How much efficiency gains and price reductions for an efficiency defense? 'Quanto Basta'

Potential efficiency gains due to a merger can be used by competition authorities to judge upon proposed mergers. In a world where agents’ efforts, observable or unobservable, affect the success of a production cost reducing project that may be conducted as a stand-alone firm or in a merger, we characterize the merger decision and the type of errors a competition authority may make when it relies on an efficiency defense. In addition, we show that the occurrence of either type of errors is always smaller under the unobservable efforts assumption, than under the observable efforts one.

Antioxidant defense system and family environment in adolescents with family history of psychosis

[EN] Our objective was to determine antioxidant defence activity in healthy controls (HC) and healthy unaffected second-degree relatives of patients with early onset psychosis (HC-FHP),and to assess its relationship with familiar environment measured using the Family Environment Scale (FES). Methods: We included 82 HC and 14 HC-FHP aged between 9 and 17 years. Total antioxidant status,lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione levels were determined in blood samples. Results:There was a significant decrease in the total antioxidant level in the HC-FHP group compared with the HC group (OR = 2.94; p = 0.009), but no between-group differences in the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale scores. For the FES, the HC-FHP group had significantly higher scores in the cohesion (p = 0.007) and intellectual-cultural dimensions (p=0.025). After adjusting for these two FES dimensions, total antioxidant status remained significantly different between groups (OR = 10.86, p = 0.009).

On the economics of the "meeting competition defense" under the Robinson-Patman Act

Documento de trabajo

Descripción y defensa de la lengua vasca durante los siglos XVI y XVII

Ed. por Antonio Manuel González Carrillo

Flood risk management: What are the main drivers of prevention?

4 p.

Los derechos de las niñas, niños y adolescentes en situación de desahucio. El caso de Gipuzkoa

[ES] La crisis económica ha agravado la situación de pobreza y precariedad en las familias españolas y vascas. Ejemplo de ello es el aumento de las familias que han sufrido o están sufriendo un proceso de desahucio. Con esta investigación, además de contextualizar este fenómeno de la pérdida de vivienda, queremos analizar los derechos de la infancia que se vulneran; cómo actúan los distintos agentes encargados de salvaguardar los derechos humanos de las/os menores cuando éstos están inmersos en un proceso de desahucio. En el marco teórico exponemos el fenómeno del desahucio de los derechos de la infancia. La metodología utilizada es cualitativa, y para ello nos basaremos en entrevistas en profundidad y semi-estructuradas a diferentes agentes implicados (dos familias que están viviendo un proceso de desahucio, dos abogadas y una trabajadora social). A partir de las conclusiones del estudio, hemos elaborado unas propuestas de mejora de la situación de las y los menores y la defensa de sus derechos.

Retórica y derecho en la Alta Edad Media: una defensa judicial del siglo IX

[ES] El objetivo de este artículo es Mostrar un aspecto particular de la Retórica en la Alta Edad Media, a saber, la vinculación de esta "Ars" con la práctica judicial y los estudios de Derecho. Para ello, hemoss analizado un documento relativamente "raro" en tanto que es casi el único de sus características en la Hispania del siglo IX: una defensa judicial incluída en el «Epistolario» de Álvaro de Córdoba (n.c. 800), uno de los mejores escritores en lengua latina de su época. La elección del citado documento tiene su razón de ser en la oscuridad e incertidumbre que rodean nuestro conocimiento de las fuentes y de los procedimientos jurídicos de dicha época.

Do Nutritional Supplements Have a Role in Age Macular Degeneration Prevention?

Purpose. To review the proposed pathogenic mechanisms of age macular degeneration (AMD), as well as the role of antioxidants (AOX) and omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3) supplements in AMD prevention. Materials and Methods. Current knowledge on the cellular/molecular mechanisms of AMD and the epidemiologic/experimental studies on the effects of AOX and omega-3 were addressed all together with the scientific evidence and the personal opinion of professionals involved in the Retina Group of the OFTARED (Spain). Results. High dietary intakes of omega-3 and macular pigments lutein/zeaxanthin are associated with lower risk of prevalence and incidence in AMD. The Age-Related Eye Disease study (AREDS) showed a beneficial effect of high doses of vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, and zinc/copper in reducing the rate of progression to advanced AMD in patients with intermediate AMD or with one-sided late AMD. The AREDS-2 study has shown that lutein and zeaxanthin may substitute beta-carotene because of its potential relationship with increased lung cancer incidence. Conclusion. Research has proved that elder people with poor diets, especially with low AOX and omega-3 micronutrients intake and subsequently having low plasmatic levels, are more prone to developing AMD. Micronutrient supplementation enhances antioxidant defense and healthy eyes and might prevent/retard/modify AMD.

Exploring Game Performance in the National Basketball Association Using Player Tracking Data

Recent player tracking technology provides new information about basketball game performance. The aim of this study was to (i) compare the game performances of all-star and non all-star basketball players from the National Basketball Association (NBA), and (ii) describe the different basketball game performance profiles based on the different game roles. Archival data were obtained from all 2013-2014 regular season games (n = 1230). The variables analyzed included the points per game, minutes played and the game actions recorded by the player tracking system. To accomplish the first aim, the performance per minute of play was analyzed using a descriptive discriminant analysis to identify which variables best predict the all-star and non all-star playing categories. The all-star players showed slower velocities in defense and performed better in elbow touches, defensive rebounds, close touches, close points and pull-up points, possibly due to optimized attention processes that are key for perceiving the required appropriate environmental information. The second aim was addressed using a k-means cluster analysis, with the aim of creating maximal different performance profile groupings. Afterwards, a descriptive discriminant analysis identified which variables best predict the different playing clusters. The results identified different playing profile of performers, particularly related to the game roles of scoring, passing, defensive and all-round game behavior. Coaching staffs may apply this information to different players, while accounting for individual differences and functional variability, to optimize practice planning and, consequently, the game performances of individuals and teams.