Hacia un modelo de gobernanza m��s eficaz en el mercado ��nico de las telecomunicaciones. El perfil del BEREC

Introdu��t en el sistema de governan��a per la recent reforma del marc regulador de les telecomunicacions, el BEREC es presenta com un organisme supranacional de car��cter consultiu al qual se li atorga una missi�� i un paper fonamental en l'aplicaci�� coherent de les normes en el mercat ��nic de les telecomunicacions. L'��xit d'aquesta missi�� dependr�� tant de les eines amb les que compta, com dels mecanismes previstos de coordinaci�� i la seva capacitat de relaci�� amb la resta d'actors, les autoritats nacionals de regulaci�� i la Comissi�� Europea principalment

Adopting the Future Consultation response document (MS Word 290 KB)

While for most children the best place to grow up is with their birth parents, others are unable to do so. Under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, the first duty of Health and Social Services Trusts, where children cannot live with their birth parents, is to seek a home for them with their extended famly. Finding a safe and caring new home for children with their wider family or friends allows them to keep important attachments and connections in their lives, and is therefore the preferred choice where it is possible. Where this is not possible, society has a clear responsibility to provide children with stability and permanence in their lives. Some children are placed in alternative forms of care. Adoption is traditionally a means of providing a permanent family for a small, but significant number of children who are unable to return to their birth parents. Adoption is, however, much wider than just the service provided to children. Adoption affects birth parents, prospective adopters, adoptive parents, siblings, grandparents and other relatives. The Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety believes that more can and should be done to reflect the complex needs of those affected by adoption. ����

La parola raccontata dai cavalieri-narratori nella "Continuation du Roman de Meliadus" (ms. Ferrell 5)

Copiato nell'Italia del Nord verso il 1350, il manoscritto Ferrell 5 �� oggi il solo testimone della "Continuation du Roman de Meliadus" che racconta le avventure di Art��, di Meliadus il padre di Tristano, e del Buon Cavaliere senza Paura padre di Dinadan, partiti alla ricerca di Morholt, prigioniero su di un'isola lontana. Ora, questa inchiesta �� solo un pretesto: al centro dell'interesse dei tre re non sta tanto l'avventura promessa quanto i racconti che essi collezionano in occasione dei diversi scali di questo viaggio per mare, durante il quale non succede quasi niente. La ricerca di Morholt agisce quale racconto-cornice che non solo mette in scena le condizioni della presa di parola da parte dei cavalieri-narratori e organizza i racconti, anzi li drammatizza, ma funziona anche da matrice che informa, feconda e rigenera questi stessi racconti. Quanto all'isolamento, imposto dalla navigazione, esso permette lo sbocciare di una piccola ma prestigiosa societ�� di narratori che non ha nulla da invidiare a quella delle raccolte di novelle. Cos��, un racconto dopo l'altro, si definisce un'arte di narrare che espone ed esplora i legami tra valore del racconto e bont�� della cavalleria: la perfezione poetica, fonte del piacere estetico, �� solo l'altra faccia della perfezione cavalleresca.

Prevalence and persistence of gymnodimines in clams from the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia) studied by mouse bioassay and LC-MS/MS

In this work we studied the toxicity in clams from the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia (Southern Mediterranean). Samples from two stations (M2 and S6) were collected monthly from January 2009 to September 2010, and analyzed by the official control method of mousse bioassay (MBA) for lipophilic toxins. All samples were also analyzed with the LC-MS/MS method for the determination of lipophilic toxins, namely: okadaic acid group, pectenotoxins, yessotoxins and azaspiracids, spirolides and gymnodimines (GYMs). The results showed prevalence of GYMs since it was the only toxin group identified in these samples with a maximum of 2,136 ��g GYM -A kg-1 (February 2009 at M2). Furthermore, GYMs showed persistence in the area, with only one blank sample below the limit of detection. Interestingly, this blank sample was found in June 2009 after an important toxic episode which supports the recent findings regarding the high detoxification capability of clams, much faster than that reported for oysters. In comparison, good agreement was found among MBA, the LD50 value of 80-100 ��g kg-1 reported for GYM- A, and quantitative results provided by LC-MS/MS. On the contrary to that previously reported for Tunisian clams, we unambiguously identified and quantified by LC-MS/MS the isomers GYM- B/C in most samples. Phytoplankton identification and enumeration of Karenia selliformis usually showed higher densities at site M2 than S6 as expected bearing in mind toxin results, although additional results would be required to improve the correlation between K. selliformis densities and quantitative results of toxins. The prevalence and persistence of GYMs in this area at high levels strongly encourages the evaluation of the chronic toxic effects of GYMs. This is especially important taking into account that relatively large quantities of GYMs can be released into the market due to the replacement of the official control method from mouse bioassay to the LC-MS/MS for lipophilic toxins (Regulation (EU) No 15/2011), and the lack of Regulation for this group of toxins.

Imaging Properties of MS Lesions Correlate with Attention Deficits in Early Multiple Sclerosis

Introduction: Cognitive impairment affects 40-65% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, often since early stages of the disease (relapsing remitting MS, RRMS). Frequently affected functions are memory, attention or executive abilities but the most sensitive measure of cognitive deficits in early MS is the information processing speed (Amato, 2008). MRI has been extensively exploited to investigate the substrate of cognitive dysfunction in MS but the underlying physiopathological mechanisms remain unclear. White matter lesion load, whole-brain atrophy and cortical lesions' number play a role but correlations are in some cases modest (Rovaris, 2006; Calabrese, 2009). In this study, we aimed at characterizing and correlating the T1 relaxation times of cortical and sub-cortical lesions with cognitive deficits detected by neuropsychological tests in a group of very early RR MS patients. Methods: Ten female patients with very early RRMS (age: 31.6 ��4.7y; disease duration: 3.8 ��1.9y; EDSS disability score: 1.8 ��0.4) and 10 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (mean age: 31.2 ��5.8y) were included in the study. All participants underwent the following neuropsychological tests: Rao's Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological tests (BRB-N), Stockings of Cambridge, Trail Making Test (TMT, part A and B), Boston Naming Test, Hooper Visual Organization Test and copy of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure. Within 2 weeks from neuropsychological assessment, participants underwent brain MRI at 3T (Magnetom Trio a Tim System, Siemens, Germany) using a 32-channel head coil. The imaging protocol included 3D sequences with 1x1x1.2 mm3 resolution and 256x256x160 matrix, except for axial 2D-FLAIR: -DIR (T2-weighted, suppressing both WM and CSF; Pouwels, 2006) -MPRAGE (T1-weighted; Mugler, 1991) -MP2RAGE (T1-weighted with T1 maps; Marques, 2010) -FLAIR SPACE (only for patient 4-10, T2-weighted; Mugler, 2001) -2D Axial FLAIR (0.9x0.9x2.5 mm3, 256x256x44 matrix). Lesions were identified by one experienced neurologist and radiologist using all contrasts, manually contoured and assigned to regional locations (cortical or sub-cortical). Lesion number, volume and T1 relaxation time were calculated for lesions in each contrast and in a merged mask representing the union of the lesions from all contrasts. T1 relaxation times of lesions were normalized with the mean T1 value in corresponding control regions of the healthy subjects. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad InStat software. Cognitive scores were compared between patients and controls with paired t-tests; p values &#8804; 0.05 were considered significant. Spearmann correlation tests were performed between the cognitive tests, which differed significantly between patients and controls, and lesions' i) number ii) volume iii) T1 relaxation time iv) disease duration and v) years of study. Results: Cortical and sub-cortical lesions count, T1 values and volume are reported in Table 1 (A and B). All early RRMS patients showed cortical lesions (CLs) and the majority consisted of CLs type I (lesions with a cortical component extending to the sub-cortical tissue). The rest of cortical lesions were characterized as type II (intra-cortical lesions). No type III/IV lesions (large sub-pial lesions) were detected. RRMS patients were slightly less educated (13.5��2.5y vs. 16.3��1.8y of study, p=0.02) than the controls. Signs of cortical dysfunction (i.e. impaired learning, language, visuo-spatial skills or gnosis) were rare in all patients. However, patients showed on average lower scores on measures of visual attention and information processing speed (TMT-part A: p=0.01; TMT-part B: p=0.006; PASAT-included in the BRB-N: p=0.04). The T1 relaxation values of CLs type I negatively correlated with the TMT-part A score (r=0.78, p<0.01). The correlations of TMT-part B score and PASAT score with T1 relaxation time of lesions as well and the correlation between TMT-part A, TMT-part B and PASAT score with lesions' i) number ii) volume iii) disease duration and iv) years of study did not reach significance. In order to preclude possible influences from partial volume effects on the T1 values, the correlation between lesion volume and T1 value of CLs type I was calculated; no correlation was found, suggesting that partial volume effects did not affect the statistics. Conclusions: The present pilot study reports for the first time the presence and the T1 characteristics at 3 T of cortical lesions in very early RRMS (< 6 y disease duration). It also shows that CLS type I represents the most frequent cortical lesion type in this cohort of RRMS patients. In addition, it reveals a negative correlation between the attentional test TMT-part A and the T1 properties of cortical lesions type I. In other words, lower attention deficits are concomitant with longer T1-relaxation time in cortical lesions. In respect to this last finding, it could be speculated that long relaxation time correspond to a certain degree of tissue loss that is enough to stimulate compensatory mechanisms. This hypothesis is in line with previous fMRI studies showing functional compensatory mechanisms to help maintaining normal or sub-normal attention performances in RR MS patients (Penner, 2003).

M��s all�� de una distinci��n dicot��mica del apoyo a la democracia: diversos perfiles de no dem��cratas

El apoyo ciudadano a la democracia constituye un requisito fundamental de los modernos reg��menes democr��ticos, tanto respecto de su estabilidad y consolidaci��n como de la calidad de su funcionamiento. En este marco, la legitimidad democr��tica pertenece a la dimensi��n de creencias ciudadanas respecto de que la democracia y sus instituciones son las m��s apropiadas (de hecho, las ��nicas aceptables) como r��gimen de gobierno. Sin perjuicio de lo anterior, no todos los ciudadanos expresan este conjunto de actitudes positivas hacia el r��gimen democr��tico. En gran parte de las nuevas democracias un n��mero considerable de personas o bien no entregan un apoyo abierto a la democracia o, expresan actitudes contradictorias hacia los reg��menes democr��ticos. Este grupo de individuos ha sido normalmente tratado por la literatura como un solo grupo homog��neo, que responde sin m��s consideraciones a la etiqueta de ���no dem��cratas���. Sin embargo, tal como esta investigaci��n pretende demostrar, existen razones te��ricas y emp��ricas para esperar que no haya un ��nico perfil de ciudadanos que no apoya la democracia. Por el contrario, ser��a posible encontrar y analizar diversos perfiles de ���no dem��cratas���, que explican sus diferencias de acuerdo a distintas objeciones hacia la democracia. Esto es, las razones que se tienen para no entregar un apoyo difuso a la democracia no ser��an las mismas en todos los casos. De esta forma se derivan las siguientes preguntas de investigaci��n: ��Cu��les son los argumentos te��ricos y emp��ricos que permiten distinguir diversos tipos de ���no dem��cratas���? ��Cu��les son las distintas objeciones hacia la democracia (razones) que configuran estos perfiles diversos? Sin embargo, no basta con responder s��lo a estas preguntas. Es necesario avanzar en esta l��nea argumental, pregunt��ndose respecto de la relevancia de distinguir distintos perfiles de ���no dem��cratas���. As��, surge una tercera pregunta: ��Bajo qu�� circunstancias tiene relevancia efectuar una distinci��n entre quienes no apoyan la democracia?

Recrystallisation rims in zircon (Valle d'Arbedo, Switzerland): an integrated cathodoluminescence, LA-ICP-MS, SHRIMP, and TEM study

Recrystallization rims are a common feature of zircon crystals that underwent metamorphism. We present a microstructural and microchemical study of partially recrystallized zircon grains collected in polymetamorphic migmatites (Valle d'Arbedo, Ticino, Switzerland). The rims are bright in cathodo-luminescence (CL), with sharp and convex contacts characterized by inward-penetrating embayments transgressing igneous zircon cores. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) data and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging indicate that the rims are chemically and microstructurally different from the cores. The rims are strongly depleted in REE, with concentrations up to two orders of magnitude lower than in the cores, indicating a significant loss of REE during zircon recrystallization. Enrichment in non-formula elements, such as Ca, has not been observed in the rims. The microstructure of zircon cores shows a dappled intensity at and below the 100 nm scale, possibly due to radiation damage. Other defects such as pores and dislocations are absent in the core except at healed cracks. Zircon rims are mostly dapple-free, but contain nanoscale pores and strain centers, interpreted as fluid inclusions and chemical residues, respectively. Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb ages show that the recrystallization of the rims took place &gt;200 Ma ago when the parent igneous zircon was not metamict. The chemical composition and the low-Ti content of the rims indicate that they form at sub-solidus temperatures (550-650 degrees C). Recrystallization rims in Valle d'Arbedo zircon are interpreted as the result of the migration of chemical reaction fronts in which fluid triggered in situ and contemporaneous interface-coupled dissolution-reprecipitation mechanisms. This study indicates that strong lattice strain resulting from the incorporation of a large amount of impurities and structural defects is not a necessary condition for zircon to recrystallize. Our observations suggest that the early formation of recrystallization rims played a major role in preserving zircon from the more recent Alpine metamorphic overprint.

La dataci�� de l'Esfinx de Guiza, m��s enll�� del debat cient��fic?

El present treball analitza tant el proc��s seguit per a determinar qui va modelar l'Esfinx de Guiza a partir de la roca calc��ria que s'erigeix al centre d'una immensa rasa i en quin moment de la hist��ria d'Egipte es va construir com la tipologia de les reaccions que han tingut lloc, en l'��mbit cient��fic, respecte d'un plantejament plenament rupturista que suposa una revisi�� dr��stica de l'edat que se li atribueix.

Tecla d'Iconi, m��s enll�� de la llegenda : estudi del paper desenvolupat per la dona en el cristianisme primitiu a trav��s de la protagonista dels Actes de Pau i Tecla

El cristianisme, en els seus inicis, signific�� per la dona la possibilitat de triar un dest�� diferent al del matrimoni i la maternitat que li deparava la societat greco-romana. Tanmateix, en el proc��s d'institucionalitzaci�� de la nova religi�� (s. I-IV), la dona, que en les primitives comunitats cristianes havia ocupat llocs de responsabilitats al costat dels seus companys masculins, va quedar relegada al desenvolupament de tasques assistencials. Els canvis experimentats pel rol femen�� durant aquest per��ode es manifestaran en les transformacions operades a trav��s de la literatura en la figura de Tecla d'Iconi (santa Tecla), un personatge intemporal, tan capa�� de representar els diferents arquetips de dona ideal que ha creat l'Esgl��sia cristiana, com les ��nsies emancipadores d'alguns col��lectius feministes.

Refugiados palestinos : m��s de medio siglo despu��s de Al-Nakba

Treball de recerca que posa en antecedents des d'una visi�� basada en testimonis aut��ctoms, dels origens de la intifada a Palestina i el conflicte dels territoris confrontats Israel-Palestina.

Un n��vol m��s accessible

Treball fi de carrera d'accessibilitat web. An��lisi i conclusions de 20 p��gines avaluades amb wcag 1.0 i wcag 2.0.

Advances in tissue section preparation for MALDI imaging MS

Enriched by a decade of remarkable developments, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS) has witnessed a phenomenal expansion. Initially introduced for the mapping of peptides and intact proteins from mammalian tissue sections, MALDI IMS applications now extend to a wide range of molecules including peptides, lipids, metabolites and xenobiotics. Technology and methodology are quickly evolving to push the limits of the technique forward. Within a short period of time, numerous protocols and concepts have been developed and introduced in tissue section preparation, nonexhaustively including in situ tissue chemistries and solvent-free matrix depositions. Considering the past progress and current capabilities, this Review aims to cover the different aspects and challenges of tissue section preparation for MALDI IMS.

Differentiation of blue ballpoint pen by positive and negative mode LDI-MS

Usually, the differentiation of inks on questioned documents is carried out by optical methods and thin layer chromatography (TLC). Therefore, spectrometric methods were also proposed in forensic literature for the analysis of dyes. Between these techniques, laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) has demonstrated a great versatility thanks to its sensitivity to blue ballpoint ink dyes and minimal sample destruction. Previous researches concentrated mostly on the LDI-MS positive mode and have shown that this analytical tool offers higher discrimination power than high performance TLC (HPTLC) for the differentiation of blue ballpoint inks. Although LDI-MS negative mode has already been applied in numerous forensic domains like the studies of works of art, automotive paints or rollerball pens, its potential for the discrimination of ballpoint pens was never studied before. The aim of the present paper is therefore to evaluate its potential for the discrimination of blue ballpoint inks. After optimization of the method, ink entries from 33 blue ballpoint pens were analyzed directly on paper in both positive and negative modes by LDI-MS. Several cationic and anionic ink components were identified in inks; therefore, pens were classified and compared according to their formulations. Results show that additional information provided by anionic dyes and pigments significantly increases the discrimination power of positive mode. In fact, it was demonstrated that classifications obtained by the two modes were, to some extent, complementary (i.e., inks with specific cationic dyes not necessarily contained the same anionic components).

Millora de l'enfocament m��s comercial de la fase de definici�� d'un projecte inform��tic

Aquest PFC mira d'analitzar els aspectes comercials d'un projecte inform��tic en les seves fases inicials, la fase d'aprovaci�� i la fase de definici��; en aquesta segona fase s'estudiar�� amb m��s profunditat com hi influeix l'aspecte comercial.

Detecci�� autom��tica de c��pies en un conjunt de documents MS Word

L'objectiu d'aquest projecte ��s l'estudi de la plagiabilitat dels lliuraments de les Proves d'Avaluaci�� Continuada i pr��ctiques dels estudiants de la UOC aix�� com l'estudi dels diferents mitjans per evitar-la.