field areas, the landscape being mainly natural or moderately anthropized.