La calidad de vida como estrategia de diferenciación de las ciudades europeas. Un enfoque de marketing de ciudades

Uno de los objetivos de este artículo es la necesidad de analizar y medir la calidad de vida de las ciudades, por medio de un conjunto de indicadores representativos que han sido propuestos por la Comisión Europea(2005), ya que si bien la Comisión Europea publicó la información correspondiente de las ciudades participantes en esta segunda auditoria urbana, dicha institución no ha publicado ningun tratamiento de dicha información, que permita extraer algunas conlcusiones sobre las similitudes o diferencias que se hayan obtenido entre las ciudades participantes. Esta es la razón por la cual este artículo se plantea el tratamiento de la información proporcionada por los citados indicadores, por medio de técnicas estadísticas de análisis multivariable, como el análisis de cluster, para el estudio de la calidad de vida de las cuidades europeas.

Aplicación de técnicas estadísticas en el estudio de fenómenos ambientales y ecosistémicos

208 p.

The Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Na(v)1.8 Is Expressed in Human Sperm

The role of Na+ fluxes through voltage-gated sodium channels in the regulation of sperm cell function remains poorly understood. Previously, we reported that several genes encoding voltage-gated Na+ channels were expressed in human testis and mature spermatozoa. In this study, we analyzed the presence and function of the TTX-resistant VGSC a subunit Na(v)1.8 in human capacitated sperm cells. Using an RT-PCR assay, we found that the mRNA of the gene SCN10A, that encode Na-v1.8, was abundantly and specifically expressed in human testis and ejaculated spermatozoa. The Na-v1.8 protein was detected in capacitated sperm cells using three different specific antibodies against this channel. Positive immunoreactivity was mainly located in the neck and the principal piece of the flagellum. The presence of Na-v1.8 in sperm cells was confirmed by Western blot. Functional studies demonstrated that the increases in progressive motility produced by veratridine, a voltage-gated sodium channel activator, were reduced in sperm cells preincubated with TTX (10 mu M), the Na-v1.8 antagonist A-803467, or a specific Na-v1.8 antibody. Veratridine elicited similar percentage increases in progressive motility in sperm cells maintained in Ca2+-containing or Ca2+-free solution and did not induce hyperactivation or the acrosome reaction. Veratridine caused a rise in sperm intracellular Na+, [Na+](i), and the sustained phase of the response was inhibited in the presence of A-803467. These results verify that the Na+ channel Na-v1.8 is present in human sperm cells and demonstrate that this channel participates in the regulation of sperm function.

Daily scale wintertime sea surface temperature and IPC-Navidad variability in the southern Bay of Biscay from 1981 to 2010

The combination of remotely sensed gappy Sea surface temperature (SST) images with the missing data filling DINEOF (data interpolating empirical orthogonal functions) technique, followed by a principal component analysis of the reconstructed data, has been used to identify the time evolution and the daily scale variability of the wintertime surface signal of the Iberian Poleward Current (IPC), or Navidad, during the 1981-2010 period. An exhaustive comparison with the existing bibliography, and the vertical temperature and salinity profiles related to its extremes over the Bay of Biscay area, show that the obtained time series accurately reflect the IPC-Navidad variability. Once a time series for the evolution of the SST signal of the current over the last decades is well established, this time series is used to propose a physical mechanism in relation to the variability of the IPC-Navidad, involving both atmospheric and oceanic variables. According to the proposed mechanism, an atmospheric circulation anomaly observed in both the 500 hPa and the surface levels generates atmospheric surface level pressure, wind-stress and heat-flux anomalies. In turn, those surface level atmospheric anomalies induce mutually coherent SST and sea level anomalies over the North Atlantic area, and locally, in the Bay of Biscay area. These anomalies, both locally over the Bay of Biscay area and over the North Atlantic, are in agreement with several mechanisms that have separately been related to the variability of the IPC-Navidad, i.e. the south-westerly winds, the joint effect of baroclinicity and relief (JEBAR) effect, the topographic beta effect and a weakened North Atlantic gyre.

Variability in the air-sea interaction patterns and timescales within the south-eastern Bay of Biscay, as observed by HF radar data

Two high-frequency (HF) radar stations were installed on the coast of the south-eastern Bay of Biscay in 2009, providing high spatial and temporal resolution and large spatial coverage of currents in the area for the first time. This has made it possible to quantitatively assess the air-sea interaction patterns and timescales for the period 2009-2010. The analysis was conducted using the Barnett-Preisendorfer approach to canonical correlation analysis (CCA) of reanalysis surface winds and HF radar-derived surface currents. The CCA yields two canonical patterns: the first wind-current interaction pattern corresponds to the classical Ekman drift at the sea surface, whilst the second describes an anticyclonic/cyclonic surface circulation. The results obtained demonstrate that local winds play an important role in driving the upper water circulation. The wind-current interaction timescales are mainly related to diurnal breezes and synoptic variability. In particular, the breezes force diurnal currents in waters of the continental shelf and slope of the south-eastern Bay. It is concluded that the breezes may force diurnal currents over considerably wider areas than that covered by the HF radar, considering that the northern and southern continental shelves of the Bay exhibit stronger diurnal than annual wind amplitudes.

Quantum simulations of relativistic quantum physics in circuit QED

We present a scheme for simulating relativistic quantum physics in circuit quantum electrodynamics. By using three classical microwave drives, we show that a superconducting qubit strongly coupled to a resonator field mode can be used to simulate the dynamics of the Dirac equation and Klein paradox in all regimes. Using the same setup we also propose the implementation of the Foldy-Wouthuysen canonical transformation, after which the time derivative of the position operator becomes a constant of the motion.

Inoculation of Triatoma Virus (Dicistroviridae: Cripavirus) elicits a non-infective immune response in mice

Background: Dicistroviridae is a new family of small, non-enveloped, +ssRNA viruses pathogenic to both beneficial arthropods and insect pests. Little is known about the dicistrovirus replication mechanism or gene function, and any knowledge on these subjects comes mainly from comparisons with mammalian viruses from the Picornaviridae family. Due to its peculiar genome organization and characteristics of the per os viral transmission route, dicistroviruses make good candidates for use as biopesticides. Triatoma virus (TrV) is a pathogen of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of the human trypanosomiasis disease called Chagas disease. TrV was postulated as a potential control agent against Chagas' vectors. Although there is no evidence that TrV nor other dicistroviruses replicate in species outside the Insecta class, the innocuousness of these viruses in humans and animals needs to be ascertained. Methods: In this study, RT-PCR and ELISA were used to detect the infectivity of this virus in Mus musculus BALB/c mice. Results: In this study we have observed that there is no significant difference in the ratio IgG2a/IgG1 in sera from animals inoculated with TrV when compared with non-inoculated animals or mice inoculated only with non-infective TrV protein capsids. Conclusions: We conclude that, under our experimental conditions, TrV is unable to replicate inmice. This study constitutes the first test to evaluate the infectivity of a dicistrovirus in a vertebrate animal model.

Molecular Techniques for Dicistrovirus Detection without RNA Extraction or Purification

Dicistroviridae is a new family of small, nonenveloped, and +ssRNA viruses pathogenic to both beneficial arthropods and insect pests as well. Triatoma virus (TrV), a dicistrovirus, is a pathogen of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of Chagas disease. In this work, we report a single-step method to identify TrV, a dicistrovirus, isolated from fecal samples of triatomines. The identification method proved to be quite sensitive, even without the extraction and purification of RNA virus.

Downscaling of surface moisture flux and precipitation in the Ebro Valley (Spain) using analogues and analogues followed by random forests and multiple linear regression

In this paper, reanalysis fields from the ECMWF have been statistically downscaled to predict from large-scale atmospheric fields, surface moisture flux and daily precipitation at two observatories (Zaragoza and Tortosa, Ebro Valley, Spain) during the 1961-2001 period. Three types of downscaling models have been built: (i) analogues, (ii) analogues followed by random forests and (iii) analogues followed by multiple linear regression. The inputs consist of data (predictor fields) taken from the ERA-40 reanalysis. The predicted fields are precipitation and surface moisture flux as measured at the two observatories. With the aim to reduce the dimensionality of the problem, the ERA-40 fields have been decomposed using empirical orthogonal functions. Available daily data has been divided into two parts: a training period used to find a group of about 300 analogues to build the downscaling model (1961-1996) and a test period (19972001), where models' performance has been assessed using independent data. In the case of surface moisture flux, the models based on analogues followed by random forests do not clearly outperform those built on analogues plus multiple linear regression, while simple averages calculated from the nearest analogues found in the training period, yielded only slightly worse results. In the case of precipitation, the three types of model performed equally. These results suggest that most of the models' downscaling capabilities can be attributed to the analogues-calculation stage.

Expression and activity profiles of DPP IV/CD26 and NEP/CD10 glycoproteins in the human renal cancer are tumor-type dependent

Background: Cell-surface glycoproteins play critical roles in cell-to-cell recognition, signal transduction and regulation, thus being crucial in cell proliferation and cancer etiogenesis and development. DPP IV and NEP are ubiquitous glycopeptidases closely linked to tumor pathogenesis and development, and they are used as markers in some cancers. In the present study, the activity and protein and mRNA expression of these glycoproteins were analysed in a subset of clear-cell (CCRCC) and chromophobe (ChRCC) renal cell carcinomas, and in renal oncocytomas (RO). Methods: Peptidase activities were measured by conventional enzymatic assays with fluorogen-derived substrates. Gene expression was quantitatively determined by qRT-PCR and membrane-bound protein expression and distribution analysis was performed by specific immunostaining. Results: The activity of both glycoproteins was sharply decreased in the three histological types of renal tumors. Protein and mRNA expression was strongly downregulated in tumors from distal nephron (ChRCC and RO). Moreover, soluble DPP IV activity positively correlated with the aggressiveness of CCRCCs (higher activities in high grade tumors). Conclusions: These results support the pivotal role for DPP IV and NEP in the malignant transformation pathways and point to these peptidases as potential diagnostic markers.

Economía de la empresa : dirección

Este trabajo pretende ser de utilidad para cualquier, en general, persona interesada en profundizar en la toma de decisiones. Se combina un planteamiento cuantitativo de la toma de decisiones con un planteamiento cualitativo sobre aspectos personales del decisor. En particular puede ser utilizado como material docente en asignaturas, tanto de la Licenciatura en Administración y Dirección de Empresas como de la Licenciatura en Economía, que aborden la toma de decisión empresarial. El material se estructura en cinco capítulos: •En el primer capítulo, se justifica la existencia de empresas, frente al sistema de asignación de recursos del mercado, y el papel de la dirección. •En el segundo capítulo, se razona bajo que criterios los individuos deciden entrar a formar parte de una empresa, u organización. Asimismo, se presenta el concepto y proceso de decisión. •En el tercer capítulo se destaca la importancia de la generación, recogida y gestión de información como paso previo a la adopción de una decisión. •En el cuarto capítulo se trata de modelizar el esquema mental de resolución de problemas, para lo cuál se utilizarán representaciones como las matrices de decisión y los árboles de decisión. •En el quinto, y último capítulo, se aborda el concepto de negociación, como proceso que permite integrar distintos objetivos individuales en una unidad de decisión y una acción colectiva.

Integración de internet en la didáctica de la asignatura "Conocimiento del medio" en el tercer ciclo de primaria

550 p.

El servicio público de fomento de la economía social en el País Vasco desde una perspectiva de orientación al mercado. Propuestas y acciones

465 p.

Características clínicas en el Síndrome de Fibromialgia : asociación con la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud y contribución a la caracterización de subgrupos

251 p. : il.

Supertareas newtonianas : la relación del indeterminismo con la pérdida de la energía en sistemas newtonianos anómalos

[ES]La tesis tiene como objetivo profundizar en el conocimiento de la relación que existe entre el indeterminismo y el fallo del principio de conservación de la energía en la mecánica newtoniana bajo procesos que consisten en una sucesión infinita de colisiones perfectamente elásticas, llamados supertareas newtonianas. Se propone una supertarea, que nombramos STMNC, que muestra no ser conservativa pero que, bajo los mecanismos hasta ahora conocidos, no es manifiestamente indeterminista. Se demuestra, con un planteamiento general que llamamos G¿1, que tal proceso es de hecho indeterminista antes de que la supertarea llegue a ejecutarse; no obstante, se señalan las dificultades para que el proceso sea indeterminista una vez que la supertarea concluye, es decir, una vez que la energía se pierde. Con esto, y tras el análisis de las fuentes del indeterminismo y la pérdida de la energía, se sugiere que el único aspecto en común entre ambas anomalías, cuando emergen bajo estos procesos, es la infinidad de colisiones que involucran. Para obtener estos resultados se sigue la siguiente estrategia. En la primera parte, se analizan los argumentos en torno a las paradojas de Zenón, unos a favor y otros en contra de las ideas de espacio y tiempo que permiten la ejecución de las supertareas. En la segunda parte, se analizan los argumentos que amenazan a los procesos que tratamos de ser inconsistentes y de no ser newtonianos. En conjunto, con estas dos partes garantizamos que las supertareas newtonianas son procesos legítimos, brindando así sentido a nuestro resultado principal. En la tercera parte, se analizan las diversas fuentes del indeterminismo en la mecánica newtoniana bajo supertareas y la relación que dichas fuentes guardan con el indeterminismo.