Search

This paper aims to describe and discuss the significance of the social policy measures implemented in Southern European countries—Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain—in response to the first wave of COVID‐19. Our analysis covers interventions from 1 March to June 30, 2020. Despite significant differences in how the COVID‐19 pandemic spread—with Italy and Spain experiencing much higher rates of infection and lethality—Southern European economies are among the most hard‐hit—and are likely to find themselves in the eye of the storm, once more. The paper shows that despite differences in how countries have countered the spread of COVID‐19, there are important commonalities in the actions governments took to counteract the economic impact of the pandemic. Foremost efforts were directed at wage subsidy schemes to contain mass job destruction, additional temporary benefits to compensate self‐employed and other non‐standard workers for the loss of earnings; the expansion of unemployment insurance; and finally, the introduction and/or strengthening of schemes to provide support to families with care responsibilities. The scale of the social policy and employment protection response has nevertheless been constrained by the fiscal position of each individual country in the post‐Euro crisis context. We argue that, in the long run, the response capacity of these governments and the social and economic consequences of this crisis will need to be contextualised against the backdrop of the deep and prolonged impact of austerity‐driven measures on public budgets, production and welfare regimes over the last decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to high competitiveness in the PV sector, despite the low degradation rate of crystalline silicon PV modules (below 0.5%/year), it is still important for utilities to know its actual value due to its impact on energy yield and hence, profitability, over the lifetime of a PV plant. However, uncertainties related to both the influence of downtime periods due to problems that may appear under normal operation of a commercial PV plant and to the measurement of degradation rates at PV plant level make this a challenging task. In order to obtain a significant value, in this paper, three measuring methods with different uncertainty sources are used for 82 MWp of PV modules on different locations in Spain and Portugal over 10 years. According to the different methods used and PV plants analyzed, excluding PV plants with problems, a range of degradation rates between 0.01 and 0.47%/year has been found. The overall average value observed is 0.27%/year. The findings of this work have also revealed the great importance of good operation and maintenance practices in order to keep overall low degradation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spain and Portugal are two neighbouring countries, sharing regions with specific socio‐economic challenges. These challenges arise now as promising sources of regional co‐operation, namely in supporting the design of more tailored regional policies. In this context, the main aim of this paper is to discuss how neighbouring spaces within the Iberian Peninsula can be identified as sources for positive economic effects on the surrounding area. For this purpose, we will use Eurostat regional data, taking advantage of spatial autocorrelation analysis. Based on the developments related to Verdoorn's law, we explored the spatial approach for studying the latent correlations between the Iberian regions, in terms of local production. The results show that there are several Iberian contexts of economic success that can be considered as benchmarks for other regions. We also posit that policies' frameworks between neighbouring regions should be enhanced. These findings are relevant outputs to be considered by public institutions in the design of regional policies that promote more regional co‐operation and support spreading effects from poles of development to neighbouring regions (reduction asymmetries). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Regional Science Policy & Practice is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Based on the experience of the Portuguese and Spanish financial crises in the early 1990s, this paper suggests that the spillover of exchange rate crises may reveal a particular dimension of the financial contagion effect: the presumption of mimetic behaviour by monetary authorities. This paper analyses the evolution of the credibility of the Escudo and the Peseta. We set out to test the existence of a contagion effect: that is, in what way does the polarization of exchange rate expectations in a scenario of devaluation of one currency explain the building up of a similar scenario for the other currency? We also examine the transmission mechanisms of such a scenario. Our results suggest the existence of a one-way contagion effect, of the Escudo by the Peseta. Speculative attacks against the Peseta necessarily give rise to speculative attacks against the Escudo, regardless of the evolution of the ‘fundamentals’ of the Escudo. In this case, the spillover of financial crises could be better understood by the anticipated mimetic behaviour of monetary authorities, rather than by the geographical proximity of the countries in question or by the identical performance of the economies of both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate nursing/midwifery students, Clinical Mentors, Link Teachers and Head Nurses experiences within "Dedicated Education Unit" model in 6 European clinical placements and analyse the necessary elements for a powerful clinical learning environment. Design: A multi‐country, phenomenological, qualitative study. Methods: Focus group interviews were performed to identify the personal and organizational factors of importance for students and nurses/midwives. Results: Data analysis produced 4 main themes (1) Clinical placement organization, (2) students' clinical knowledge and skill acquisition, (3) students, and nurses/midwives' experiences within the DEU model and (4) factors for creating an effective learning environment. Conclusions: A close educational‐service collaboration, a realistic clinical placement planning, a focus on student learning process and an investment in professionals' education and development among others, are elements to set up a powerful clinical learning environment. Implications for the profession: It is considered advisable and urgent to improve the working conditions of nurses/midwives and the learning environments of students as a strategy to alleviate the global shortage of nurses and respond to the increasingly demanding health needs of the population. Impact: Due to the close relationship between students' learning and features of the clinical environment nurse educators seek innovative models which allow students to manage patient care and their transition to professional practice. To implement new learning strategies, identifying students, nurses and midwives perceptions and suggestions is a powerful information to evaluate implementation process and outcomes. Public Contribution: Our findings could help academic and clinical managers to meet the human and organizational requirements to create a successful learning environment in every student placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an interpolation model for monthly rainfall in large areas of complex orography. It has been implemented in the Iberian Peninsula (continental territories of Spain and Portugal), Balearic and Canary Islands covering a territory of almost 600.000 km2. To do this a data set that comprises a total number of 11,822 monthly precipitation series has been created (11,042 provided by the Spanish Meteorological Agency and 780 provided by the National Water Resources Information System of the Portuguese Water Institute). The data set covers the period from October 1940 until September 2005. The interpolation model has been based on the assumption of two different components on monthly precipitation. The first component reflects local and seasonal characteristics and 24 different mean monthly precipitation maps (12) and SDs maps (12) compose it. It considers the varying influence of physiographic variables such as altitude and orientation. The second precipitation component reflects the synoptic pattern that dominated each month of the series and it is composed by series of anomalies of monthly precipitation (780). Anomalies have been interpolated by means of ordinary kriging once local spatial continuity was assumed. Gridded maps of each variable have been developed at 200 m resolution following a hybrid methodology that implements two different interpolation techniques. The first technique applies a regression analysis to derive maps depending on altitude and orientation; the second one is a weighting technique to consider the non‐linearity of the precipitation/altitude dependence. Cross validation has been applied to estimate the goodness of both techniques. Results show an average annual precipitation of 655 mm/year. Although this figure is only 4% less than the estimate of MAGRAMA (2004), regional and local differences are highlighted when the spatial distribution is considered. The model constitutes a comprehensive implementation considering the availability of historical records and the need of avoiding slow calculations in large territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient quarries are intriguing archaeological sites, but their detailed recording is complex. This paper presents a cost-effective approach to mapping of the Roman quarry site of Pitaranha (Portugal-Spain). First, aerial photographs were acquired using a radio-controlled digital reflex camera attached to a Helikite, which allowed the acquisition of the necessary low-altitude aerial footage in the very unstable wind conditions above the quarry. Using computer vision algorithms, the resulting set of photographs was semi-automatically transformed into a Digital Surface Model (DSM) and a corresponding orthophotograph. Besides focusing on the acquisition and processing method, this paper evaluates the accuracy of the generated products. The orthophotograph proved to be satisfactorily accurate for 1:200 hard-copy mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the analysis and modelling of credit risk, measured through the value of nonperforming loans. Taking into account the new regulatory framework introduced by Basel II, possible stress scenarios in the context of Pillar 2 are also identified. The analysis is conducted for three countries-Portugal, Spain and Italy. The null hypothesis of linearity is rejected for all three countries, for both the self-exciting threshold autoregressive (SETAR) and threshold autoregressive (TAR) alternatives, and this feature is taken into account when credit risk is modelled, making SETAR and TAR models a plausible alternative to linear models. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how the elimination of malaria could provide an escape from poverty with reference to the timing of the decline in malaria and its implications in terms of the labour force, the implications for the agricultural sector and the growth of the tourist industry in Portugal, Spain, Greece and Italy in the first half of the twentieth century. The paper finds that whilst the control of malaria did have an economic effect, the escape from poverty was encouraged but not explained by malaria elimination. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper provides evidence of the positive impact of economic integration on EU regions’ business cycles convergence by focusing on two neighbouring countries: Spain and Portugal. We show that while a rise in cross-country business cycle correlation has also been experienced by other European countries, it has been relatively more pronounced for Iberian regions. Econometric evidence suggests that the existence of an administrative border, the economic size of regions and their industrial structures can explain a substantial proportion of regional cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role of Hispania in the Atlantic route in Roman times. We analyse the different Atlantic Iberian territories along this route, based on recent archaeological advances and discoveries related to trade as well as the shipping infrastructure. The aim is to explain the origin and evolution of a new maritime area that was completely integrated with the political and commercial structure of the Empire, with trade routes that followed the coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula all the way to the Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This clinical technique article is focused on the use of prefabricated veneers to enhance the esthetic appearance of the anterior dentition in patients who needed an alternative esthetic solution more affordable than traditional porcelain veneers. Clinical considerations Because prefabricated composite veneer systems have been recently introduced, they are not widely used. The Componeer system ( Coltene, Altstätten, Switzerland) contains thin pre-polymerized hybrid composite shells, several shades of a direct hybrid composite resin, an etch-and-rinse adhesive system, and restorative accessories including finishing points and disks. The prefabricated restorations can be customized in the mouth for color and shape. The technique described in this article can be used to restore function and esthetics in one office visit. Conclusions The prefabricated composite veneer technique has some of the advantages of direct composite restorations, as only one session is required without the need to take impressions to send to the dental laboratory. This new treatment option may open new opportunities for dental professionals and their patients. However, it is paramount to carry out controlled clinical studies with this restorative technique prior to recommending it without restrictions in general practice. Clinical Significance The clinical technique described in this paper has the potential for being used routinely to lengthen anterior teeth, to correct malpositioned teeth, to mask discolorations, and to close diastemas. The technique can also be used to restore extensive caries lesions and tooth fractures, and to refurbish large old anterior restorations, especially when other treatment options are out of reach for the patient for financial reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reports research work carried out to characterise the fatigue behaviour of the Portuguese Pinhão riveted road bridge, built in 1903 over the Douro river. The present traffic conditions are completely different from those foreseen by the bridge designer, rising new concerns, with respect to the bridge integrity, namely its fatigue behaviour. An experimental programme was performed using original material removed from the bridge. The chemical composition and microstructures of the removed materials were characterised. Also, the notch toughness, at room temperature, was evaluated using both notch impact and Crack Opening Displacement (COD) tests. Fatigue crack growth tests were also used to evaluate the fatigue crack growth behaviour. Finally, fatigue tests of riveted joints were conducted in order to define an appropriate S-N curve. The experimental results were used to evaluate the residual fatigue strength of the bridge, adopting both S-N and Fracture Mechanics approaches. The analysis revealed a good tolerance to fatigue cracking, even in the presence of small fatigue cracks, detected in the joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Erkoreka A. (2010) The Spanish influenza pandemic in occidental Europe (1918–1920) and victim age. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 4(2), 81–89. Background Studies of the Spanish Influenza pandemic (1918–1920) provide interesting information that may improve our preparation for present and future influenza pandemic threats. Methods We studied archives from France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, obtaining high-quality data that allowed us to calculate mortality rates associated with the Spanish flu and to characterize the proportional distribution of influenza deaths by age in the capital cities of these countries. Results French and American troops who fought in the First World War began to be affected from April 1918 onwards by a benign influenza epidemic, which hardly caused any deaths. The first occidental European country in which the pandemic spread to large sectors of the population, causing serious mortality, was Spain. The associated influenza provoked in Madrid a mortality rate of 1·31 per 1000 inhabitants between May and June (1918). In the following months of June and July, the epidemic spread to Portugal, but did not reach the Pyrenees. In September 1918, the influenza pandemic spread with tremendous virulence, presenting itself simultaneously during the month of October in South Western European countries. In Madrid, the 1918 excess mortality due in large part to the influenza pandemic is estimated at 5·27 per 1000. In Paris, the 1918 mortality rate provoked by the influenza and pathologies of the respiratory system was 6·08 per 1000. In South Western European countries, mortality rates oscillated between 10·6 and 12·1 per 1000 inhabitants. A study of the age distribution of deaths due to influenza between 1916 and 1921 reveals that the Spanish influenza principally affected men and women between 15 and 44 years of age. Deaths associated with the seasonal influenza of 1916, 1917 and 1921 represented 19·7%, 12·5% and 21·0% of all deaths respectively, whereas during the rawest moments of the Spanish influenza, in 1918, the proportion of deaths due to flu for those aged between 15 and 44 years of age reached 68·2% in Paris and 66·3% in Madrid. Conclusion Victim age is an important criterion that can be used to evaluate the phase and evolution of pandemic influenza. The Spanish Influenza affected particularly the 25- to 34-year-old and 15- to 24-year-old age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the reactions to personnel selection methods in Spain and Portugal using a sample composed of 125 and 104 students, respectively. The results found are very similar in both countries. The best rated and most favorable methods are interviews, résumés and work sample tests, while contacts, integrity tests and graphology were the least favorable ones. With regard to the process dimensions used, face validity and opportunity to perform are the most important bases for considering personnel techniques favorably. The results show some similarities with the ones found by Steiner and Gilliland (1996) in French and American samples. The similarities among the countries are examined and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plants, People, Planet is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Smokers are frequent users of healthcare services. Admissions to hospital can serve as a "teachable moment" for quitting smoking. Clinical guidelines recommend initiating smoking cessation services during hospitalization; however, in Southern European countries less than 5% of inpatients receive a brief intervention for smoking cessation. Objectives: The aims of this study were (i) to examine rates of smoking abstinence during and after hospitalization; (ii) to measure changes in smoking patterns among persons who continued smoking after discharge; and (iii) to identify predictors of abstinence during hospitalization and after discharge. Methods: A cohort study of a representative sample of current adult smokers hospitalized in two Spanish and two Portuguese hospitals. We surveyed smokers during hospitalization and recontacted them one month after discharge. We used a 25‐item ad hoc questionnaire regarding their smoking pattern, the smoking cessation intervention they have received during hospitalization, and hospital and sociodemographic characteristics. We performed a descriptive analysis using the chi‐square test and a multivariate logistic regression to characterize the participant, hospital, and smoking cessation intervention (5As model) characteristics associated with smoking abstinence. Results: Smoking patients from both countries presented high abstinence rates during hospitalization (Spain: 76.4%; Portugal: 70.2%); however, after discharge, their abstinence rates decreased to 55.3% and 46.8%, respectively. In Spain, smokers who tried to quit before hospital admission showed higher abstinence rates, and those who continued smoking reduced a mean of five cigarettes the number of cigarettes per day (p ≤ 0.001). In Portugal, abstinence rates were higher among women (p = 0.030), those not living with a smoker (p = 0.008), those admitted to medical‐surgical wards (p = 0.035), who consumed their first cigarette within 60 min after waking (p = 0.006), and those who were trying to quit before hospitalization (p = 0.043). Conclusions: Half of the smokers admitted into the Spanish hospitals are abstinent one month after discharge or have reduced their cigarettes per day. Nevertheless, success rates could be increased by implementing evidence‐based tobacco cessation programs at the organizational‐level, including post‐discharge active quitting smoking support. Clinical relevance: Three‐quarters of the inpatients who smoke remain abstinent during hospitalization and over half achieve to maintain their abstinence or at least reduce their consumption one month after discharge, proving that admission to hospitals is an excellent teachable moment to quit smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental disease is now recognised as a major but often unrecognised disorder of equids, including horses and donkeys. However, very few large clinical studies have documented the prevalence and type of dental disease present in different equid populations and no dental studies have been reported in Zamorano-Leonés or Mirandês donkeys, two endangered donkey breeds. Clinical and detailed oral examinations were performed in 400 Mirandês and 400 Zamorano-Leonés donkeys in Portugal and Spain. It was found that just 4.5 per cent had ever received any previous dental care. Cheek teeth (CT) disorders were present in 82.8 per cent of these donkeys, ranging from a prevalence of 29.6 per cent in the <2.5-year-old group to 100 per cent in the >25-year-old group. These CT disorders included enamel overgrowths (73.1 per cent prevalence but with just 6.3 per cent having associated soft tissue injuries), focal overgrowths (37.3 per cent), periodontal disease (23.5 per cent) and diastemata (19.9 per cent). Peripheral caries was present in 5.9 per cent of cases, but inexplicably, infundibular caries was very rare (1.3 per cent prevalence); this may have been due to their almost fully foraged diet. The high prevalence of enamel overgrowths in these donkeys, most which never received concentrates, also raises questions about the aetiology of this disorder. This very high prevalence of CT disorders, especially in older donkeys, was of great welfare concern in some cases and emphasises the need for routine dental care in these cases on welfare grounds and in order to help preserve these unique breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses actual social dialogue experiences in Italy, Portugal and Spain in order to examine the social partners' participation in COVID‐19 crisis management. It considers the economic and political variables that have helped revitalize tripartism in all three countries relative to the previous economic crisis. The lack of austerity policies and responsibility‐sharing on the part of the social partners and governments paved the way for various agreements that, though differing in content and scope, attest to stronger peak‐level tripartite dialogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen: Se aborda la participación de los agentes sociales en la gestión de la crisis de la COVID‐19 analizando las experiencias de diálogo social tripartito surgidas en España, Italia y Portugal. Se examinan las variables económicas y políticas que han podido favorecer la revitalización del tripartismo en estos tres países en comparación con la anterior crisis económica. En este sentido, la ausencia de políticas de austeridad y la asunción compartida de la responsabilidad por agentes sociales y gobiernos han impulsado la consecución de diferentes acuerdos que, aunque difieren en su contenido y alcance, evidencian un fortalecimiento del diálogo tripartito al máximo nivel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic relationship between oil price variations, changing income, exchange rate deviations and oil consumption has preoccupied the minds of many energy researchers albeit contradicting submissions. On this note, this study seeks to evaluate the possible asymmetric impact of the aforementioned variables on oil consumption in selected European countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain between 2000Q1 and 2018Q4. To that effect, after ascertaining the existence of cointegration, the study applied the nonlinear ARDL technique in evaluating the asymmetric effects of oil price, income and exchange rate on oil consumption in these countries. The cointegration tests reveals a long‐run relationship among the variables in all the countries. Also discovered is an asymmetric pass‐through from oil prices to oil consumption in Portugal, Ireland and Spain. Whereas in Ireland, Italy and Spain, an asymmetric relationship exists between oil consumption and national income, while asymmetric effects flow from the exchange rate to oil consumption in Ireland and Spain. Therefore, to ensure optimal resource allocations in these countries, the existence of asymmetric effects must not be taken for granted. Meanwhile, a one‐size‐fits‐all strategy may not yield the expected results in these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: Les partenaires sociaux ont‐ils été associés à la gestion de la crise du COVID‐19? Pour le savoir, l'auteur observe les pratiques tripartites en Espagne, en Italie et au Portugal en 2020. Il recherche les variables économiques et politiques susceptibles d'avoir contribué au renouveau du dialogue social tripartite observé dans ces pays, par rapport à la crise économique précédente. L'abandon des politiques d'austérité et un sentiment de responsabilité partagé par les partenaires sociaux et les gouvernements semblent avoir contribué à la conclusion de plusieurs accords, de nature et de portée variables, mais qui permettent de conclure au renforcement du dialogue social au plus haut niveau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents who participate as peer leaders can benefit and acquire competencies from their peer leadership experience. Objectives: To identify the competencies gained by adolescents who participated as peer leaders in a healthy lifestyle study and to determine whether the training characteristics were related to improvement in competencies. Design: The present study was part of the European Youth Tackling Obesity (EYTO) project, a multicentre social marketing intervention involving four European countries. Setting and Participants: Eighteen peer leaders (aged 13–15 years, three or five leaders per country) from disadvantaged neighbourhoods received training in designing and implementing activities for their peers. Measures: The peer leaders' confidence, experience and interest in 11 tasks related to lifelong learning competencies were assessed with questions rated on a colour scale at baseline and at the end of the study. Results: The peer leaders demonstrated improvements in experience, confidence and interest in different tasks, such as research, website or logo design, oral presentations, social media use and collaboration with people from other countries. They increased their confidence in management tasks (p = 0.03) and their confidence and experience in communication tasks (p = 0.01). The peer leaders from Spain and Portugal had greater improvements than those from the other countries. Conclusion: The peer leaders improved their confidence in management tasks and their confidence and experience in communication tasks. Slight differences were detected in improvement in competencies by country, likely due to the differences in the peer training applied. Recommendations for peer leader training are proposed, although these results should be verified with larger sample size. Patient or Public Contribution: The peer leaders contributed to the design and implementation of the training and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: We accessed published and unpublished floristic sources to compile a comprehensive species list of the Iberian–Balearic terrestrial vascular flora and generate AFLIBER, an accurate floristic database of georeferenced plant occurrence records. Main type of variable contained: Species distribution data totalling 1,824,549 plant occurrence records corresponding to 6,456 species and subspecies. Spatial location and grain: The western Mediterranean, including inland territories of Spain, Portugal and Andorra and the adjacent archipelagos of Berlengas, Columbretes and the Balearic Islands, covered by 6,316 UTM quadrangular grid cells of 10 km resolution. Time period: All distributional trustable records were considered to create the AFLIBER database, most of them dating from the 1960s onwards. Major taxa and level of measurement: Terrestrial vascular plant species and subspecies. Software format: Data are supplied as comma‐separated text (csv) files. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dehesas and montados of Spain and Portugal cover about 6 million ha and form open savannah-type woodland comprising cork (Quercus suber) and holm (Q. rotundifolia and Q. ilex) oaks. Following their decline until the 1960s, these land management practices have become valued at national and international policy-making levels for their biodiversity, aesthetic qualities and potential for tourism and recreation, but comparatively little attention has been given to consequences for soil conservation. In this paper, the soil erosion risks associated with these land uses are compared with those of selected alternative forestry and agroforestry land uses. Selected soil properties, results of rainfall simulation experiments and field observations of erosion features for (a) two montado and three dehesa sites differing in terms of grazing pressure and tree type, (b) six alternative forestry plantations of various ages and (c) an olive grove are ranked according to relative erosion risk. None of the dehesa or montado sites has an overall mean rank indicating an erosion risk as low as that in established forestry plantations (at least four–five years old). One (heavily grazed) dehesa has a relatively high overall mean rank indicating a relative erosion risk only slightly lower than that obtained for an erosion-prone, newly ploughed and planted eucalyptus plantation. It is concluded that present day dehesa and montado variants can be prone to severe erosion if stocking rates and/or tillage frequency become excessive. The advantages and limitations of the ranking methodology used are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Temperate forests are currently facing multiple stresses due to climate change, biological invasions, habitat fragmentation and fire regime change. How these stressors interact with each other influences how, when and whether ecosystems recover, or whether they adapt or transition to a different ecological state. Because forest recovery or collapse may take longer than a human lifetime, predicting the outcomes of different stressor combinations remains difficult. A clearer vision of future forest trajectories in a changing world may be gained by examining collapses of forests in the past. Here, we use long‐term ecological data to conduct a post‐mortem examination of the decline of maritime pine forests (Pinus pinaster Ait.) on the SW Iberian Peninsula 7000–6500 years ago. Location: Portugal and Spain. Methods: We compared four palaeoecological records—two with pine declines and two without—using a multiproxy approach. Bioclimatic differences between the four sites were explored. Proxies for past vegetation and disturbance (fire and grazing) were compared with independent palaeoclimatic records. We performed functional traits analysis and used phase plots to examine the causes of pine decline. Results: The pine decline represents a critical transition in SW Iberia, which lies close to maritime pine's bioclimatic limits. Prolonged drought likely killed trees and suppressed the fires that normally stimulate pine germination and pinewood recovery. Increased grazing pressure facilitated the rapid spread of resprouter shrubs. These competed with pine trees and ultimately replaced them. Our data highlight complex interactions between climate, fire, grazing and forest resilience. Main Conclusions: The pine decline occurred at least a century after post‐fire resprouters overtook obligate seeders in the vegetation, constituting an early‐warning signal of forest loss. Fire suppression, resprouter encroachment and grazing may threaten the persistence of Mediterranean forests as droughts become more frequent and extreme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of copper sheathing to protect the hulls of wooden ships from the ravages of the worm and the encrustations of weeds and barnacles in the eighteenth century. Though there are a few references to instances of sheathing with copper or its alloys before the middle of the eighteenth century, the overwhelming mass of references to sheathing up to that time are to sheathing with wood, a doubling of the outside planking of the ship below the waterline. The limited efficiency of wooden sheathing made it inevitable that other materials would be tried. Lead sheathing appears to have been known to the Romans, and was revived in the sixteenth century in Spain and Portugal, and used experimentally by this country on at least one occasion. Most works on the subject state that the first beginnings of copper sheathing date from the 1760's, but as early as 1708 the Navy was being approached by Charles Parry and others who had recently applied for a patent for sheathing ships with copper which without any hindrance to their sailing, will preserve them from worms and barnacles in their voyages to the East and West Indies, and prevent all occasions of covering and repairing them.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of subclinical infectious agents considered core pathogens for worldwide screening in healthy, client‐owned, indoor cats eligible to become blood donors in Spain and Portugal. Materials and Methods: Blood samples of healthy, indoor, domestic cats selected to be potential blood donors were tested for feline leukaemia virus antigens, feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies and polymerase chain reactions for Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis, feline leukaemia virus provirus, Leishmania spp. and Bartonella spp. Not all donors were tested for all agents. Results: Overall, 5105 healthy indoor cats were tested and 8.1% (414/5105) had at least one subclinical infectious agent that is transmissible through blood product transfusion. 1.5% (77/5105) were positive for feline leukaemia virus antigens and 2.9% (148/5105) were positive for feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies, therefore they were excluded as donors. The overall prevalence of haemoplasmas in feline leukaemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus SNAP‐negative feline blood donors was 3.7% (181/4880) [1.3% (63/4880) were positive for Mycoplasma haemofelis; 2.3% (112/4880) to Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 0.12% (6/4880) to Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis]. The prevalence of feline leukaemia provirus was 5.2% (9/173) and of Bartonella spp. was 0.2% (2/1122). None of the 173 cats were positive for Leishmania spp. Clinical Significance: The prevalence of many transfusion transmissible pathogens was relatively high in this healthy, client‐owned, indoor cats eligible to become blood donors. Performing an extended screening panel that includes at least polymerase chain reactions for Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis, feline leukaemia virus provirus, and Bartonella spp., in addition to feline leukaemia virus antigens and feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies, is recommended in pet blood banks from analogous regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most widely used metrics to characterize wildfire regime and estimate the impact of wildfires are total burnt area (BA) and the number of fire events (FE). However, these are insufficient to analyse the threat to society of a new fire regime characterized by a higher occurrence of very large events. To overcome this weakness, we propose the use of a Concentration Index (CIB) which makes it possible to identify spatio‐temporal patterns. The frequency distribution of BA follows a negative exponential distribution almost everywhere, in which a small minority of FE is responsible of the majority of BA. In this article, the spatio‐temporal behaviour of BA is analysed in Western Mediterranean Europe, with particular focus on Portugal, Spain, France and Italy, using data from the European Forest Fire Information System and national wildfire databases. This is the first time that the CI has been applied to wildfire events. This research shows that, in most Mediterranean European countries, the amount of BA is increasingly related with a lower number of fires. The spatio‐temporal distribution of CIB shows high variability in all of the countries analysed in Europe. Portugal and Spain show increasing significant trends of CIB + 7.6% (p‐value = 0.001) and + 1.3% per decade (p‐value = 0.003). Statistically significant correlations for Portugal, Spain and Italy are also found between the annual CIB and several teleconnection indices. The application of the CIB demonstrates its discriminatory ability, which is a key point in detecting vulnerable areas and temporal trends under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Politics & Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: This study illustrates the huge untapped potential of quantifying the impact of culture in making meaningful comparisons across groups. Our focus is on cross‐national differences in nurses' reports of their relations with physicians, and how the measurement of this complex construct and the evaluation of true differences are related to dimensions of national culture. Design: We examine across 14 European countries the association between indices of national culture from the seminal work of Hofstede and 39,435 nurses' ratings of their relations with physicians. Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate strong factorial invariance across countries and to examine the influence of power distance and masculinity. Findings: There was wide variation across countries in nurses' reports of their relations with physicians. Strong factorial invariance was shown for a one‐factor model, which confirmed that across countries the seven survey items measure a common factor of physician‐nurse relations. This model showed no country bias for any of the seven survey items, which suggests that differences across countries reflect true differences. These true differences were significantly associated with variation in country values of power distance, which showed a significant negative correlation with physician–nurse relations. Conclusions: Continuously pursuing a better understanding of characteristics that impact the studied indicators, such as national culture, is elementary to better understand the construct under study. In this application, country values of power distance negatively impacted nurse‐reported relations with physicians, which strongly varied across countries. Clinical Relevance: Better nurse‐reported relations between nurses and physicians link to higher nurse job satisfaction, lower emotional exhaustion, better nurse‐perceived quality of care, and lower patient mortality. The Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index is an excellent instrument to characterize variation in working relations between nurses and physicians as well as physicians' professional posture towards nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: This study examined the combined influence of gender variables (specifically gender stereotypes, sexism, and genderism/transphobia) as well as racism/xenophobia and attitudes toward bullying roles on gender‐bashing. METHODS: A trans‐cultural sample of 2410 Spanish and Portuguese students participated in the study (mean age = 15.13). Structural equation modeling and multiple group analyses were used to examine the relationships among variables. RESULTS: The model revealed a good fit with the data for the whole sample. Results showed that instrumentality, hostile sexism, genderism/transphobia, racism/xenophobia, and positive attitudes toward the bully were positively correlated with gender‐bashing. An inverse pattern was also observed: expressiveness, benevolent sexism, and positive attitudes toward the defender were negatively correlated with gender‐bashing. Overall, the eight variables explained 48% of the variance of gender‐bashing. Structural relationships among the assessed constructs were equivalent for girls and boys, and for Spain and Portugal. CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal the need to implement inclusive educational policies to improve school health, which promote expressiveness, egalitarian attitudes, and sexual and cultural diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The World Health Organization's (WHO's) proposed International Classification of Diseases, 11th edition (ICD‐11) includes several major revisions to substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses. It is essential to ensure the consistency of within‐subject diagnostic findings throughout countries, languages and cultures. To date, agreement analyses between different SUD diagnostic systems have largely been based in high‐income countries and clinical samples rather than general population samples. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of, and concordance between diagnoses using the ICD‐11, The WHO's ICD 10th edition (ICD‐10) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th and 5th editions (DSM‐IV, DSM‐5); the prevalence of disaggregated ICD‐10 and ICD‐11 symptoms; and variation in clinical features across diagnostic groups. Design Cross‐sectional household surveys. Setting: Representative surveys of the general population in 10 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Iraq, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain) of the World Mental Health Survey Initiative. Participants: Questions about SUDs were asked of 12 182 regular alcohol users and 1788 cannabis users. Measurements Each survey used the World Mental Health Survey Initiative version of the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0 (WMH‐CIDI). Findings Among regular alcohol users, prevalence (95% confidence interval) of life‐time ICD‐11 alcohol harmful use and dependence were 21.6% (20.5–22.6%) and 7.0% (6.4–7.7%), respectively. Among cannabis users, 9.3% (7.4–11.1%) met criteria for ICD‐11 harmful use and 3.2% (2.3–4.0%) for dependence. For both substances, all comparisons of ICD‐11 with ICD‐10 and DSM‐IV showed excellent concordance (all κ ≥ 0.9). Concordance between ICD‐11 and DSM‐5 ranged from good (for SUD and comparisons of dependence and severe SUD) to poor (for comparisons of harmful use and mild SUD). Very low endorsement rates were observed for new ICD‐11 feature for harmful use ('harm to others'). Minimal variation in clinical features was observed across diagnostic systems. Conclusions: The World Health Organization's proposed International Classification of Diseases, 11th edition (ICD‐11) classifications for substance use disorder diagnoses are highly consistent with the ICD 10th edition and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM‐IV). Concordance between ICD‐11 and the DSM 5th edition (DSM‐5) varies, due largely to low levels of agreement for the ICD harmful use and DSM‐5 mild use disorder. Diagnostic validity of self‐reported 'harm to others' is questionable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorporation of territorial development into the Common Fisheries Policy has allowed for the decentralised and participatory management of part of its funds. In fact, the criteria for sustainable development in fishing zones follow the guidelines of Community‐Led Local Development. This work critically examines the implementation process of Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund in two areas of the Iberian Peninsula's Atlantic coast as case studies, looking into the creation of Fishery Local Action Groups and the analysis of the planning and execution phases of the funds. The results show, on the one hand, the limited development of this approach and the doubts about the effectiveness of area‐based partnerships as tools for local development, and on the other, the benefits for the revitalisation of the fishing sector, especially in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional support of families that are under temporary protection, with the goal of reunification, is necessary for helping families re‐establish their family dynamics. Without this support, the conditions that contributed to child abuse and neglect will likely persist. In this context, the attitude of professionals towards positive parenting and child participation is a decisive factor. The quantitative study presented here contributes knowledge regarding these 2 variables. The study was conducted with 106 professionals who work in the child protection system. The results show a high degree of consensus among professionals regarding the following practices: (a) incorporating positive parenting into family reunification processes; (b) training the biological parents in parenting skills; and (c) promoting the active participation of children in foster care and reunification. Regarding the latter point, the study found that older and more experienced professionals are more open and inclined to promote participation in family reunification processes. The practical implications of the results invite us to review attitudinal competencies training for professionals working in child protection services, focusing on encouraging a positive attitude towards the parental competencies of the biological family and the active participation of children in foster care and reunification. These professionals' attitudes are a key factor in mediating the process of family reunification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special buildings used as saunas have been found in certain large hillforts in the north of Portugal and in the Cantabrian coastal area of Asturias and Galicia in Spain. The principal aim of this study is to highlight the importance of these buildings in the archaeology and art of the European Iron Age, where they are very rarely mentioned. Two approaches are developed: in Parts 1 and 2, we explain the structure of the buildings, their function, and the current debate surrounding their dating. In Parts 3 and 4, further analyses are developed on their position in the landscape, associating the saunas with the public life of the hillforts, and on the decorative structure of the pedras formosas ('beautiful stones') found in some of them, and their relation to certain artistic trends in so-called Celtic art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the drivers of export demand in the peripheral economies of the Euro Area, namely Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain ( GIIPS), for the period between 1980 and 2012. Recently, several authors have pointed out that changes in trade export shares are not associated with major terms of trade disturbances; rather, they are the result of other underlying factors commonly defined as 'non-price competitiveness'. Starting from this premise, the study extends the traditional imperfect substitute trade model to include a measure of non-price competitiveness: real capital stock. The latter is a measure of a country's total resource base and captures the presence of product differentiation and product innovation. The results show a significant link between export demand and cumulative investments. In the short-term, GIIPS exports are dominated by the movements of worldwide real income, while changes in price and non-competitiveness take longer to affect export performance. In the long-run, all three variables play a significant role in pushing exports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the background of green behaviour has indicated that the relationship between its antecedents and behavioural consequences is complex and constitutes a challenge for both academics and marketers. Thus, this study aims to explore the link between environmental values, attitudes and behaviours, as well as to develop and test a model that could be valid and applicable to a set of consumers living in different countries. The research examines the perceptions of a sample of 1175 consumers from England, Germany, Portugal and Spain. A model was developed to test the relationships between concepts such as man-nature orientation, generativity, environmental concern, conserving behaviour and environmentally friendly buying behaviour. Structural equation modelling was performed to assess the significance of those linkages. The results obtained confirm the relationship between attitudes and behaviours as the construct conserving behaviour appears to influence buying behaviour, and suggests some measures which may be implemented in simultaneously testing education concepts across audiences in different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the potential implications of the Eurozone crisis on the world economy. Sovereign debt market problems in Greece, Ireland and Portugal have spread to Italy and Spain, with the latter countries needing to refinance sovereign debt worth 180 billion euros by the first quarter of 2012. Experts claim that two policies can help alleviate the short-term crisis, one of which is a substantial mutualization of Eurozone debt among the member states, while another is a bond purchase.

Currently, long-term monitoring systems are mandatory for major civil engineering structures such as bridges, tunnels and dams. Generally, they monitor a set of physical, chemical and mechanical parameters in critical sections of the structure by incorporating appropriate sensors. The set of data collected demonstrates great potential in the prevention of damage and contributes to more efficient maintenance of the structures monitored. This work presents the long-term monitoring system installed on the new Lezíria Bridge over the River Tagus in Portugal. The system was developed to control some aspects of the construction process and to survey the service life of the structure. A set of structural, durability and environmental parameters defining the bridge condition are remotely assessed in real-time via a fibreoptic network. Aspects such as architecture, installation and functionality of the monitoring system are discussed and the innovative aspects of the implementation are highlighted. In this context, the main goal of this work is to present the long-term monitoring system of Lezíria Bridge, sharing the experiences, the solutions and the procedures adopted, given their potential usefulness in the implementation of similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish allergy is becoming an important health problem in Spain, a country with the third highest level of fish consumption after Japan and Portugal. The most common fish allergens are parvalbumins. In our area, the most widely consumed fish species are lean, such as whiff ( Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) and sole ( Solea solea). Adverse reactions to fish are usually related to these species, a fact that is largely unknown to allergists in other countries. The aim of this study was to identify and purify the major allergen implicated in allergic response to sole and evaluate the IgE cross-reactivity of purified parvalbumins from whiff and sole, which are phylogenetically close, and more distant species (i.e. cod and salmon). Eighteen Spanish fish-allergic patients with a positive history of type I allergy to fish were recruited from the clinic. Total protein extracts and purified parvalbumins from whiff and sole were tested for their IgE-binding properties by combining two-dimensional Western blotting and mass spectrometry. The extent of cross-reactivity between these parvalbumins along with cod and salmon parvalbumins was investigated by IgE ELISA inhibition assay. An IgE-binding spot of approximately 14 kDa was identified as parvalbumin and confirmed as a major allergen in sole extract, which is recognized by almost 70% of the patients. Whiff parvalbumin was recognized by 83.4% of the patients. High cross-reactivity was determined for all purified parvalbumins by IgE inhibition assay. Sole and whiff parvalbumin were confirmed as major allergens. The parvalbumins of sole, whiff, cod and salmon were highly cross-reactive, thus suggesting a high amino acid sequence identity between them. Cite this as: M. Perez-Gordo, J. Cuesta- Herranz, A. S. Maroto, B. Cases, M. D. Ibáñez, F. Vivanco and C. Pastor-Vargas, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 750-758. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several topics discussed at the meeting of European Nutrition Foundations in Madrid on April 2010 is presented. Topics of the meeting include the nutrition in the school curriculum and regulations on foods and drinks provided in schools. The meeting features various executives including Juan Ballasteros.

The two largest European Peninsulas (Iberian and Scandinavian) are both divided by a long and ancient frontier, which separates four old European nations: Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Norway. In the first case, the unusual stability of the border, which remains almost unchanged for more than 800 years, has contributed to strengthen a long 'back-to-back' existence, during most of this time. In the latter, however, successive changes in the border location, and historical alliances between the Nordic countries, created a more 'face-to-face' type of border and a more solid background for the cross-border cooperation (CBC). Therefore, while the INTERREG-A Community Initiative represented an important starting point for the CBC process in most parts of the Portuguese-Spanish border region (PSBR), it was just another important added value for the CBC in the Swedish-Norwegian border region (SNBR), since this process had already started in 1948, when Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark established the joint Nordic Committee for Economic Cooperation, followed by the formation of the Nordic Council in 1951. With this in mind, this article analyses how such distinct CBC backgrounds contributed to the two different approaches and results obtained from the implementation of the INTERREG-A in both studied border regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occurrence of the West Indian drywood termite, Cryptotermes brevis, is registered for the first time as established populations in Barcelona (Spain) and also additional information is given regarding a recent record from Lisbon (Portugal). This serious invasive termite pest was detected in five buildings in Barcelona, Spain and one building in Lisbon, Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the trends in home advantage in the professional football leagues of France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal since the start of each league more than 70 years ago. A total of 81,185 games were included, involving 244 different teams. Home advantage was quantified each season for each country as the number of points gained at home expressed as a percentage of all points gained at home and away. Home advantage was generally high in the early years of each league, especially in Spain and Italy (over 70%). There were then considerable fluctuations up to the late 1970s. During this time, home advantage was consistently highest in Spain, which could be explained by greater regional autonomy and more distinct local cultural identity. Since then there has been a major decline in all the countries, especially since the late 1990s. Each country has experienced its lowest ever level (60% or less) during the last four seasons. Possible explanations for this include the effects of changes that have taken place in the rules of football, such as greater use of substitutes and a series of new laws intended to discourage defensive play. In addition, free agency coupled with the rapid commercial development of football has weakened the relationship between players and their home city and fans. There were significant differences between teams within France, Italy, and Portugal (all P < 0.001) but not Spain (P = 0.145). Home advantage was higher for teams from the islands of Corsica and Sicily (P < 0 .001) and to a lesser extent Sardinia (P = 0.095). It was lower in teams that play in the four capital cities and also in Milan, whose two teams share the same stadium. This is consistent with the belief that the territorial feelings fostered in isolated, culturally distinct communities can lead to increased home advantage, while the reverse is the case in large cosmopolitan urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to quantify the multivariate quality or a recreational fishery at the site scale to better communicate the relative quality among sites to the public and anglers. Borrowing on the general approach of multimetric indices of biotic integrity (IBIs), we developed fishery quality indices (FQIs) from species quality indices (SQIs) based on measures of fish abundance and size structure for northern and central Portuguese streams. Our FQIs showed regional patterns indicating a range in fishery quality. Higher coldwater FQI scores were mostly found in the northwestern (Minho and Lima), northeastern Douro, and northern Tagus basins. Higher warmwater FQI scores occurred in the eastern Tagus basin. The species that contributed the most to warmwater FQI scores were largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus, the cyprinid Luciobarbus bocagei, chubs Squalius carolitertii and S. pyrenaicus, and nases Pseudochondrostoma duriense and P. polylepis. The chubs, nases, and brown trout Salmo trutta contributed the most to coldwater FQI scores. As expected, our indices were correlated with river size and with disturbance at the catchment, segment, and site scales. Regression models for separate coldwater and warmwater FQIs were stronger than those for the individual SQIs and for an all-site FQI. The correlation was positive between the coldwater FQI and a coldwater IBI but negative between the warmwater FQI and warmwater IBIs. The proposed FQIs offer a quantitative approach for assessing relative fishery quality among sites and for making regional assessments given an appropriate study design. The component SQIs and SQI metrics of the FQIs can be disassociated to determine the population and species characteristics most affected by various environmental variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data obtained by a Spanish national surveillance programme in 2005 were used to develop climatic models for predictions of the distribution of the bluetongue virus (BTV) vectors Culicoides imicola Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and the Culicoides obsoletus group Meigen throughout the Iberian peninsula. Models were generated using logistic regression to predict the probability of species occurrence at an 8-km spatial resolution. Predictor variables included the annual mean values and seasonalities of a remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), a sun index, interpolated precipitation and temperature. Using an information-theoretic paradigm based on Akaike’s criterion, a set of best models accounting for 95% of model selection certainty were selected and used to generate an average predictive model for each vector. The predictive performances (i.e. the discrimination capacity and calibration) of the average models were evaluated by both internal and external validation. External validation was achieved by comparing average model predictions with surveillance programme data obtained in 2004 and 2006. The discriminatory capacity of both models was found to be reasonably high. The estimated areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) were 0.78 and 0.70 for the C. imicola and C. obsoletus group models, respectively, in external validation, and 0.81 and 0.75, respectively, in internal validation. The predictions of both models were in close agreement with the observed distribution patterns of both vectors. Both models, however, showed a systematic bias in their predicted probability of occurrence: observed occurrence was systematically overestimated for C. imicola and underestimated for the C. obsoletus group. Average models were used to determine the areas of spatial coincidence of the two vectors. Although their spatial distributions were highly complementary, areas of spatial coincidence were identified, mainly in Portugal and in the southwest of peninsular Spain. In a hypothetical scenario in which both Culicoides members had similar vectorial capacity for a BTV strain, these areas should be considered of special epidemiological concern because any epizootic event could be intensified by consecutive vector activity developed for both species during the year; consequently, the probability of BTV spreading to remaining areas occupied by both vectors might also be higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]