Province Of Alicante Research Articles

Analysis of the relation between organic products consumption and box schemes use in Alicante (Spain)

Box-schemes or organic food subscription plans consist on a regular delivery of a box of seasonal fruits and/or vegetables, preferably organic, cultivated in the vicinity at a specified point using subscription, The object of the present work is trying to examine whether there is a relationship between consumer knowledge about these short distribution channels and the consumption of organic products in the province of Alicante. A survey has been conducted among 400 usual food buyers in this Spanish province. It has been found that the consumption of organic products and the knowledge of such initiatives are linked. We recommend to companies that use this type of distribution channel to publicize its benefits.

First Report of Spiroplasma citri in Carrot in Europe.

In 2008 and 2009, symptoms of curling, yellow and purple discoloration of leaves, stunting of shoots and tap roots, and formation of bunchy, fibrous secondary roots were observed in commercial carrot (Daucus carota L.) fields located in several production areas of Spain (Alicante, Albacete, Segovia, and Valladolid). Incidence of this disease was almost 100% in individual affected fields. Similar symptoms were reported from 1997 to 1998 in various carrot production areas of Spain (the Canary Islands, Segovia, and Madrid) and were associated with infection of stolbur and aster yellows phytoplasmas (2). Moreover, the observed symptoms resembled those caused by Spiroplasma citri in carrots affected by the carrot purple leaf disease recently reported in the United States (4). Studies were conducted to investigate whether S. citri and phytoplasmas were associated with the observed carrot symptoms. Total DNA was extracted from 0.5 g of phloem tissue of 13 symptomatic and 3 asymptomatic plants with DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). DNA samples were analyzed by nested-PCR assays using primers pair P1/P7 (1) and R16F2n/R16R2n (3) for phytoplasmas and ScR16F1/ScR16R1 followed by ScR16F1A/ScR16R2 (4) for S. citri detection. DNA of a known strain of S. citri (Sediag, Longvic, France) was used as a positive control of the assay. Analyses revealed that 8 of the 13 symptomatic plants tested positive for S. citri; the plants were collected from three different provinces of Spain, namely, Alicante, Valladolid, and Segovia. Two symptomatic plants were double infected by S. citri and a phytoplasma strain belonging to the Aster yellows group (16SrI), subgroup 16SrI-A. However, none of the symptomatic plants presented single infection with phytoplasmas. S. citri identity was determined by sequencing two nested PCR products (1.1 kb) that yielded identical sequences deposited in the GenBank database (Accession Nos. HM124555 and HM124556). BLAST analysis showed 100% nt identity with a sequence of S. citri from carrot (Accession No. DQ112019) associated with the new carrot disease referred to as 'carrot purple leaf reported in Washington State (4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. citri associated with carrot in Europe.

Distribution of Cd, Ni, Cr, and Pb in Amended Soils from Alicante Province (SE, Spain)

Heavy metals can be transferred from soils to other ecosystem parts and affect ecosystems and human health through the food chain. Today the use of biosolids to improve the nutrient contents of a soil is a common practice. Contamination of soils by potentially toxic elements (e.g., Cd, Ni, Cr, Pb) from amendments of biosolids is subject to strict controls within the European Community in relation to total permissible metal concentrations, soil properties and intended use. In this context, heavy metal concentrations were studied in agricultural soils devoted to vegetable crops in the province of Alicante (SE Spain), where an intensive agriculture takes place. This study is aimed at ascertaining the chemical partitioning of Cd, Ni, Cr, and Pb in agricultural soils repeatedly amended with sludge. Selected soil properties relevant to control the mobility and bioavaibility of heavy metals were analyzed for the general characterisation of these agricultural soils. The distribution of chemical forms of Cd, Ni, Cr, and Pb in five biosolids-amended soils was studied using a sequential extraction procedure that fractionates the metal into soluble-exchangeable, specifically sorbed-carbonate bound, oxidizable, reducible, and residual forms. The biosolids incorporation has modified the soil composition, leading to the increment of heavy metals. The residual, reducible, and carbonate-sorbed forms were dominant. Detailed knowledge of the soil at the application site, especially pH, CEC, buffering capacity, organic matter, clay minerals, and clay content, is essential.

Relaciones entre estrés psicosocial y lesiones deportivas en tenistas

El propósito de este trabajo fue evaluar el estrés social percibido y su relación con las lesiones deportivas, en jugadores de tenis. Sesenta y tres tenistas masculinos, con una media de edad de 31,62 años (DT=8,93), pertenecientes a Clubes Deportivos de la Provincia de Alicante (España), cumplimentaron instrumentos de estrés psicosocial y de lesiones sufridas durante el año anterior a la evaluación. Los resultados indican que los sucesos vitales experimentados se relacionan con algunas de las lesiones sufridas por los tenistas. Se han encontrado relaciones entre el grado de tensión psicológica experimentada, y la evaluación negativa de esta tensión, con el tipo (lesiones en muñecas, tobillos y esguinces), y la gravedad de las lesiones (lesiones leves).

Sensitivity of precipitation forecasts to convective parameterization in the October 2007 Flash Flood in the Valencia Region (Eastern Spain)

Abstract. The Valencia region, on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, is an area prone to torrential rains, especially the north of Alicante province and the south of Valencia province. In October 2007, a torrential rain event with accumulated rainfall values exceeding 400 mm in less than 24 h affected the aforementioned areas, producing flash floods that caused extensive economic losses and human casualties. Several simulations of this rain event have been performed with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) to test the influence of the different convective parameterization scheme implemented in the model on the precipitation forecast.

Numerical study of the October 2007 flash flood in the Valencia region (Eastern Spain): the role of orography

Abstract. A torrential rain event took place in the Valencia region in October 2007, mainly affecting coastal areas and nearby mountains in the center-south of the region, in northern Alicante province. More than 400 mm in 24 h were recorded at some stations in these areas, with lower accumulations in the rest of the region where rainfall was less intense. In the first part of this work a description of the meteorological situation is given. The synoptic frame of the event is characterised by an advection of easterly maritime winds across the Western Mediterranean, lasting for at least 48 h, driving moist air towards the Iberian Peninsula eastern coast and the presence of an upper level isolated low over Eastern Iberian Peninsula. Then, the results of numerical simulations using the Regional Atmospheric Modelling System model are shown to study the rain event in detail. The Regional Atmospheric Modelling System reproduces satisfactorily the spatial distribution of the rainfall and the rain period, but it underestimates precipitation in the areas with the most intense values. Finally, a sensitivity test was performed in order to evaluate the role of orography in the rain event, showing the importance of orography as a triggering mechanism.

La construcción del arte en las artes marciales. Una aproximación antropológica al taekwondo

This paper discusses why martial arts are called arts, from an ethnographic study of taekwondo. I believe that both are cultural constructs, studying particularly the development and change of taekwondo in the province of Alicante and in the Spanish context during the last four decades. Today two different discourses are transmitted, one by manuals and the other by the film industry�which is based on a concept of art related to Buddhist and Taoist religions� and what practitioners link more to what we know as Fine Arts, which are a reflection of a culture-adaptation process that tends to emphasize the aesthetic elements of these practices

An evaluation of the incidence of soil subsidence on the dynamic behaviour of a Gothic bell tower

This paper describes a study carried out on the bell tower of the Church of Santas Justa and Rufina in Orihuela in the Province of Alicante, Spain. The study was made to predict the evolution of its dynamic behaviour in relation to subsidence caused by variations in the level of the water table during periods of drought. Initial calibration of the developed numerical model was based on the dynamic characteristics of the tower in free vibration. The numerical model included details of both the structure and the surrounding terrain to a depth of ten meters, as indicated by geotechnical tests. Sensitivity studies were made of the terrain’s elastic characteristics with the aim of evaluating the dynamic amplification factor of the soil–structure interaction due to dynamic forces generated by the swinging of the bells in the tower.

Distribution of cyanobacteria at the Gelada Cave (Spain) by physical parameters

As part of an extensive study of the caves in the Province of Alicante (SE Spain), the distribution of cyanobacteria and physical data for the Gelada Cave are presented. This cave is 9.4 m deep, 0.9 to 5.0 m high, 1.2 m wide, and is located in a karst region. Photon flux density, relative humidity, and temperature were measured, and the environmental ranges of conditions where growth occurred fluctuated between 0.0008– 0.06 mE.ms, 55.0–95.0% and 5.4–18.0 uC, respectively. All the microorganisms determined from the Gelada Cave were cyanobacteria. Other frequently observed groups in caves, such as Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta, were not detected because the cave was too weakly illuminated and dry. Cyanobacteria were found to be grouped as blue, brown, green, or gray patina according to the sampling sites and their constituent organisms. The primary common stress factor on the distribution of algal communities in the Gelada Cave is light shortage, followed by humidity, lack of nutrients, and temperature. Twenty-two epilithic cyanobacteria were identified, ten of which have not been previously reported in caves. The species studied are included in the Chroococcales order (77.30%), followed by the Oscillatoriales order (13.60%) and by the Nostocales (4.55%) and Stigonematales (4.55%) orders. The extreme values of the environmental parameters are presented for each taxon in this cave.

El trasvase Júcar-Vinalopó: una respuesta a la sobreexplotación de acuíferos

El sistema Vinalopó-Alacantí en la provincia de Alicante es un espacio caracterizado por la escasez de recursos hídricos y por un gran desarrollo de las aguas subterráneas. Estas aguas han permitido el abastecimiento de buena parte de los municipios de la provincia y de una agricultura muy avanzada, caracterizada por su eficiencia y productividad. Con el objeto de paliar los graves problemas de sobreexplotación de las aguas subterráneas y restituir el equilibrio hídrico, el Plan Hidrológico de la cuenca del Júcar de 1988 previó la realización de un trasvase desde el Júcar al Vinalopó, éste fue aprobado por unanimidad y fue declarado de interés general por el Estado y sus obras se incluyeron en el Plan Hidrológico Nacional de 2001. La obra del trasvase se inició en 2002, con toma en Cortes de Pallás. En 2005, cuando se había ejecutado más del 52% del presupuesto el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, de forma unilateral, decidió el cambio de toma y trazado, lo cual tendrá repercusiones sobre la disponibilidad de caudales, la calidad del agua trasvasada, los costes de construcción y explotación, la financiación tanto de la UE como de los particulares, y en los plazos de ejecución y puesta en servicio de la infraestructura. Esta decisión ha despertado una fuerte oposición en los potenciales usuarios, agrupados en la Junta Central de Usuarios del Vinalopó, Alacantí y Consorcio de Aguas de la Marina Baja (JCU).

Optimización de recursos hídricos y armonización de sus usos: el Consorcio de Aguas de la Marina Baja

En la Marina Baja, comarca alicantina de la seca región climática del Sureste Ibérico, el difícil desafío de conjugar el extraordinario desarrollo turístico y urbano de su franja litoral, que polariza Benidorm, con disponibilidades hídricas exiguas e irregulares, ha requerido un conjunto de actuaciones del mayor interés, para la optimización de éstas y la armonización de sus usos, protagonizadas por el Consorcio de Aguas de la Marina Baja. Dichas iniciativas incluyen: mayor y mejor regulación de recursos epigeos, potenciación sostenible de los subterráneos, y reutilización de aguas depuradas, con superposición de dos sistemas independientes —aguas blancas y depuradas—, que funcionan al unísono; sin que falte, para conjurar el riesgo extremo de una sequía prolongada e intensa, la posibilidad de emplear caudales foráneos.

El abastecimiento de agua en los espacios y destinos turísticos de Alicante y Murcia

A partir del análisis de modelos locales, este artículo presenta las relaciones entre recursos de agua y actividad turística en la Región de Murcia y en el área meridional de la provincia de Alicante. En su conjunto, se trata del territorio abastecido por la Mancomunidad de los Canales del Taibilla, sistema público que cuenta con una larga trayectoria y cuyo papel resulta esencial para entender las magnitudes de la oferta y demanda turística, en el momento actual, y la dinámica territorial de este espacio. La importancia del turismo en la economía y las tendencias que se perfilan para esta actividad, hacen aconsejable realizar aproximaciones a las tipologías de gasto del agua a la hora de establecer estrategias de futuro sobre la gestión de los recursos.

A small Albian coral fauna from the Sierra de Seguili (Alicante province, SE Spain)

A small Albian coral fauna from the Sierra de Seguili (Alicante province, SE Spain)

Guidance for Older Workers: An Overview of the Spanish Situation

This paper aims to attract attention on career guidance from an economic policy approach. Guidance will be defined as an economic instrument contributing to active ageing of the population. Taking Spain as an example, it will be demonstrated that there is a need for more policy making in third age guidance. After a brief revision of guidance provision in Spain, the methodology is based on a combination of techniques aimed at gathering qualitative and quantitative information, including statistical analysis data obtained from 369 personal interviews with the participants of the Guidance Service of the Business Confederation of the Province of Alicante (Spain), ten individual interviews with social partners: employers’ organisations and trade unions representatives, and a working session with six guidance experts. Spain is a country where some progress in terms of active labour policies, specially guidance, and older workers, has occurred in the recent years, but the age is not still considered as a relevant factor in policy making in this country. Age guidance is very well valued by social actors and old workers but still insufficient. Spanish survey showed that in order to get real effectiveness, career guidance must give response to old workers’ needs, by paying full and specific attention to this collective.

Conocimiento sobre la inmunización en adultos mayores de 64 años: actitud hacia las vacunas frente a gripe, neumococo y tétanos

ObjectiveImmunized status has ceased to be a childhood phenomenon and is now applicable throughout life. Reports show that, in people aged > 64 years raising vaccination coverages against vaccine-preventable diseases may be important. The objective of this study was to determine knowledge of and attitudes to vaccines and vaccination (especially the influenza, pneumococcal and tetanus vaccines) in this population group in order to increase their level of acceptance. MethodsWe carried out a cross sectional study using a 20-item questionnaire in a representative sample of people aged > 64 years in the province of Alicante (Spain). ResultsA total of 1624 persons were interviewed: the mean age was 73.2 years, 53.3% were female, 61.1% were married, and 47.2% considered that their health was good or very good. A total of 75.3% had received the influenza vaccine, 56.8% the tetanus vaccine and 18% the pneumococcal vaccine. The best known vaccines were: influenza (91.4%), tetanus (55.7%) and measles (31.6%), with the pneumococcal vaccine coming in tenth place with only 11.4% of interviewees knowing about it. A total of 34.3% considered that vaccination is a good preventive measure, a figure which fell to 31.2% in males and 29.8% in people with low-educational status. The most-common sources of information were: physicians (57.8%), nurses (38.9%) and the media (29.9%). ConclusionsKnowledge and vaccination coverages of the influenza vaccine are acceptable in this population group and opinions on vaccines are positive. More persuasive and imaginative strategies to increase acceptability could improve coverages.

Análisis de encuestas como herramienta de gestión sostenible de especies cinegéticas en agrosistemas del este de la provincia de Alicante (Marina Baja): estudio del caso del jabalí Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758

This study was conducted in a traditional agrosystem in the north-east of Alicante Province (SE Spain). The study area is approximately 59,000 ha. The area is highly varied, with mountains in the interior region, which has traditionally been dedicated to dry groves, and plains in the littoral zone which are dedicated to irrigated groves and tourism. It is characterized by a semiarid Mediterranean climate. The study was based on information obtained by oral interviews with hunting managers, and which provided data on wild boar abundance and population growth between 1980 and the present. A GIS database was constructed made up of 15 game reserves in the Marina Baja. The database included different variables: land use at the reserve level, abundances and population growth. The results show that 2 reserves have very high density (15-25 ind/ha), 2 preserves have medium abundances (10-15 ind/ha), 5 preserves have low abundances (5-0 ind/ha) and 6 preserves have very low abundances (0-5 ind/ha). Peak values are found in the interior and mountain reserves, where there is a mixture of dry groves, abandoned groves and natural areas. On the other hand, minimum values are found in the reserves which are near to the coast, where there are few suitable habitats and high concentrations of people. Finally, the wild boar populations have increased since 1980 in all the reserves studied.

Reduction of disinfection by-products in natural waters using nanofiltration membranes

Three commercial nanofiltration (NF) membranes, models NF 270, NF 90 (Dow Chemical Inc.) and Desal-HL-51 (GE Water), have been used to investigate trihalomethane and haloacetic acid formation potential (THMFP and HAAFP); the influence of conductivity on permeate flow-rate was also studied. Natural waters from two different sources in Alicante province (SE Spain) were analyzed. At the end of the NF experiments on water from the Amadorio reservoir, the Desal-HL-51, NF 270 and NF 90 membranes exhibited a 20, 25 and 45% drop in permeate flow-rate, respectively. The drop in flow-rate increased with conductivity for all of the membranes, as it becomes evident when comparing the experiments at conductivities of 700 and 6000 µS/cm. Over 90% of the formation potential of bromodichloro methane and dibromochloro methane was eliminated using the NF 90 membrane. The NF 270 and Desal-HL-51 membranes produced smaller decreases in THMFP. Among the haloacetic acids, dichloroacetic acid was least reduced, by 60% and 30% for waters from the Amadorio and Pedrera reservoirs, respectively. The analytes differed considerably.

Consumer-perceived risk model for the introduction of genetically modified food in Spain

Since the last part of the 20th century, the search for new forms of cultivation and food has basically centred on the application of biotechnology, giving rise to GM foods. Consumer acceptance is conditioned by the risk that they perceive from introducing food into their consumption habits processed through technology that they hardly understand. Besides, information is insufficient in the consumer ambit and moreover, it is influenced by ideological and ethical determining factors. The factors were analysed that influence this consumer-perceived risk through a structural equation model. This study was conducted in Spain, concretely in the province of Alicante, located in the southeast of this country. The main conclusion from this research is that the introduction of GM food into agro-food markets should be accompanied by adequate policies to guarantee consumer safety. These actions would allow a decrease in consumer-perceived risk by taking special care of the information provided, concretely relating to health. For, the most influential factor in consumer-perceived risk from these foods is concern about health.

Questionnaire survey on Canine Leishmaniosis in southeastern Spain

A veterinary practitioner's questionnaire survey on Canine Leishmaniosis (CanL) was carried out in southeast Spain to provide information on disease incidence, diagnosis and recommended preventive measures. A third of 101 responding veterinarians reported seeing more than 20 CanL cases during the previous year and clinical signs considered frequent or very frequent included weight loss, areas of exfoliative dermatitis, lymphadenomegaly, kidney dysfunction, onychogryphosis, cutaneous ulcers, anaemia, asthenia and apathy. Almost a third of veterinarians reported diagnosing CanL solely on the basis of lack of response to treatment for other chronic illnesses. The frequency of individual signs did not always reflect their diagnostic value. The majority of veterinarians, considered lymphadenomegaly, exfoliative dermatitis, onychogryphosis, weight loss and epistaxis to be the best disease indicators. However, up to 93% of veterinarians reported using laboratory tests to confirm infection, including indirect (biochemical and antibody assays) and direct (PCR and microscopy) methods. Among recommended measures to prevent CanL, insecticide impregnated collars and topical spot-on capsules were prescribed by 92% and 74% of respondents; however, at least 11% of veterinarians believed existing CanL preventive measures were ineffective. Multivariable statistical analysis indicated that seeing more than 20 CanL cases during the previous year was independently associated with being located in Alicante province, having a rural clientele and recognising that dogs with no other sign but a lack of response to other chronic disease treatments may be infected with CanL. There was a weak association between CanL incidence and rainfall in the months prior to typical sandfly peak abundance.

Late life second move housing choices of international retiree migrants

PurposeMany international retirement migrants are amenity movers undertaking the first move in the late life course model of migration. The purpose of this paper is to examine second moves within the retirement destination community to test whether the model of late life course migration accurately portrays the motivations and housing choices local movers make after retiring to another country.Design/methodology/approachThe paper combines secondary data and survey results to examine the composition of the retiree migrant population in the Alicante province of Spain. The socioeconomic characteristics and housing choices of those who have made a second move since retiring to Spain are compared with those who have not moved through a series of t‐tests and chi‐square tests.FindingsThe paper finds that those who have made a second move within Spain are somewhat typical of second movers in the late life course. They are likely to cite mobility or health problems as a reason for moving and appear to recognize the need for a home that provides living area on one floor. Yet, they are choosing to move within an area that does not provide them with access to informal family care givers.Research limitations/implicationsThe data are restricted to retirees of two nationalities in one province of Spain. Further research is suggested in other locations and with retirees of other nationalities for comparison.Practical implicationsBecause many international retirees do not plan to return to their countries of origin, they will create demand for formal in‐home care services and supportive retiree housing in the near future in their retirement destination countries.Originality/valueThis paper provides understanding of a growing consumer housing segment in retirement destinations.