“Of Spitzenkandidaten and European Leaders”: Is the new 2014 "politicized” Presidency of the Commission going to be a real step forward in the EU legitimization process?

Thanks to ART.17.7 of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Council now has to “take into account” the results of EP Elections when selecting a candidate for the role of Commission President. The European Parliament has grabbed the opportunity to launch the first electoral race for spitzenkandidaten to the Presidency. Is this the start of a new democratizing (and thus, politicizing) process for the European Union? This dissertation will try to give a possible answer to the dilemma by constructing a comprehensive framework around EP Elections 2014 that will involve both the Commission and the Parliament and an analysis of the debate beyond legal provisions and the possibility of a politicized presidency of the Commission.

Wavelets in real-time paper web analysis

Online paper web analysis relies on traversing scanners that criss-cross on top of a rapidly moving paper web. The sensors embedded in the scanners measure many important quality variables of paper, such as basis weight, caliper and porosity. Most of these quantities are varying a lot and the measurements are noisy at many different scales. The zigzagging nature of scanning makes it difficult to separate machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD) variability from one another. For improving the 2D resolution of the quality variables above, the paper quality control team at the Department of Mathematics and Physics at LUT has implemented efficient Kalman filtering based methods that currently use 2D Fourier series. Fourier series are global and therefore resolve local spatial detail on the paper web rather poorly. The target of the current thesis is to study alternative wavelet based representations as candidates to replace the Fourier basis for a higher resolution spatial reconstruction of these quality variables. The accuracy of wavelet compressed 2D web fields will be compared with corresponding truncated Fourier series based fields.

Improving the molecular diagnosis of Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus infection with a species-specific duplex real-time PCR.

Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus are closely related intracellular bacteria exhibiting different tissue tropism that may cause severe but distinct infection in humans. C. psittaci causes psittacosis, a respiratory zoonotic infection transmitted by birds. C. abortus is an abortigenic agent in small ruminants, which can also colonize the human placenta and lead to foetal death and miscarriage. Infections caused by C. psittaci and C. abortus are underestimated mainly due to diagnosis difficulties resulting from their strict intracellular growth. We developed a duplex real-time PCR to detect and distinguish these two bacteria in clinical samples. The first PCR (PCR1) targeted a sequence of the 16S-23S rRNA operon allowing the detection of both C. psittaci and C. abortus. The second PCR (PCR2) targeted the coding DNA sequence CPSIT_0607 unique to C. psittaci. The two PCRs showed 100 % detection for ≥ 10 DNA copies per reaction (1000 copies ml- 1). Using a set of 120 samples, including bacterial reference strains, clinical specimens and infected cell culture material, we monitored 100 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity for the detection of C. psittaci and C. abortus for PCR1. When PCR1 was positive, PCR2 could discriminate C. psittaci from C. abortus with a positive predictive value of 100 % and a negative predictive value of 88 %. In conclusion, this new duplex PCR represents a low-cost and time-saving method with high-throughput potential, expected to improve the routine diagnosis of psittacosis and pregnancy complication in large-scale screening programs and also during outbreaks.

Modelling the consequences of a reduction in alcohol consumption among patients with alcohol dependence based on real-life observational data.

BACKGROUND: Most available pharmacotherapies for alcohol-dependent patients target abstinence; however, reduced alcohol consumption may be a more realistic goal. Using randomized clinical trial (RCT) data, a previous microsimulation model evaluated the clinical relevance of reduced consumption in terms of avoided alcohol-attributable events. Using real-life observational data, the current analysis aimed to adapt the model and confirm previous findings about the clinical relevance of reduced alcohol consumption. METHODS: Based on the prospective observational CONTROL study, evaluating daily alcohol consumption among alcohol-dependent patients, the model predicted the probability of drinking any alcohol during a given day. Predicted daily alcohol consumption was simulated in a hypothetical sample of 200,000 patients observed over a year. Individual total alcohol consumption (TAC) and number of heavy drinking days (HDD) were derived. Using published risk equations, probabilities of alcohol-attributable adverse health events (e.g., hospitalizations or death) corresponding to simulated consumptions were computed, and aggregated for categories of patients defined by HDDs and TAC (expressed per 100,000 patient-years). Sensitivity analyses tested model robustness. RESULTS: Shifting from >220 HDDs per year to 120-140 HDDs and shifting from 36,000-39,000 g TAC per year (120-130 g/day) to 15,000-18,000 g TAC per year (50-60 g/day) impacted substantially on the incidence of events (14,588 and 6148 events avoided per 100,000 patient-years, respectively). Results were robust to sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study corroborates the previous microsimulation modeling approach and, using real-life data, confirms RCT-based findings that reduced alcohol consumption is a relevant objective for consideration in alcohol dependence management to improve public health.

Duration of anticoagulation after venous thromboembolism in real world clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) carries a considerable risk of recurrence and anticoagulants should be administered for a minimum of three months. Since little is known about real life management of VTE, we aimed to describe current practice in the secondary prevention of VTE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the database of an international, prospective registry on patients treated for VTE, RIETE, information was collected on risk factors for VTE and bleeding, anticoagulant treatment, and clinical outcomes during follow up. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of treatment duration. RESULTS: Of 6944 patients with a first episode of VTE 41.1% had unprovoked VTE, 31.8% had transient risk factors, 27.1% had cancer. After the exclusion of patients who died during the first year of observation, the rate of patients treated for >12 months was 55.1%, 41.9%, and 43.2%, respectively (p<0.001). Pulmonary embolism at presentation, recurrence while on treatment, chronic heart failure and age >65 years were independently associated with treatment for >12 months. Body weight <75 kg, anemia, cancer, and the presence of transient risk factors were associated with treatment for 12 months or less. Major bleeding occurred more frequently than recurrent VTE in patients with VTE secondary to transient risk factors and cancer; fatal bleeding was more frequent than fatal recurrent PE in all subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: We observed heterogeneous duration of anticoagulant treatment for the secondary prevention of VTE. A substantial proportion of patients, in particular those with VTE secondary to transient risk factors, may be exposed to a possibly unnecessary risk of bleeding.

Diffantom: Whole-Brain Diffusion MRI Phantoms Derived from Real Datasets of the Human Connectome Project.

Food allergies are believed to be on the rise and currently management relies on the avoidance of the food. Hen's egg allergy is after cow's milk allergy the most common food allergy; eggs are used in many food products and thus difficult to avoid. A technological process using a combination of enzymatic hydrolysis and heat treatment was designed to produce modified hen's egg with reduced allergenic potential. Biochemical (SDS-PAGE, Size exclusion chromatography and LC-MS/MS) and immunological (ELISA, immunoblot, RBL-assays, animal model) analysis showed a clear decrease in intact proteins as well as a strong decrease of allergenicity. In a clinical study, 22 of the 24 patients with a confirmed egg allergy who underwent a double blind food challenge with the hydrolysed egg remained completely free of symptoms. Hydrolysed egg products may be beneficial as low allergenic foods for egg allergic patients to extent their diet. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Criterios de Selección de Proveedores de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicaciones en el Sector Financiero consecuencias de su Aplicación y Estudio de un Caso Real

Peer-reviewed

Hacia una teoría general de la Seguridad Marítima (Recensión Discurso ingreso Real Academia de Doctores)

Resumen discurso de ingreso

Capillary thermal desorption unit for near real-time analysis of VOCs at sub-trace levels. Application to the analysis of environmental air contamination and breath samples

A capillary microtrap thermal desorption module is developed for near real-time analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at sub-ppbv levels in air samples. The device allows the direct injection of the thermally desorbed VOCs into a chromatographic column. It does not use a second cryotrap to focalize the adsorbed compounds before entering the separation column so reducing the formation of artifacts. The connection of the microtrap to a GC–MS allows the quantitative determination of VOCs in less than 40 min with detection limits of between 5 and 10 pptv (25 °C and 760 mmHg), which correspond to 19–43 ng m−3, using sampling volumes of 775 cm3. The microtrap is applied to the analysis of environmental air contamination in different laboratories of our faculty. The results obtained indicate that most volatile compounds are easily diffused through the air and that they also may contaminate the surrounding areas when the habitual safety precautions (e.g., working under fume hoods) are used during the manipulation of solvents. The application of the microtrap to the analysis of VOCs in breath samples suggest that 2,5-dimethylfuran may be a strong indicator of a person's smoking status

Python y OpenCV aplicados a un caso de estudio real

Este trabajo se centra en el uso del lenguaje Python y la librería OpenCV de visión por computador para el seguimiento de crustáceos marinos en condiciones experimentales y determinar su comportamiento en un entorno social.

Acción interpretativa para la finca pública de son real Mallorca

Cualquier acción dinamizadora que tenga como objetivo la desestacionalización turística basada en la explotación del patrimonio de la finca pública de Son Real, debe sustentarse necesariamente en una política gestora explícita, dotada de contenidos e integral.Pero ante todo debe tener una base de conocimiento, de contextualización del territorio y debe recoger todas las incidencias que afectan al bien para desarrollar estrategias consecuentes destinadas al conocimiento, conservación y difusión de este patrimonio, ligándolo a las demandas y necesidades de la sociedad actual y futura.

Comparação de metodologias para a determinação de umidade em geléia real

The aim of this paper was to compare methods of moisture determination to choose the best one for the determination of this parameter in royal jelly samples. Royal jelly is sensitive to high temperatures becoming dark and loosing volatiles in high temperatures. The methods were: vacuum oven at 60 ºC, 70 ºC, conventional oven at 105 ºC, Karl Fisher, dissecator with sulfuric acid and dryness with infrared light at 105 ºC. Based on the results, the best method was the dissecator with sulfuric acid for moisture determination in royal jelly.

Aplicação da CLAE para determinação do ácido 10-Hidróxi-2-decenóico (10-HDA) em geléia real pura e adicionada a mel brasileiro

The aim of this paper was to determine the 10-HDA in pure royal jelly and products containing royal jelly, using HPLC methodology. 10-HDA is the natural indicator of the presence of royal jelly in products and also gives the authenticity of pure royal jelly. The chromatographic conditions used were: isocratic system, C18-H column, auto sampler, diode array UV-VIS detector (225 nm), mobile phase with methanol/water (45:55), pH= 2.5 and a-naphtol as internal standard. The results obtained using laboratory samples for pure royal jelly were 2.37%, varying from 0.15% for honey with 10% of royal jelly to 2.10% for honey with 90% of royal jelly respectivelly. For commercial products, the 10-HDA content varied from no detectable to 0.026%. The recovery test presented a minumum of 100.44% The detection limit was 45.92 ng/mL and the quantification limit was 76.53 ng/mL.

Another Look at the Null of Stationary Real Exchange Rates: Panel Data with Structural Breaks and Cross-section Dependence

This paper re-examines the null of stationary of real exchange rate for a panel of seventeen OECD developed countries during the post-Bretton Woods era. Our analysis simultaneously considers both the presence of cross-section dependence and multiple structural breaks that have not received much attention in previous panel methods of long-run PPP. Empirical results indicate that there is little evidence in favor of PPP hypothesis when the analysis does not account for structural breaks. This conclusion is reversed when structural breaks are considered in computation of the panel statistics. We also compute point estimates of half-life separately for idiosyncratic and common factor components and find that it is always below one year.

El software libre al servicio de la economía productiva : Caso real de implantación de un ERP en una micro PYME

Este trabajo de fin de grado intenta, mediante el caso real de la implantación de un ERP en una micro PYME, ajustar a la realidad socioeconómica de la gran mayoría de empresas españolas las técnicas de implantación de software y de gestión de proyectos, usando como elemento conductor un ERP de software libre, para conseguir el triple objetivo de mantener los ratios de calidad deseados en cualquier proyecto de ingeniería de software, con unos costes asumibles por una micro PYME y satisfaciendo las necesidades de negocio.