An Analysis of Urban Size and Territorial Location Effects on Employment Probabilities: The Spanish Case

The probability of being employed varies depending on several factors. Many of these are related to personal characteristics such as educational level, age, gender, or number and age of children. Nevertheless, other factors may be relevant, in particular the geographical environment. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relevance of urban size and the position of each territory (in terms of its distance from large metropolises) for the probability of being employed in the Spanish economy. Following the set of economic regions suggested by Polése, Shearmur and Rubiera (2007 ), we try to explain the spatial patterns of employment distribution. Our results show some relevant differences between these alternative economic areas. We find that municipalities with similar sizes and located at a similar distance from a metropolis but belonging to different Autonomous Communities or provinces share similar employability patterns.     

Spatial Effects in Website Adoption by Firms in European Regions

The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on the neighboring effects of Internet adoption as measured by the percentage of firms with their own website in the European regions. This is the first study that explicitly analyzes the role played by spatial effects to explain website adoption for the European case. A set of instruments and techniques commonly used in the spatial econometrics framework is employed to test the hypothesis that proximity matters when explaining Internet adoption by firms. Results show that firms in physically adjacent regions register a similar degree of Internet adoption, confirming the presence in this context of positive spatial dependence. Nevertheless, the spatial effects detected are mainly constrained by national borders. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, population density, sectoral composition, and education are positively related to geographic distribution of Internet adoption in the enlarged European Union. In addition, regional disparities in Internet adoption were found to be less important than territorial inequalities in GDP per capita.     

The role of oceanographic conditions and plankton availability in larval fish assemblages off the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean)

In the northwestern Mediterranean, most fish species reproduce in early summer and fewer in the autumn mixing period. This study analyses and compares larval fish assemblages (LFA) in both seasons, and is the first attempt to characterize LFA structure for the autumn period. We analyze horizontal and vertical distribution of fish larvae and the micro- and mesozooplankton biomass and abundance of the main zooplankton groups. The oceanographic situation was analyzed through the study of data from CTD, Nν-Shuttle and ADCP surveys. LFA were determined by ordination analyses based on larval abundance, and the relationships between larval assemblages and environmental variables were investigated through canonical correspondence analysis. The importance of some hydrographic variables (temperature, salinity and stability of the water column), current fields (along-shelf and across-shelf transport) and the abundance of zooplankton are discussed as important factors shaping the structure of larval assemblages. In early summer, LFA were mainly structured by a combination of bathymetry and trophic components, although sea surface temperature also played a role in shaping the horizontal larval distributions. In autumn, trophic variables were the main factors influencing the shelf-dwelling species assemblage. Larvae of oceanic species, on the other hand, were not related to trophic variables but were more affected by current fields.     

RELATIONSHIPS AMONG METALS IN THE SOLID PHASE OF SOILS AND IN WILD PLANTS

The relationships between plant and soil systems were investigated using multivariate statistical methods and relative ionic impulsions. Soil samples were taken from three locations and wild plant species consisted of:Poa, Pteridium aquilinum, Diplotaxis, Plantago lanceolata andTrifolium repens. The content of Mg, Ca, Na, K, Mn, Fe, Pb, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cr in soils and plants was determined. A five-step chemical fractionation procedure (speciation) was applied to soil samples. Total metal contents were determined and amounts extracted with HCl, EDTA and DTPA were measured. Pb, Co, Ni, Cu, Fe, Zn, Cd and Cr in soils (considered as microconstituents for plants) show a greater number of statistically significant relationships with plant contents than those shown by macroconstituents (Mg, Ca, Na, K and Mn). On the other hand, only Zn and Pb extracted with EDTA and DTPA seem to be related to metal contents in wild plants. When using relative ionic impulsions, any soil fraction (obtained from the fractionation procedure, including the soluble fraction, which is the sum of all the fractions except the residual) is suitable for the study of soil-plant system, suggesting a global balance among all the fractions. Our results suggested an active assimilation for K and a passive uptake for Na, Ca and Mn. Furthermore, Fe seemed to favour the active assimilation of the other microelements.     

Characterization of a strain of clover yellow vein potyvirus infecting borage (Borago officinalis L.) in Spain

A disease of borage ( Borago officinalis ) in Spain, characterized by severe mosaic and deformation of the leaves, was shown to be caused by a potyvirus. The borage-infecting potyvirus was characterized biologically by the symptoms induced in 23 indicator species and was shown to be transmitted experimentally by the aphid Myzus persicae in a non-persistent manner. In order to classify the borage-infecting potyvirus we have cloned and sequenced the entire coat protein gene and 3' non-coding region of the viral RNA. By comparing this nucleotide sequence with those of other members of the Potyviridae , we can identify the Spanish borage-infecting potyvirus as an isolate of clover yellow vein virus (CYVV), a virus so far only known to cause important diseases in forage legumes. This is the first record of CYVV in Spain and of CYVV infecting a natural host of the Boraginaceae.     

ANATOMIC AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC ATLAS OF THE HEAD OF THE NEWBORN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS)

The head of a newborn dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), that died shortly after birth was imaged using computed tomography (CT). Gross cross-sectional slices of the head were compared with the CT images to identify normal structures of the cranium, brain, and respiratory and digestive pathways. Labelled transverse CT images of the dolphin head are presented sequentially as a reference for normal anatomy.     

Effect of atrazine on growth, production of aflatoxin, and fatty acid and sterol biosynthesis by Aspergillus spp.

The effects of atrazine were studied on growth, production of aflatoxin, and fatty acid and sterol biosynthesis by four isolates of Aspergillus in vitro. There was little effect of atrazine on Aspergillus spp. at concentrations up to 20 μg ml^?1 but at 40 μg ml^?1 or above, growth, production of aflatoxin, and fatty acid and sterol biosynthesis were remarkably reduced. Palmitic, stearic and linoleic acid synthesis were inhibited in three of the isolates tested at 60 μg ml^?1. At 100 μg ml^?1, except ergosterol, the cholesterol and 5, 7-ergostadienol synthesis was totally inhibited in all isolates. Effet de l'atrazine sur la croissance, la production d'aflatoxine, et la biosynthèse d'acides gras et de stérols par Aspergillus spp. Chez quatre isolats d'Aspergillus, les effets de l'atrazine sur la croissance, la production d'aflatoxine, et la biosynthèse d'acides gras et de stérols ont étéétudiés in vitro. Jusqu'à des concentrations de 20 μg ml^?1, l'atrazine n'a eu que peu d'effets, mais à 40 μg ml^?1 et au-dessus, la croissance, la production d'aflatoxine, et la biosynthèse d'acides gras et de stérols ont été nettement réduites. Les synthèses d'acides palmitique, stéarique et linoléique ont été inhibées chez trois des isolats, à 60 μg ml^?1. A 100 μg ml^?1, mis à part l'ergostérol, les synthèses de cholestérol et de 5, 7-ergostanediol ont été totalement inhibées chez tous les isolats. Die Wirkung von Atrazin aufdas Wachslum, die Bildung von Aflatoxin und die Fettsäuren- und Sterol-Biosynthese von Aspergillus spp. Bei vier Isolaten von Aspergillus wurde in vitro die Wirkung auf das Wachstum sowie auf die Bildung von Aflatoxin, Fettsäuren und Sterolen untersucht. Bei Atrazin-Konzentrationen bis zu 20 μg ml^?1 war keine Wirkung zu beobachten, aber ab 40 μg ml^?1 wurden das Wachstum und die Bildung von Aflatoxin, Fettsäuren und Sterolen deutlich herabgesetzt. Bei 60 μg ml^?1 war bei drei Isolaten die Bildung von Palmitin-, Stearin- und Linolensäure gehemmt. Bei 100 μg ml^?1 war bei alien Isolaten die Bildung von Cholesterol und 5, 7-Ergostadienol, aber nicht Ergosterol, unterbunden.     

Effects of nanofertilizer and nano-plant hormone on soil chemical properties and microbial community in two different soil types

Application of nanotechnology in agriculture has been expanded to improve crop production. The impact of nanomaterials (NMs) on factors that influence the survival and function of beneficial microorganisms is a less studied aspect that needs to be better understood. Only a few studies have assessed the effects of NMs on beneficial soil microorganisms. This study was conducted to assess the effects of nanofertilizer FertiGroe^?N (FG-N) and nano-plant hormone HormoGroe^?auxin (...